Moving-Water Magic

When bitter-cold temperatures freeze marshes, lakes, and flooded fields, waterfowl flock to rivers, creeks, and streams, which often provide the only open water around. However, hunting these moving waters can require some specialized tactics and know-how. We asked the following experts about their strategies for success in these late-season hot spots. Follow their advice and, just maybe, when that first flock of mallards drops into the decoys, you’ll completely forget that you can’t feel your toes.

Safety First

Noah Miller is head guide at Mountain View Mallards in northern Wyoming, where a series of river systems attracts large numbers of migrating waterfowl. When the temperatures really drop, you’ll find mallards, Canada geese, goldeneyes, and other hardy species using the same riffles and runs where you would fish for trout during the summer.

While Miller’s goal is to be ready to hunt when legal shooting time arrives, he advises hunters who are unfamiliar with a particular stretch of water to wait until sunrise, when the visibility improves. “I’m always a little cautious wading into parts of the river that I haven’t hunted before, because I don’t know where the holes or other obstacles are. In those situations, I get all my things ready to go on shore and let the sun come up a bit so I can see what’s going on,” he says. “Sometimes this will give you a chance to see where ducks are going, and you can change locations and set up where the birds are piling in.”

Miller’s advice to beginning hunters is to avoid rivers with swift current and focus on small, shallow streams and spring creeks. When it comes to wading, he cautions all hunters to go slow. “I take one step at a time and kind of get a feel for what’s underneath my boot before I put my entire body weight on it,” he advises. “I’ve still taken my fair share of tumbles. It happens at least once every season.”

Set Up in Slack Water

Miller also likes to avoid swift current when choosing a place to set up. “Ducks and geese don’t like to sit in fast-moving current, so I look for bends that provide areas of shallow, slower-moving water near the shore,” he says. “The birds aren’t afraid to land in the fast current, but they want to have that shallow slack water nearby.”

Even when hunting slower waters, Miller rigs his decoys with the current in mind, preferring six-ounce weights for his duck decoys and eight-ounce weights for geese. He also recommends using X-shaped or mushroom-style weights that will grab rocks on the bottom and hold decoys in place.

When it comes to decoys, Miller is a firm believer in “matching the hatch.” This means that the decoys in his spread are the same species as the real birds he has been seeing in the area, and he sets them in places where you would typically find resting birds. “When it’s cold, most of the birds will be huddled up along the bank, so we put most of our decoys along the shoreline. You’ll also see ducks and geese with their heads tucked under their wings while napping on sandbars and shelf ice, so we’ll put full-bodies and sleeper shells in those areas,” he says.

Motion is also an important consideration. “What I really notice when I’m scouting are those birds in the river that are just kicking water all over the place,” Miller notes. “So, while I personally don’t like running a ton of spinners, I love to add a little motion on the water with some sort of agitator or splasher motion decoy that provides that realistic movement.”

While Miller puts most of his decoys along shore, he strategically places a few Canada goose and mallard decoys in the main channel for visibility and to provide room for skittish birds to decoy. “We’ll always put a few honkers and ducks a little farther out from the bulk of the spread. You don’t want every decoy up tight against the bank.”

Small-Water Setups

Western Nebraska is a major stopover for migrating mallards, Canada geese, and other waterfowl, especially late in the season when the region’s open water and agricultural food resources attract massive numbers of birds. And while many hunters target the birds on large rivers like the North Platte, it’s the smaller waterways that can present some of the hottest hunting opportunities when the weather is cold.

“Some of the warm-water creeks that I’ve hunted are only 10 or 15 feet wide, but they can be absolutely dynamite for mallards and other ducks late in the season,” explains Ross Juelfs, owner of Stanco Experience in Gering, Nebraska. “The hunting seems to be really good when it’s cold, snowing, and the wind is really ripping. I think the birds like to get off the main channel of the river and tuck into the protection that small water provides.”

For increased visibility, Juelfs includes full-body mallard decoys in his spread, which he places on sandbars and areas of shallow water. Another trick he uses is to include a few black duck decoys to help catch the eyes of birds in passing flocks. “There is usually so much vegetation along the creek bank that the decoys tend to disappear, so I do whatever I can to help make them stand out,” he says. “Motion is also important for that reason, so I’ll throw a couple of splasher-style decoys right in the middle of the landing hole to create some movement.”

 Additionally, Juelfs calls aggressively to catch the attention of passing birds. “Calling helps direct the birds’ attention to the tight little spot where I’m set up, and I’ll get even more aggressive on the call if I start losing birds to other stretches of the creek.”

When it comes to concealment, Juelfs positions his blinds 10 to 20 yards from the edge of the water, which helps keep the birds from spotting hunters and, in some cases, allows him to take advantage of better cover. “Remember that you’re dealing with a pretty narrow band of water, so you don’t have to be right on top of your decoys to have shots well within range,” he says.

Crank Up the Volume

Calling late-season ducks and geese while hunting on rivers can be a lot of fun, explains Missouri hunter Tony Vandemore, because the birds are often very vocal and responsive to calling. “I’ve hunted the Missouri River for years, and it’s my experience that you can really lean into the call for both ducks and geese late in the season,” Vandemore says. “As a caller, you love to see the birds react to the call. Don’t be afraid to get after those birds when they are flying a river channel.”

As the birds get closer, Vandemore tones down the volume, but if they begin to lose interest, he’ll ratchet up the volume again to bring them back. “Really, wherever you’re hunting, you’ve got to watch the reaction of the birds,” he says. “They will tell you what they want to hear.”

Stay on the Edge

Water levels on rivers and streams are constantly changing, but one tried-and-true fact is that ducks and geese will stay right on the edge. “The birds know where that water line is, because that’s where they are going to find new areas of food and new places to rest,” explains veteran Arkansas waterfowler Rusty Creasey. “And as a hunter, that’s exactly where you want to be.”

Modern online tools, like the mapping app OnX, can provide nearly real-time updates on water levels, allowing you to pinpoint where the birds are likely to be taking advantage of rising or falling water levels. “But nothing beats good old-fashioned boots-on-the-ground scouting,” Creasey says. “You just have to get out there and find the ducks.”