There is less than a week left in duck season and the weather is cooperating perfectly! Although no one other than duck hunters are thrilled with this forecast, we have another stretch of good cold weather to keep the birds moving. The cold weather and the snow cover has moved a lot of ducks into the southern states.
Unfortunately, high water levels has made duck hunting in Georgia very difficult. Many of the rivers, creeks and swamps have swollen well beyond their banks creating back water sloughs and flooded timber. With more water available, ducks are spread across the areas. This is making it difficult to find the large groups. Further north, as areas freeze it locks all the ducks into smaller areas and often gives you opportunities at large groups. The good news is with the ducks still being paired up and small flocks, you don’t need as many decoys. The hunters hunting in the northern states are having to put out large decoy spreads.
We were asked a question last week- “Is it okay to leave your decoys out?” In the major flyways, the hunters will leave out their decoys for the majority of the season. If you are getting new birds in your area on a regular basis, then absolutely leave them out. If you are hunting mostly local birds or birds that have been in the area for more than a week, then we don’t recommend leaving out your decoys for more than a day at a time.
The last thing we want to remind everyone is to be safe while duck hunting. There have been several hunting accidents this year that included a Georgia duck hunter drowning. Remember our ice for the most part is not safe to walk across in Georgia. Also, wind is not something to mess with in any situation. Obviously, depending on your boat size or if you walk in hunt, you can handle more or less wind. Just watch the constant changing weather at these cold temps and very windy days. We want everyone to have a good time, but still go home to their families!
Dirt Road Dispatch 