By Chelsea Royer
In the past few years, hunting has resurfaced as a popular American pastime. Thanks to the likes of television shows like “Duck Dynasty,” more and more people have developed an interest in hunting — and more specifically, duck hunting. If you’ve considered trying out the sport firsthand but haven’t made it out into the wilderness yet, here are some tips. There’s more to it than you might think.
Sonny Quinnett has been duck hunting for 65 years. These days he often hunts with a dog or quad, but he remembers his days living in California when all he had was a shotgun and some paper bags for decoys. It was just as fun then as it is now. But for new hunters in Grays Harbor, Sonny recommends a few extra essentials to help stay dry.
What You’ll Need
Sonny recommends stocking up on a few of the necessities: a shotgun, a pair of waders, waterproof camouflage outer layers, lead-free shotgun shells, and a few duck decoys.
Many of the items on this list can be bought second-hand to make the sport more affordable. On television and in magazines you’ll often see hunters with enormous spreads of duck decoys, but this isn’t necessary for a good hunt. Look on Craigslist and at garage sales for gently used decoys. You can have great hunts with under a dozen of them. “It is more about being in the areas ducks want to be,” says Sonny. “It doesn’t matter how many decoys you have or how much water is around. If the ducks don’t like that spot, you won’t shoot a thing.”
Hunting etiquette is important, as is following the strict hunting regulations. Some things to keep in mind are to steer clear of other hunters, not only for safety purposes but to be respectful, too. Don’t be close enough that you potentially interfere with another’s hunt. If you’ve run out of room, it can’t hurt asking to join a fellow hunter, but only do that before shooting light.
“The best part of hunting is calling the ducks in [with a duck call] and having them enter your shooting range,” says Sonny. Duck hunting is a sport for those who are truly invested. Not only is there cost involved, but getting up at 3:00 a.m. in order to reach a good location before shooting light is often a reality. Much of the time, ideal hunting conditions involve wind and rain or icy water.
Where to Hunt
In order to know where the ducks are, it’s a good idea to scout out potential hunting locations prior to the start of the season. Learn where the ducks are and at what time of the day they are there. This is also a good time to ask permission of landowners to hunt on their property. Start practicing your duck calls on an entry level call, but don’t bring it to the hunt. Instead, start with a widgeon whistle — it is easy to use and a great tool for beginners.
Duck hunting certainly isn’t for everyone. But according to Sonny, the challenge is what makes the tradition fun and important. “Passing on the heritage is important,” he says. “The money made from things like hunting licenses go toward waterfowl refuges and helps preserve the population.” It seems odd that the biggest funder for preserving wild ducks comes from the people who want to shoot them. But of all people, responsible hunters want to help maintain stable populations of whatever animal they’re hunting.
Additional Tips
Below are some simple tips and resources to get you started on your duck hunting journey:
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There are limits to how many birds you can shoot a day and if you plan on eating your game, not all waterfowl tastes the same. For good meat, hunt ducks that feed primarily on rice and grains. Photo credit: Andrew Gross, Don’t trash the environment. Be respectful of nature and don’t leave garbage behind.
- Be respectful of the game you hunt. If you are doubtful that you’ll make the shot, don’t take it. As often as possible, make clean kills and only take shots with which you feel comfortable.
- Be knowledgeable about different types of waterfowl. It’ll help you stick to the hunting regulations as well as make you a better hunter. Here is a practical guide.
- Know the regulations well and bring a copy with you. You can find it at most places hunting permits can be purchased. Or you can look it up online here.
- Scout out locations in advance of your hunt. If you aren’t sure of how to go about getting permission to hunt on private land, here is a map of legal places to duck hunt in Washington State. Be smart – don’t trespass.
- Bring a buddy with you or at the very least, let someone know where you will be hunting and when you plan to return.
- Duck hunting season is October 17 through October 21 and October 24 through January 31. Get your hunter’s safety permit and/or hunting license as soon as possible!
