I just taught a Waterfowl ID class for my club. This was the largest class that I have taught. I had 26 people. BTW, students included two DEC biologists and a bay constable.
I hope that this signals a renewal in waterfowling interest on Long Island. At one time you had to be in the water well before sunrise and then fight for your spot. Now you have the whole bay to yourself.
If anyone on the forum has noticed a similar renewed interest I would love to hear about it. Maybe there is hope for the sport.
Last season I noticed and was not too happy about the amount of hunters that were showing up in spots that I used to have all to myself. I am happy about the renewed interest but I am not too happy about having to compete for limited spots. Just my two cents.
I don't want too much competition either but here the lack of interest leads to loss of political clout and the resulting loss of access points and hunting opportunities. It is an increasing problem.
It is a continuing learning experience. I have been at it for 34yrs. and still manage to learn a few new things each and every year. IF you could predict to a "T" what Mother Nature has in store, then you best by a lotto ticket pronto fast....
As a novice, the best thing you can do is hunt with someone who is experienced.
In addition to that:
1) Pattern your waterfowl load at the distance you will be shooting at
2) Pattern your gun for point of impact (POI)
3) Practice at the range wearing your hunting clothes
4) Scout a couple of days before you actually shoot and ID the species ahead of time. The ducks you see scouting are very likely the ones you will see when hunting
5) Get a copy of Ducks At A Distance and put it in a ziploc bag and bring it with you.
6) If you can, get a copy of a video tape that was narrated by Grits Gresham. It is an excellent tape. It not only discusses markings on the duck but also addresses identifying ducks by flight characteristics. (When I can I will get the title for you.)
7) Don't forget that you can also go out and practice IDing after the season is over.
The more you get out there to observe, the better you will get. I am very impressed by those who can ID waterfowl at great distances when you can't see any colors on the birds. They ID just by flock and flight and wingbeat characteristics.
Biggest mistakes: even seasoned hunters have poor shooting skills; people shoot at birds before they can positively ID them; misidentifying birds
I hope you have a good season. You're on the right track by trying to learn as much as possible.
The videotape that I referred to is DUCK IDENTIFICATION, Leisure Time Products, 3M Sportsman's Video Collection. It's not new but it is an excellent resource.
I just need to get some field time and see things first hand. below pic is one my buddy took yesterday of the Bay, it's pretty sad. I'm stopping out there tonight after work to get a better idea of the trails so it's not that awkward walking in the dark (yes we should have done better scouting preseason, our fault I admit).
I think there's always an upsurge in waterfowling interest when the hatch is big. You'll see some of those same "new" folks fade away during the lean years. Everyone wants it easy and when it's not only the ones that really enjoy it stick with it.
George we need more people like you out there to put on classes on waterfowl ID and hunting ethics. To many of them watch these hunting shows and then want to go out there and shoot anything that flies. I don't start shooting until it's light enough to clearly ID what I'm shooting even if I have to wait a half hour or more after legal shooting time. I also don't want the birds to see the muzzle flash and then they get spooked about flying around cover.
Duck ID is easy just start out going before you are old enough to shoot. The way you prove that you have learned how to identify ducks is to be able to tell your dad every duck that gets shot that morning before the dog brings it back. Heck, you gotta be able to pick out a hen mallard, cause that is where bands come from!
There is def an increasing interest in waterfowl. I thank/blame duck dynasty. Im glad that new people like the sport i love. But it comes at a price. We already talked a little about this in the 'it flies it dies' thread.
So many new people do not have the knowledge and experience that is needed to be care for the sport.
as for ID birds, i dont even think i could tell you how i do it. Because i was asked on a teal hunt recently. My new hunting partner, who has never hunted before, was about to shoot into a flock of black bellied whistling ducks. I told him to not shoot, and he asked me how i knew they were not teal. The only answer i had was 'because they are not teal'.
It takes a life time to be able to ID ducks at a distance, and even up close it is hard. I go out to a local lake or two and sit on the bank and talk to ducks via calls. It is really helpful in scouting, calling, ID, sitting still, enjoying nature, dog steadiness, and more.
Was pretty cool to get out this weekend and figure out how to go about things. Checked about 8 different spots all along the Bay. Things really change with historic low water levels. The below pic was taken Saturday on the south side of the Bay of Green (Bay?). We were standing on the edge of the cattails looking north. There are some spots where you can see out 4-500 yards before any viable water. Some one little group of small ducks here but most birds were to the north where we sat in the evening. There we mainly saw cranes. :-x Although we did have two ducks come swimming near us at about 100 yards for over an hour. I think I need to invest in a green/brown 5 gallon bucket so I can get comfortable!
Looks pretty tough but I know what I would try. If I could walk out on that mud, I would dig in a coffin box. I would also employ some tricks to get ducks into that tiniest bit of water. If you think hard, you might even come up with some ideas to create some "water".
Renewed Interest; The HRC club up here put on a duck calling seminar, I had my doubts that we would be able to fill it, but come seminar day and we had to turn people away. It was completely full up, with mostly first time hunters, a few ladies, and a few kids. The youngsters were hysterical, definitely not bashful. Took a little longer for the adult to come out of their shells, but we succeeded in disrupting an entire shooting park by the end of the day.
Actually I am glad to hear of a renewed interest. I hope that is what we have here. There is a tradition that may be lost unless we get some new blood here on Long Island.
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