This fall I plan on trying duck hunting for the first time. My family owns a large swamp which holds a good amount of wood ducks. My question is, do wood ducks respond well to calling? I see a lot of calling for Mallards and other ducks, but little for wood ducks. They seem to come in later in the evenings, hopeing a little calling would bring them in a little earlier. Thanks for the information.

Paul

They respond to calling pretty well but if you really want to get them to come in go out and buy a wood duck call. Big River Game Calls makes a really good one.

Yeah I agree with take-em...I would use a wood duck call. Setting up wood duck decoys isn't a bad idea either. In the past I've hunted them without calls at times and just shot them as they were going by the decoys.

Thanks for the information, I think I will pick up a wood duck call. As for decoys, the swamp I'm hunting is pretty thick with underbrush. It has small pockets of open water, and a small pond at one edge. Where are the best places to set-up? Do you think making a blind would be a good idea? Thanks

Paul

Having a blind really cant hurt so if you have the extra time/money it wouldn't be a bad idea. I dont think it is an absolute must as long as you got camo and can sit still fairly well. As far as where to setup I would say wherever you see the most ducks. You know the land better than me so it would be your call.

Booney160 Where do you live here? in Va. most of our Woodies are gone by Nov. (opening day) we have a short season in Oct. when we count on getting them. My approach would be different from the other guys not saying one is better than the other I think situations are different. From What you are discribing I wouldn't build a blind if there is adquit cover (My theory is the best blind is no blind) I would also set out 8 to 10 Mallard decoys spread out in the pockets and give them just a few soft quacks not getting carried away with the calling. You just want the ducks to see the decoys they should come around. Also if you have a MoJo decoy I have seen Woodies practically take there heads off sitting down at a MoJo. Good Luck

A blind is always nice , for woodys I like a simple bench behind some brush .
I set my wood duck decoys a few feet away from the brush or cat tail line.
If you plan on AM hunts ,make the blind easy axcess ,splashing thru the swamp will scare all the woodies out before shooting time. Talking ect will flush them out early also.
Also find out where the birds go to feed , then move to shoot the birds as they leave the swamp. High speed low light pass shooting .
For the AM hunts decoys are realy not needed.
For PM hunts ,thats when I bother to put out decoys.

Have fun

Johnch

With woodies you can get em as long as you are where they wanna be IMO, but the other stuff will prolly help out!!!