Let’s Scout For Success! Be Where The Ducks Are

Column and Photographs By Conservation Warden Heather Hunt

This article appeared in the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s February 2026 eNewsletter. 

When it comes to successful waterfowl hunts in the new year, you need to be where the ducks are.

How do you do that? Scout!

When I moved to my field station in eastern Oneida County, I had a large new area to learn and to scout for ducks. Instead of just a couple of lakes and agricultural fields as I had back home, I found myself surrounded by the Northwoods and more than 1,000 lakes and rivers. This meant a whole lot more places for the ducks to hide.

When it comes to scouting for ducks — whether you are a new waterfowl hunter looking for some tips or living in a new area in search of tips to find prime duck locations — the same scouting basics apply.

Basic Duck Scouting Tips

• Get out there two to three weeks before the season opener to start learning the waterfowl patterns before hunter disturbance.
• Locate food sources and roosting sites.
• Scout during the early morning and evening hours as waterfowl are most active at those times. Feeding areas in the morning and afternoon, roosting areas in the evening.
• Be sure to scout those locations on sunny, rainy, and windy days since the birds will have different patterns with changing weather.
• Check water level, vegetation, and for duck sign like feathers.

Once You Find Ducks – Do This

• Study how the ducks are feeding. Is it a food source or a roosting site? Make a note on the time of day.
• Next, pay attention to how high they are flying. Locate the areas on the water where they are consistently landing. This will help determine where to set up for hunts.
• Watch if ducks are traveling in big groups. Larger flocks may call for a larger decoy spread.
• Also, remember to watch the weather. Ducks are like airplanes. They prefer to land into the wind most of the time, but not all of the time. Flock size could affect this.

Lessons From My Scouting In Oneida County

I started with a mapping application. I looked for one that shows recent imagery so I could get an idea of the water and vegetation levels. The DNR mapping tool is a good resource to determine whether a lake has public access.

I also used the DNR Surface Water Data Viewer to determine which bodies of water had wild rice. Wild rice is a prime food source for ducks, a fact that was new to me when moving to the Northwoods.

Next, I went out in a boat during those early morning hours or evening hours to locate the ducks using all the tips mentioned in this column. Don’t forget your binoculars and a map to drop a pin.

Once I found ducks, I would start looking for a place to set up for the hunt, observing wind patterns and checking the weather for the next day to determine the best location. I needed a place to set my decoy spread with concealment, and somewhere to stash the boat.

Please don’t feel discouraged if the hunt doesn’t pan out the way you expected. Duck hunting takes a lot of preparation and dedication to be successful, especially when you’re new to the sport or a new area.

And whether you deem it successful or not, it’s always a great day to spend time on a hunt on a beautiful Wisconsin waterbody. You can’t go wrong. Stay safe and enjoy the hunts.