Question about timber

[velcro]

I have always hunted flooded fields, but I have the opportunity to hunt some flooded timber and have some questions.
If you had access to both, what conditions would make you hunt the timber instead of the fields. I have always heard sunny and no wind = timber, cloudy and windy = field. Is that a good guideline, or does it really matter? I have also been having trouble working birds in lately in the fields and am wondering if it might be easier in the timber.

[Wingman]

I think the main difference is what the ducks can see. In fields, they can see a gnat fart from a mile away. In the timber, you don't even need a face mask if you hunt in the shadows.

This time of year and later, anything square, dark or shiny in a field is a no-no.

I think they eat when they're hungry and they rest when they're not hungry.

If the moon is bright, they eat at night. What they do after they get full is look for a place to loaf...whether it be a field or an old fishpond or a brake. I have seen them come in to timber on clear days after around 10 in the morning. I suspect they are feeding at night and coming to rest during the day in the timber. On those hunts, shooting was slim to none before about 10.

Just today I witnessed an instant, mass feeding frenzy at 5:30 pm. No ducks whatsoever in the fields until 5:30 and then BAM! They show up, from a refuge I suppose, to feed after dark.

When it's 70 degrees out, they don't need the "hot" foods like corn, rice and soybeans...so they may hang out in places that have grass seeds or other natural foods because they don't have to fly to fields for the extra energy in cereal crops. I've seen fishponds grown up in sesbania and smartweed hold thousands of ducks when adjacent rice fields held none.

With the moon like it is now, my guess would be to try the timber and don't leave before noon.

[River Hunter]

I like the river on blue bird days the ducks can see the dekes from a long way out but i have also had success on cloudy days

[Meeka]

I have never been able to draw a correlation between fields and clouds v woods and clear days. Thats just me. But I can tell you I killed ducks this week based upon the sunny places thaw first principle! Ice tends to form in the timber quicker cause there is less wind and more shade and tends to stay longer in the shade. And there is usually a very interesting reason there is no ice where ice should be.

Also, I am like Wingman, I believe the moon plays a HUGE role. I've started noting it in my journal. That early, first light shooting don't happen much when you got a full moon, and the ones that do fly do so about 15-20 minutes before shooting time.

JMO

[mottlet]

If there's timber with water in it, I like to hunt it. I don't think sunny/cloudy plays that huge of a role. Many more important factors are at stake. What's the water level? Is it rising, dropping, or holding steady? When does this particular piece of timber get good, based on these conditions? Knowing what it takes to put all of these factors together to make a good hunt comes from scouting...not just looking on the internet for a report and the weather channel.

Fields are tough. Especially late in the year. You can't have a small number of dekes. You can't have too many. You have to have just enough. In my experiece, one spot in a field is usually just a good for a duck as any other. There's rice or beans in the whole thing. You have to convince the ducks that your spot is the good place. You have to have dekes and calling, but most ducks don't like decoys or calling this time of year. Ah the frustrations of fields. I do like cloudy days in fields. The ducks don't seems to QUITE so eagle-eyed.

On the other hand, if you're in the right spot in the timber and there are birds in the area, you can usually kill 'em. Conversely, hunting a field that tons of ducks have been using doesn't mean you'll have a good hunt.

mottlet

[BeastMaster]

if you have a choice follow this simple rule: HUNT WHERE THEY ARE, NOT WHERE THEY AREN'T !!

[Po Monkey Lounger]

Give me the timber!! The only "gumbo" I like is the kind you eat.

IF sunny and not too much wind, the timber is the best place to be to kill ducks ---- tight timber or open water timber. IF high wind, cloudy, raining, head to the more open water timber --- try to avoid the tight timber in these conditions. These are just my opinions based upon a few years of observations and many fifths of Old Charter ----I could be wrong.

[Money]

High wind, cloudy and raining....stay in the bunk and hit the ol' charter.

[Po Monkey Lounger]

[Copen]

Hunt the timber! We hunted flooded timber over the New Years weekend and it was cloud the last day we hunted and they were pouring in. We have had luck on cloudy windy days, cloudy no wind days, sunny windy days, and sunny no wind days. If you have timber with clear water and ample food you have a good duck hole. Ducks need to be able to see the leaves under the water so they know food is in there.


Just my two pennies!

[velcro]

I appreciate all the suggestions.
I tried a timber hunt Sunday and it seems that it will be a lot easier than fields - gonna be a whole new learning curve though.

[dukbum]

dont forget the old starter....its a must in the timber hole

[velcro]

old starter

[dukbum]

"OLD CHARTER" inside joke there dude...sorry....makes for a good drink