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Thread: Advice on hunting fields

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Langley, BC
    Posts
    36

    Advice on hunting fields

    Hey guys,

    I've been hunting ducks for two years now and I'm working on expanding knowledge, skill and hunting areas. I've spent all of my time hunting in marshes (which I've enjoyed) but when we have cold snaps like this I have a hard time getting the canoe through the ice. I just got permission to hunt on a field in Abbotsford. I still have to go take a look at it but they tell me that when it's not covered in snow a large part of the field is flooded and they often see ducks in it.

    My questions is...what is the right time/conditions to hunt fields as opposed to the marsh - where it seems they would be almost all the time? What do I need to be looking for? And what differences do you find hunting a field as opposed to a marsh?

    Any advice or thought are really helpful! Thanks a lot

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    VI
    Posts
    2,643

    Re: Advice on hunting fields

    Hunting fields in a freeze up is usually fruitless. However, hunting fields right after a freeze up during a thaw can be the best duck hunting of the year.

    In most cases the ducks will not stay on the field, even if its flooded all day/night. Your best bet is to go to the field at first light and watch them for a few hours one morning and set up the next day where you seen them landing.

    Lorne
    Quote Originally Posted by Bear Brawler View Post
    Just lob a couple loaded mouse traps at em like you're playing horse shoes. More humane than bouncing darts off them.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    An Island in the Pacific
    Posts
    757

    Re: Advice on hunting fields

    If the water is not frozen, go watch the field from the warmth of your vehicle. If waterfowl are using the water it will most likely be for food source, drinking water or toilet facility.

    If you feel there is sufficient activity, drop a few decoys in the water or on land, if birds have been observed on land, and use adjacent vegetation etc.as a blind.

    Most activity will be first and/or last light. Good luck.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    kamloops
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    3,851

    Re: Advice on hunting fields

    Although Lorne is obviously one of the most experienced bird hunters around..I will hunt a frozen feild any day of the week they still have to eat...if the ice isn't to thick bust it up and you have a landing pad...

    Lots of good shoots over frozen fields this time of year...I haven't hunted the coast for a couple years but the Pintail and widgeon alway came late when it froze in mission and abbey...watch your Pintail limit.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
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    VI
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    Re: Advice on hunting fields

    Quote Originally Posted by walks with deer View Post
    Although Lorne is obviously one of the most experienced bird hunters around..I will hunt a frozen feild any day of the week they still have to eat...if the ice isn't to thick bust it up and you have a landing pad...

    Lots of good shoots over frozen fields this time of year...I haven't hunted the coast for a couple years but the Pintail and widgeon alway came late when it froze in mission and abbey...watch your Pintail limit.
    I certainly don't claim to know every thing and I agree they do have to eat... However they can't root up any food if its frozen. So they will usually do one of a few things. Come mid day IF there is a bit of a thaw or not at all if it doesn't. You can observe birds coming to fields mid morning during a big freeze up, do one lap of the field and take off. To frozen, not coming. If it doesn't thaw they stay in the estuaries eating or on the rivers eating whatever they can find. The issue waiting for the mid day thaw is it makes them unpredictable. Again, the thaw might not happen at all and then you get a full skunk. If you get a inversion or even overcast, thaw is very unlikely with over night temps -3 or better. If you get full sun during the day and those kind of night temps, the field will usually thaw enough for a bit of mid day action. And that action can be REALLY GOOD.

    But how do you handle that mid day action? do you go at first light and wait hours potentially till you fire your gun? Or do you take a chance and set up mid morning in hopes they aren't already in there? its a toughy!

    I am lucky enough to be able to choose my days and I d personally rather hunt the ocean on a freeze up and wait for a low pressure system to come in and bring the warm/rain and pound on them during normal duck hunting hours ( early to mid morning) when they hit the fields like they haven't eaten in months.

    Lorne
    Last edited by lorneparker1; 12-16-2016 at 09:25 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Bear Brawler View Post
    Just lob a couple loaded mouse traps at em like you're playing horse shoes. More humane than bouncing darts off them.

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