Duck Hunting in Missouri: Tips to Even the Odds

If there is one thing we have stressed repeatedly, it is the fact that waterfowl are especially intelligent animals. Ducks and geese are able to observe and learn from their “experiences” on a daily basis. They can be the hungriest birds on the planet, but if they have come under fire in a similar setting in a particular area, they will approach that area very cautiously.

If you are going to have a successful duck hunting trip in Missouri, you are going to need some duck hunting tips to help you even the odds. Some of these you can do on your own, while others may require the help of an experienced friend. Better yet, book a guided duck hunting trip with Show Me Snow Geese and learn from the best!

•  Duck Calling – calling is something you really need to perfect before you put in play on an actual hunt. There are different techniques and calls that should be used for every situation and if you are not familiar with and do not have them down pat, you could ruin the hunt for everyone. However, an effective caller can draw in the waterfowl and dramatically increase your chances of bagging the daily limit. If you do not have a friend that is considered an “expert” caller, book a trip and learn from the guides.
• Better Decoying – ducks like shallow water, but that may not be where your particular hunting grounds are located. While they are smart, they can still be fooled by using full-bodied decoys in a deeper water setting. You may have to adjust the length of the rods on your decoys, but it is an investment that will pay off.
• Small Water Hunting – some hunters will simply dismiss small water areas…this is a mistake. In fact, for a hunter on his or her own with limited resources, this will actually work in your favor. You can set up a smaller decoy set of approximately a dozen or so decoys, while leaving room for some “friends” to share in the feast. The realistic spread will give a smaller flock the sense of security that it is safe to land there and feed. Little do they know you are lying in wait!
• Movement Works – if you are not creating realistic movement in your decoy spreads, you are going to have a problem over the long haul. Something as simple as a jerkcord can create realistic movement that will help lure in the waterfowl to your kill zone.
•  Look the Part – make sure you gear matches the terrain so you are not visible in the air. This includes using camo on your face so the shine of that pretty face (easily accomplished with some burnt cork or face paint) of yours does not alert the birds that someone is in wait on the ground.
• Listen to the Boss – every group needs a leader, and that leader should be the hunter with the most experience and  best caller in your group. It should be up to the “boss” to decide when the  shot is called to ensure that no one fires too soon and flairs the birds away before they get close enough for everyone to hit.