Newbie brothers looking for advice

[McBeard]

My four brothers and I are fairly new to waterfowl hunting (past 4 seasons for me, past 2 for my brothers) and public state land is just not working. We just can't seem to find many birds no matter where we go. It's almost as if the birds know to stay away. So I was just wondering if there was a better way to go about this whole thing?

[NuffDaddy]

Where you from?
What does the land look like where you hunt?
Do you scout?
Are there a lot of other hunters?
Can you get access to private land?
Are you willing to lease?
Is there a possibility you can get with a more experienced hunter to show you the ropes?

[Eric Haynes]

Internet scouting for sure.

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[NuffDaddy]

Internet scouting for sure.

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The Internet can help you a ton. Figure out where all the public land is in your area, then get on google earth and look for places that look ducky. Then put some gas in the truck and put on your hiking shoes and check them out. That's the best public land advice I can give you.

[Redbeard]

This is such a great thread

[McBeard]

Where you from?
What does the land look like where you hunt?
Do you scout?
Are there a lot of other hunters?
Can you get access to private land?
Are you willing to lease?
Is there a possibility you can get with a more experienced hunter to show you the ropes?

Northeast Indiana
Marsh's, ponds, green fields, corn fields. Prime land for waterfowl.
Don't scout much. All state lands are 45+ min. away.
There's always other hunters... Public land.
I need to get access to private, I'm thinking this is the only real way to hunt. Don't know anyone w/ land though.
Leasing isn't an option. (2yr. old + one on the way + poor job = ZERO $$)
I know a guy, but he is only in town long enough for early Teal & Goose before work takes him back home to Texas.

[Redbeard]

Where you from?
What does the land look like where you hunt?
Do you scout?
Are there a lot of other hunters?
Can you get access to private land?
Are you willing to lease?
Is there a possibility you can get with a more experienced hunter to show you the ropes?

Northeast Indiana
Marsh's, ponds, green fields, corn fields. Prime land for waterfowl.
Don't scout much. All state lands are 45+ min. away.
There's always other hunters... Public land.
I need to get access to private, I'm thinking this is the only real way to hunt. Don't know anyone w/ land though.
Leasing isn't an option. (2yr. old + one on the way + poor job = ZERO $$)
I know a guy, but he is only in town long enough for early Teal & Goose before work takes him back home to Texas.

sounds to me like scouting is your only option. Between the four of ya, I can't imagine gas should be that bad

[JGUN]

You're just going to have to put in the time driving around and scouting. Also start knocking on farmers doors now and ask permissions the worst they can say is no. Google earth is you're friend too so you can find secluded ponds and such. Good luck.

[McBeard]

Internet scouting for sure.

Sent from my LG-L38C using Tapatalk 2

The Internet can help you a ton. Figure out where all the public land is in your area, then get on google earth and look for places that look ducky. Then put some gas in the truck and put on your hiking shoes and check them out. That's the best public land advice I can give you.

I figured this was our big down fall. We/I never scout because of the distance of where the public land is. We usually just head out early that day & scope out posted maps once we get there.

[McBeard]

Other problem is that my brothers aren't into this like I am. I have to call them and see if the want to go or they probably would never hunt. So this is all on me...

[McBeard]

Have been going through other threads in the Greenhorn forum and apparently I have broke a few cardinal rules, so I apologize for using the word newbie in my thread title and then asking where to hunt. I guess these are big pet peeves.

[NuffDaddy]

Your best bet is to find places on google earth that look good, then take a Saturday a week or 2 before season and spend sunrise to sunset looking for birds and writing down what you see when and where. Then you'll have a starting point for the season. When your hunting be mobile. If there are no birds, go to a different spot you have picked out. Keep a log of all your hunts with weather and activity along with each spot you hunted and how you hinted it. Might take a year or 2, but you'll eventually get an idea on what to do and when to do it.
Time and money is the name of the game though if you want birds.

[NuffDaddy]

Have been going through other threads in the Greenhorn forum and apparently I have broke a few cardinal rules, so I apologize for using the work newbie in my thread title and then asking where to hunt. I guess these are big pet peeves.

Just don't ask for specific places and youll be fine. We all put in our time and money to find spots and don't just give out the locations willy-nilly.
I didn't see anything wrong with your post though.

[triplecurl]

Other problem is that my brothers aren't into this like I am. I have to call them and see if the want to go or they probably would never hunt. So this is all on me...

It sucks not having someone to split costs with, but if I have to constantly call someone to get them to go I would quit calling. If someone doesn't want to take the time to scout and find birds with me, then they aren't going when I find them. I have people that frequently say they want to hunt but when it comes time to scout, they are nowhere to be found.

[assateague]

Other problem is that my brothers aren't into this like I am. I have to call them and see if the want to go or they probably would never hunt. So this is all on me...

It sucks not having someone to split costs with, but if I have to constantly call someone to get them to go I would quit calling. If someone doesn't want to take the time to scout and find birds with me, then they aren't going when I find them. I have people that frequently say they want to hunt but when it comes time to scout, they are nowhere to be found.

This. I hunt alone 99% of the time, and enjoy the hell out of it. Sounds like you may have a better time without the dead weight, as well. At least some of the times. Plus, when it's just you, you don't have to worry about making anybody else happy by being the "guide", and putting them on the ducks.

[Tomkat]

If you and your brothers all went in together you could save up and hire a guide or get a lease.

[3legged_lab]

Also, if a hunt you picked and planned turns to crap on you just make it into a s outing trip. You're already there, make the best of it.

[Rick]

Other problem is that my brothers aren't into this like I am. I have to call them and see if the want to go or they probably would never hunt. So this is all on me...

I saw it as a problem when I thought you were all four anxious to get into waterfowling together, because few who know the ropes will be willing and/or able to take four new guys under their wing at once. Assuming you can split that crew, my advice is to find and become active in your local DU and Delta Waterfowl chapters and hunting retriever test club. The later even if you don't currently have a retriever to test with them, as club and training groups within it will appreciate your interest and help. Know I joined the local HRC chapter to help find a good retriever pup after moving to Louisiana, went to the meetings, helped with training and test days and soon literally had more private and public land hunting invites than I could accept.

[Tomkat]

McBeard,
Water fowling requires a lot of time, money, effort, and patience.

If your brothers don't have the fire, you would do well to buddy up with a more experienced hunter. They will be more willing to take one greenhorn under their wing as opposed to 4 IMO.

Joining DU or Delta would get you the connections and info you need.

[3legged_lab]

Shoulda just quoted rick and said "X2"

[Redbeard]

I'd recommend you split from the group and find an experienced hunter to help you learn the sport.

And in the meantime look into joining your local DU or Delta waterfowl groups for possible contacts.

[AKPirate]

Go it alone since you will learn more.

DU and Delta are great sources of info and contacts.

[Tomkat]

I'd recommend you split from the group and find an experienced hunter to help you learn the sport.

And in the meantime look into joining your local DU or Delta waterfowl groups for possible contacts.

I wish I would have said that.



Oh wait....

[Bootlipkiller]

I'd recommend you split from the group and find an experienced hunter to help you learn the sport.

And in the meantime look into joining your local DU or Delta waterfowl groups for possible contacts.

This^
I would also recommend joining CWA.

[Tiler_J]

I would say, dump the brothers and join DU or some other group like that. Find some experienced hunters to help you out.

[3legged_lab]

I don't know if anyone already mentioned it yet, but you may want to join some kind of duck hunting association and ditch the dead weight.

[triplecurl]

Another thing, if a hunt you planned turns out to be a bust, just make it into a scouting trip. You're already there, make the best of it.

[AKPirate]

sometimes the best scouting is done when a hunt does not go as planned

[3legged_lab]

Ha ha!

[Redbeard]

This is such a great thread