Continued from Waterfowl Hunting 101 – Part 1.

Another way to scout an area is to ask local residents what they’ve seen around the area. Even mailmen or others who frequent the area may be able to give you some tips.

Study the flight path and typical landing areas of the waterfowl you hunt. Find out where the birds want to be, so that when you come back to hunt, you set up in their favorite spot. If you choose the wrong location and try to call the birds to where you want them to land, all your calling and pleading may fail if the birds choose to land just out of shooting range.

Despite all your best scouting efforts, changes in weather or a sudden shift in the birds’ habits can turn a hot spot into a cold one, so be prepared to change your strategy if necessary.

If you hunt on public land, try to find spots with less hunting pressure. These areas are generally harder to get to, but they will be worth the effort, and fewer hunters will attempt to take over your spot if it’s cumbersome to reach.

To beat the hunting pressure, you can also try arriving earlier or staying later than other hunters, or you can use the opposite strategy of your competition—for example, set out more or less decoys than other hunters in the area.