Nov 1, 2017 - Most duck hunters have their spot, that isolated cabin that’s been in the family for decades, the lodge where fathers pass on the tradition to their sons, the public WMA that hides a sweet honey-hole that (hopefully) goes mostly undiscovered.

Sometimes, though, those faithful spots dry up and hunters need to scout new waters. Hopefully, they’re doing it in a War Eagle boat (we think many of them are). Regardless, sometimes it’s necessary to move on until conditions improve.

Realtree’s Duck Blog author Brian Lovett has some advice for doing just that, for scouting out those new spots. Exploration is always good he says, but it’s important to do it right. He lists four key components to do the job right. Here’s a taste:

1. Be Willing: The toughest step often is the first one out the door, he says. “You must be willing to take a risk and see what’s out there.”
2. Pre-Recon: ID the spots you’d like to explore well before the season starts. “Scour aerial photos for hard-to-access potholes, sloughs, lakes, backwaters and timber holes.” Then it’s time to figure out the best way to get there, he says. (War Eagle boats being one option…just sayin’.)
3. Waders on the Ground: If you can’t scout new spots before the season starts, then you can sacrifice a day or two of hunting to explore, or do like Brian does and hunt while you scout. “Grab your gun, but remember to take things slow.”
4. Assess: Use your head, he says. “Piles of empty hulls and shorelines littered with blinds confirm that you probably want to look elsewhere.” And don’t give up on a spot too easily, he reminds hunters.

Good stuff. Read the full post here. Duck season is close - just around the corner. Make sure you’re prepared for a good season.Most duck hunters have their spot, that isolated cabin that’s been in the family for decades, the lodge where fathers pass on the tradition to their sons, the public WMA that hides a sweet honey-hole that (hopefully) goes mostly undiscovered.