8 Tips For Wood Duck Hunting

Wood ducks are one of my favorite birds to target while duck hunting so I figured I'd make a tips video where I share some of the things to do or not do while getting after woodies. Let me know what tips you have for hunting wood ducks or just how your waterfowl season is going in the comments section. Thanks for watching!
Tip #1 : Look For Acorns - 0:45
Tip #2 : Scout Out The X - 2:38
Tip #3 : Keep The Spread Small, Have Motion - 4:31
Tip #4 : Drop Down A Shot Size Or Two - 6:35
Tip #5 : Don’t Be Late In The Morning - 7:20
Tip #6 : Set Up Where You Can See Them Coming In - 8:58
Tip #7 : Make the Right Sounds On Your Woodie Call - 10:15
Tip #8 : Try Straying From Conventional Tactics - 12:21
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[@FL7ID]

“Tip number one, bait with acorns” got it lmao

[@HokeOutdoors]

Lol if you wanna spend the time gathering enough acorns to make a difference then more power to ya

[@addisonestes1219]

Spot on my friend. Same thing for us in Georgia. Depend heavily on the mighty wood duck.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thank you. Not a bad to have as a staple bird in my opinion!

[@addisonestes1219]

Virginia Outdoors Unlimited in most cases yes. Where I’m at, we struggle to get much else. Until January then the divers come in.

[@addisonestes1219]

Brandon Lee west Georgia. Georgia power lakes. I thought Juliette did pretty well?

[@addisonestes1219]

Brandon Lee same here. Motor too big. There’s some good walk in spots from what I understand

[@backwatermcfly7930]

Addison Estes it’s dead, to many competition around Juliette specially with that DU refuge up top and how they stay at the water above the power plant

[@samjackson884]

Thank you for these tips. Especially the sitting call. I took my son last weekend-first time duck hunting for both of us. Had 4 woodies come in right in front of us. We both fired twice and missed everything. We noticed the ducks coming in the swamp while we were deer hunting. They only flew for 20 minutes. Going again this weekend.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks for watching Sam, glad to hear that you found them helpful! That is typical for woodies to have a quick morning flight, hope you can get another crack at them again this weekend!

[@TheJookie26]

Been hunting the gentlemen of the woods for over 25 years here in Michigan. Theses tips are SPOT ON!! I have seen several woodys with 3-4 big acorns in there crop. Pigeons too! Its crazy how much they can fit in there. Switched to #2's after getting feathers to much with 4s. The Boss #3 3" puts them down hard and the geese too! Might move to boss #4 or 5s next year. Love the videos man, thanks for the entertainment. Keep it up!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thank you, really appreciate it! I'd definitely recommend trying out some BOSS #5s for woodies. I was crushing everything from pintails to teal with them out in Kansas.

[@coreyk5536]

Great tips #6 probably the best, recently had to relocate our go to blind for opener as we were getting burned so often losing site of woodies as they bombed down into our spread and we’d lose them in the cedar backdrop. Now facing out onto the main lake to the east. Central Ontario, Canada opener Saturday 🇨🇦 🤟🏾

[@slyflyby]

Very good educational video on the Woodies, Thomas. As others have said you covered in All. Since starting in 53 in Louisiana I've taken a total of one Woodie (hen). Your back waters and swamps of Virgina look like The ideal habitat. Hope weather and circumstances work out for you for your re-opener on the 21ST.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Sly! The woodies certainly love the swamps around us, tons of cover and food which they're both big on. We actually open back up for our third split on Thursday, pretty much just one day left till we're hopefully shooting birds

[@nickclemens2553]

I mainly wood duck hunt and these tips were right on.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thank you!

[@shawn5141]

Welcome back to the KZbin Thomas. Been subscribed and still kept checking to make sure I didn't miss a new video. The swamps we hunt mostly are full of woodies and spot on about not being late. Keep up the good work and good luck with the school work load.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Shawn! If you turn on notifications I think it should send you something every time a new one comes out! Should be plenty of new videos soon, got 4 weeks with nothing to do but hunt

[@shawn5141]

Oh I get the notifications, I was getting at the fact that I still kept checking. Happy hunting. We're heading to the coast next hunt. Fingers crossed

[@HokeOutdoors]

Nice, good luck ! What species are y’all typically targeting on the coast?

[@shawn5141]

Last year we got bluebill and gadwall. would like to actually get a good flight of sea ducks this year

[@davidkilroy8057]

Awesome video it took me years to learn what you just made into this video lol. Trial and error. Biggest Florida Fan David Kilroy.

[@tristancrowley910]

Mostly a wood duck hunter and still a great video even though I know a lot of the indie you provided. Keep it up and can’t wait for some more flyaways collective

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Tristan! I'm looking forward to some more videos with the rest of the flyways collective crew as well!

[@travisgodwin7775]

Spot on man!! Didn’t miss a thing!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! I appreciate it!

[@ScottPrincePhotography]

Hi Thomas thanks for the tips. I don't hunt anymore but rather photograph wildlife. Will give your suggestions a try the next time out.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Glad you enjoyed Scott! Please let me know how the tips are working for you

[@ajswails1969]

Great video ,Thanks for the tips!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful!

[@Hookedonthefly2]

One of the best most knowledgeable video I have watched

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother!

[@mccaskillfarmstead4244]

Just subscribed ! Live them woodies

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks man! Me too

[@firstflightoutdoors2076]

Thank you so much! This has helped me get so many more birds

[@HokeOutdoors]

Glad to hear the tips have been helpful! Which state are you hunting out of?

[@firstflightoutdoors2076]

NC

[@jmac5009]

I've learned once they land near your decoys they can be called on the water to get them closer. I've also learned that if you think they are wounded then shoot them again even when their head is down. Wood ducks love to dive and many of my friends have lost their trophy wood duck that way

[@HokeOutdoors]

That's definitely true, I've called woodies through flooded timber many times. Haven't had a lot of experiences with them diving though, typically they just swim along the surface when crippled for us

[@andycliett3346]

I hunt private and I enjoy sitting in the morning. I don’t mind just getting up and laying in the swamp waiting on shooting light lol.

[@HokeOutdoors]

I completely agree Andy! Some of my favorite times to be in a swamp is that hour before shooting light. Super cool to hear everything waking up

[@thedriveinopera8889]

Anybody else noticed that woodies tend to keep landing even when they're being shot at? Love em'!!

[@braydenwarner8025]

Yea, mallard decoys work just fine, me and my buddy went on a wooduck hunt over the weekend and used mallard decoys and the woodies landed right in the middle of all the decoys almost every time.

[@shallowsportsmen8992]

Thumbs up for time stamps

[@blainefettic6009]

Thank you for your show I enjoy it very much

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks for watching!

[@jamesedwards6269]

Great video Thomas. Best eating duck in my opinion.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks James! I agree, shot a couple today and had them for lunch, hard to beat that

[@morganyoder4277]

cool video. Hopefully these ideas work in CA.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Morgan! Let me know how they work out for you

[@southernfoods7302]

Appreciate the tips man💯 I'm never too old to learn! Good stuff👍

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks man! Glad to hear they were helpful!

[@apexoutdooradventuresa.o.a2574]

@@HokeOutdoors noticed the Walker Hoodie are you a local To Mn? If so should hit me with a message!

[@ryanmartin687]

I’m on a deer lease in east Texas and I have a feeder next to a duck lake and I have pictures of wood ducks eating corn at my feeder

[@jadengarner1673]

Thank you

[@HokeOutdoors]

No problem Jaden!

[@leewells389]

Keep it up

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks, will do!

[@southernsquealers9695]

I have found that 3 floating still wood duck decoys mixed with a 3 Decoy jerk rig and a spinning wing they come in every time they fly over we got a 6 man limit on a beaver pond using this in 15 mins

[@HokeOutdoors]

Hell yeah man that's awesome, congrats!

[@southernsquealers9695]

@@HokeOutdoors yeah It was like Christmas that morning😂

[@shawn5141]

Meant to ask, do you use a woodie spinning wing or just your normal mallard spinner

[@HokeOutdoors]

Woodies when we have one but most the time mallard

[@davidjackson7051]

I think Wood Ducks should be a protected species such a beautiful species there are a lot of other species that are unstable example mallards tons of them

[@HokeOutdoors]

I’d disagree, wood duck populations are growing and they’re my favorite bird to eat

[@BiggieGamez69]

Now, do you necessarily need decoys and water motion if the area is a usual feeding area. I have a spot I found, every time I show up there are always wood ducks there, whether it be morning or night, it seems like they’re there 24/7, I’ve been watching the spot for a while.

[@HokeOutdoors]

No, definitely not. Many times we’ve shot landing woodies over no decoys. I do think they help with having the bird land right in your lap vs maybe 20-30 yards away though

[@austinhague2967]

Good ole Maggie Walker? Will you be in RVA during Christmas break?

[@HokeOutdoors]

Yep, gonna be here for the next 4 weeks!

[@vincelancaster1450]

they love corn

[@HokeOutdoors]

You are not wrong, yellow acorns as some people like to call them

[@chrismcneil5543]

Have you tried choking off the end to get the higher pitch? A couple of people from duck dynasty have videos and they don’t use any voice just air pressure.

[@kernmw10]

You from Richmond? I noticed the Maggie Walker sweatshirt! I too am from Richmond!

[@HokeOutdoors]

I am! Lived in the city all my life. Small world, especially when it comes to duck hunting

[@kernmw10]

@@HokeOutdoors No way dude! I live in the city as well. You should totally come to the Richmond Ducks Unlimited dinner in February. It's a blast. If you ever want to go hunt, I've got a few spots on the Northern Neck we can go to!

[@jacksonshaver809]

Are wood ducks more likely to be attracted to a wood duck spinning wing decoy. Or am I over thinking it. New to duck hunting, so I'm not sure how picky ducks are

[@HokeOutdoors]

I haven't seen any difference in them being attracted to one type of spinner over another. With spinning wind decoys I think they're really just focused on the flashing

[@timanderson3952]

I’m from Minnesota but I’m stationed in Virginia, and I’m looking for some good Duck hunting spots near the Hampton Roads area. Any good hotspots?

[@chucksmith5002]

I like woodies better than the other ducks we have here in Florida

[@HokeOutdoors]

They sure eat a lot better than many other duck species

[@davidjosey8491]

Hey man, how does pressure with wood ducks work? How likely are ducks to come back after being shot at. How often should you hunt a hole?

[@freddymenton353]

Not very likely but depending on how frequent they visit the spot they'll be back most likely.

[@chasemorse8573]

I’m in Norfolk, let me come hunt with you!!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Shoot me a message on instagram and maybe we can set something up, can't promise anything though

[@swmplvr]

2 3/4 steel 6's with cylinder/IC choke out to 25 yards..

[@HokeOutdoors]

That's a deadly combo for decoying woodies!

[@TheOGNuke1]

I found a great spot on the x the other day they land there constistanly throughout the day I found it by deer hunting and saw about 30 wood ducks chilling in the same spot throughout the day didn’t wanna sit directly there but found a perfect spot Mabie 20 yard from that on a slew where it bends me and my buddys can see both sides

[@HokeOutdoors]

Sounds like a perfect setup! Hope y’all burn them up there

[@cartermccauley7352]

Here in Ohio we have more woodies then mallards to but only in early season

[@hunterpauly1382]

What if someone wants to hunt wood ducks in somewhere like Idaho?

[@HokeOutdoors]

Do y'all have wood ducks up there??

[@OutdoorsHunter]

I use bb on wood ducks lol

[@bmoutdoors_5912]

Any help for open China millet pls I can not get them to decoy

[@bmoutdoors_5912]

Field

[@bmoutdoors_5912]

Like a rice field

[@HokeOutdoors]

Try a spinning wing decoy

[@bmoutdoors_5912]

Ok thanks man keep up the good stuff

[@jasonyaj7536]

This guy say motion wings, another say no? I guess whatever works?

[@HokeOutdoors]

Today they were trying to land right on our spinner when we had no other decoys out. I definitely think it works, especially early season

[@bernadettemiller4280]

Why cant I hit them tho therecso fast pls give me a tip

[@HokeOutdoors]

Lead them more

[@drewcounts4238]

I love bird watching but I don’t hunting

[@treyferguson2965]

I understand forgetting your shells, decoys, gloves, face mask or face paint, sunflower seeds, dip, waders, coffee, but your gun???? How in the world can you forget your gun??? Lmao jk but really though

[@HokeOutdoors]

Haha I've seen it happen a time or two

[@AJTuck-sx6pj]

Sup

[@HokeOutdoors]

What up

[@AJTuck-sx6pj]

Virginia Outdoors Unlimited Nothing much how about you love your videos keep up the good work I’m from Virginia to

[@carsonridd]

I've never heard anyone talk about acorns for so long

[@marilyno8616]

Nobody should be hunting these ducks ! Serious soul searching needs to be done if you're doing so.