As a new duck hunter, it’s important to start preparing before you go duck hunting. Here are some basic tips for duck hunting.

If you're new to duck hunting and don't have someone experienced to guide you, then you'll need to complete a hunter safety course, obtain the necessary license, purchase the appropriate gear, learn how to identify duck species, follow hunting regulations, and learn how to scout, set decoys, range, call, and shoot. These are the basics.

But once you start duck hunting and become hooked on shooting ducks with decoys, there's no going back. Waterfowl enthusiasts have become obsessed with the sport faster than any other hunting group, and here are the main reasons:

1) The season is long, and we can hunt often.

2) Watching mainland waterfowl migrate each fall and then calling and coaxing these birds up close is a special experience.

3) The wide range of North American duck season allows you to quickly become a better hunter, as it begins in Canada in September and ends in Mexico in early March.

Duck hunters are gear fanatics, which often leads us to be more obsessed with the tools we use to hunt ducks than the ducks themselves. Most of us end up filling our garages with decoys and blinds and pulling high-priced duck boats behind beat-up cars.

Bait

If you are a hunter who prefers hunting on foot or by boat, foam-filled buoys are an ideal choice because they reduce the overall weight. Although they may not always look as realistic as flocked molded baits, they do allow you to carry more of them.

Alternatively, you can go with heavier and more durable baits. These types of baits are usually more expensive, but they last longer. As the bait ages, heavier lures will not require repainting or flocking.

I am less concerned about the appearance of field decoys and more concerned about their durability. This is because mallards are more attracted to spinnerbaits when feeding in the fields. In other words, the most durable baits are usually the best-looking wild baits. Cheaper baits are easier to break and may not last as long.