If you have ever wondered how to bait wood ducks, then you have come to the right place. This article will give you tips and tricks on how to bait these birds. You can start by identifying where they are most likely to feed. Wood ducks prefer areas with thick cover and ample food, which means that you should search for specific ponds and creeks with fallen timber. You can use these areas to your advantage by placing feeders and food close to the water.
To lure wood ducks, make sure you use untreated wood. Wood ducks will avoid decoys made of treated wood, which can be dangerous for them and potentially cause birth defects. For best results, use five or ten decoys, but don’t overdo it. It may also be helpful to set up two decoys, which will attract the ducks. Using one of these will attract more wood ducks than putting out 100.
Another tip for hunting wood ducks is to make their lives as easy as possible. Be quiet and sneak up on them when they’re resting or feeding. Be sure to use the terrain to your advantage, and anticipate if they might attempt to escape as you approach. A good bait should last for several hours, and wood ducks should come out if you’re patient enough to wait patiently. So, if you want to bag a duck on your first try, make sure you have a strategy in place.
Then, you need to make sure that you have an area where they can nest, roost, and feed safely. Ducks can be a nuisance in small ponds and blinds, and you need to create a safe place for them. By providing food and water sources for the ducks, you’ll attract more of them and help their numbers increase. In the off-season, you can even prepare wood duck boxes for them.
Remember that ducks are social creatures, and they tend to follow peers. Putting a decoy pair in the water will make the area look more attractive to them, and they’ll check out the pair for themselves. If they’re comfortable, they’ll stay longer. They’ll also stay longer, if they like what they see. And if you’re really lucky, you might catch a few ducks this way.
Another way to attract more ducks to your yard is to plant plants that provide them with food. A mixture of floating and marginal plants such as cattails, grasses, and wild rice are ideal. Make sure to plant the plants in areas with low water levels, as these areas can be prime habitat for ducks. You can also place water-sedge plantings near your property, which will serve as a waypoint for passing ducks as well as providing them with food and cover.
Another way to attract wood ducks is by scattering grains near your pond. You can also scatter these grains in shallow waters or along shorelines to attract the birds. Just remember that it’s illegal to hunt near a pond with grains, so make sure you don’t do this. You may even get a fine for it, so it’s important to make sure your ducks’ habitats are in good condition.
