Perching ducks don’t migrate much, and they like to make homes in the holes of trees. I like a 3-inch load of No. Many birders got their first personal interactions with wild birds by feeding ducks at local parks or urban ponds. 5 Ways to Take More Wood Ducks It seems that the wood duck’s survival strategies include behaving far differently than typical dabblers, thereby eluding hunters who cling to conventional tactics. Located on the outskirts of Ockendon in Upminster, Essex Puddledock Farm Fishery hosts some of the finest fishing lakes in Essex and boasts an on-site cafe and well stocked bait and tackle shop. One thing I'd definitely advise people to do when shooting wood ducks is to watch them closely when they fall and be ready for a follow-up shot. Wood duck, Aix sposa, is one of a very few perching ducks that live in North America. Thanks for any input. Baiting Fields for Ducks Posted by Geauxtiga on 8/30/10 at 7:43 pm When I did, I would put rice in burlap sacks. 4s for wood ducks, and I usually use a modified choke. Let me explain. Knowing what to feed ducks can help provide the birds with a healthy diet so future generations can enjoy this activity safely both for themselves and for the birds they want to feed. Researchers use a variety of techniques to capture waterfowl for banding. As a final touch, I position wood duck decoys closer to cover than I … Make sure that your pond or lake has sides that gradually slope as opposed to being steep, for easier exit and entry for ducks. In autumn, bait traps were effective in trap- ping nearly equal numbers of adult and juvenile, male and female Wood Ducks (Table 1). Wood Duck Habits. Wood ducks are often captured while inhabiting nest boxes. Most prairie ducks are caught in baited traps. In 1918 this bird was near extinction due to habitat loss and hunting. After they were VERY saturated and rotting I'd cut a few slits in the sacks. Wood duck and acorns are like peas and carrots, a perfect, natural combination. Woodies show far greater ambivalence toward decoy spreads, they’re less tolerant of habitats near civilization, and their haphazard use of creeks and river systems I shoot a Benelli Nova 12-gauge. During field hunts, I leave the duck decoys at home and use all full-body goose decoys. Spinning-wing decoys work sometimes, especially early in the season. Also, does putting unnaturally occuring acorns in a swamp constitute baiting ? That’s why creeks make perfect habitat for wood ducks. true for Mallards and Wood Ducks with bait trap- ping success higher in autumn (0.34) than in spring (0.20). They nest in tree cavities, they perch on branches, they squeal and whistle instead of quack and chuckle, and they love small water and thick cover. Motion is critical, both for visibility’s sake and because decoys amidst slack water scream fraudulence to wood ducks. The drake Wood Duck is considered one of the most beautiful species of waterfowl in North America. For water hunts, I throw out six to 12 wood duck decoys to attract the attention of birds and perhaps slow them down for a split second. Puddledock Farm fishery has four different lakes which host a good mix of species in a varied habitat. I like to place a dozen woodie decoys upwind of the blind, with a spinning-wing decoy or small jerk rig in between. At some eider colonies, researchers use hunting dogs to help locate and catch nesting hens in thick vegetation. Photograph by Donald M. Jones Among dabbling ducks, woodies are most unusual. Fortunately, wildlife management has protected this species to the point that it is one of the most common ducks in the Eastern United States today. I know wood ducks eat acorns up without a second thought, but aside from woodies, what other puddle ducks eat them? Many common duck species, such as mallards, wood ducks, and shovelers prefer shallower water that is a few feet or less in depth.