DUCKS, CRANES, & GEESE Over Water | Duck Hunting 2022

Duck hunting, crane hunting, and goose hunting over water is something I never thought I'd get to experience in one day, much less in a public land marsh. The plan going into the morning was that Logan and I were going to setup next to a closed area in the hopes of pulling traffic, but pretty early on we realized we might just be on the X. We made the most of the early duck and crane flight with some lights out shooting and when a rare duck ended up in the spread we had the coolest mixed bag I've ever had the privilege to be a part of. Hope you enjoy!
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[@charlieyoakum2234]

3 scotch doubles in one hunt is crazy. Loving the videos lately

[@josephmoravec8146]

It might have been 4. I couldn’t tell entirely but his second shot on that second flock of geese also looked like it took 2 birds.

[@jareddacrow9353]

im sure it was 4!!

[@lamamicotiza3895]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_FZaSgpcmDf68 😮

[@kingswaq3656]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_FZaSgpcmDf68 😮 😱 Hunting

[@RichardU780]

This guy is a different bread I’ve been hunting 1s this season an hit one double an one single but 4 doubles in one hunt legendary

[@canadiansweat_0059]

That’s a real nice storm widgeon bro🐌 are you gonna mount it?

[@ChasingGreen]

Great hunt thomas, you were on in this one. Love those days like that, wind and sun in a beautiful marsh. Also, your a lot braver than me posting your big cam up in those cattails 😂

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Jake! My faith in cattails is probably gonna lead to some heartache one day but I’ve got a lot of trust in them for the time being

[@eastonsimmons]

Bros the king of scotch doubles, also insane vid dude!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! Better to be lucky than good!

[@tannermccutcheon2299]

Shot tons of green wing teal in central Iowa this past weekend. Very early to be seeing them in big numbers around here. Sweet video!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Tanner! Glad to hear they’re pushing down in good numbers already!

[@EmVDV123]

Great video once again! Talk about a fantastic day to be on a public marsh! Awesome shooting

[@jeffreycornelius869]

Insane. Thanks for sharing! What a bag

[@MidValleyMercenaries]

Awesome hunt Thomas!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Titus!

[@portmotion3992]

seeing an extremely early push of birds in oregon, mainly widgeon and cacklers. Not complaining!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Seems like the same thing up here, lots of cacklers and plenty of wigeon and pintails

[@lancebailey7359]

Seems likes there’s a little more ducks down south faster than the last couple years. Haven’t seen a ton, but more than usual

[@HokeOutdoors]

Where are you at down south? I’d assume the teal and pintails are already pushing down there cause they’re coming through here pretty quick

[@lancebailey7359]

@@HokeOutdoors west TN we don’t get many pintail around here, but the mallard numbers are up right now I’ve seen a couple black ducks. It’s mainly gadwalls I’ve been seeing though

[@MLef111]

Another great episode. Keep up the great work Thomas.

[@Dieseloutdoors]

Dude. Your like the king of scotch doubles haha

[@myronhigh3527]

That was DEFINITELY a hunt for the books!!!! UNBELIEVABLE day in the marsh, with an CRAZY variety limit. And some MIGHTY FINE shoot'n buddy! Best of luck on the next one, and God Bless all!!!!!👍🤗🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@kalman9517]

Another great vid Thomas thanks for sharing.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother!

[@wtrojanowski]

Have been seeing migrators here in Jersey. Typically we see teal and woodies early, but I'm seeing coots and a fair amount of mallards that usually I don't see till it gets cold. Hope this is a sign of what is to come!

[@brandongreen9381]

I live in Connecticut and I have been seeing alot of ducks already also our early season just opened up for 2 weeks. I work a few days a week in maine and it's already getting around 32 at night in areas so hopefully this season will be a good one. Hasn't been too good the past few years. Good luck to you

[@randynotaaa1662]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_FZaSgpcmDf68 😮 😱 Hunting

[@calebmclean17]

up here in Alaska we still have wigeon, green wing, and pintails flying around really surprised we get a cold front tomorrow hopefully i can get out there after work

[@HokeOutdoors]

Good luck if you’re able to get out there! Front is hitting down here right now too and seems like there’s some new birds around

[@MasetoMase34]

Great vid! Out here in oregon ive seen a very limited amount of ducks and geese flying around. Still hot out here, been in the 80s lately. Hopefully it changes soon!

[@oaktreedreams282]

Dude that was amazing and good shooting! Gonna be hard to beat that hunt

[@brennancusick2390]

You are on it with the scotch doubles! Not sure if I've ever seen so many in a video. Nice shooting

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Brennan! Just got the perfect opportunities for them on this hunt

[@SandzMadeHitz]

My dude you literally just hit 4 doubles so nonchalantly I’ve been hunting for 4 years and have never hit a double 😂

[@rjohns10]

Great video man!

[@michiganoutdoors9347]

Here in Michigan, our season doesnt even open until the 15th of this month and there are birds everywhere, earlier migration than normal but the weather has also been much colder

[@miangler6313]

Where abouts are you? I'm in genesse County and I've been seeing good numbers as well. Did the middle opener and beat em up good.

[@kraigkaatz6858]

really nice hunt Thomas... good shooting too. those 2 for 1 shots on the geese are really fun.. Blessings

[@gd_gnz]

Nice doubles and fun video!

[@josephskulj8643]

This spot has been crazy my man, awesome hunt again

[@tazoutdoorsman]

You have to mount that storm wigeon

[@danpalfreyman3502]

excellent hunt

[@codyrobertson9672]

no migratirs yet in north east Oregon. supposed to get a cold front this weekend hopefully we will get some with it! Awsome content and good shooting!

[@patrickszabo5606]

you get a bunch of doubles!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Better to be lucky than good!

[@luislicea3604]

great shooting guys, got a little bit of everything

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Luis!

[@jeremy28135]

Thomas, your shooting has been unbelievable this year. Hard work pays off 💪

[@suphunting8328]

I am in southeastern NC so we are much further south, but there are very few birds here in the salt marsh. Great video!!

[@TsHeEjBoI4eVa]

Not trying to hate but to me, that's not a storm, we get a lot of widgeons here and i've shot several studs better than that one(again, not tryna hate). Storm should be more white on the whole head except for the green part. Anyways, that was a great hunt. Good shooting.

[@lMrBrown]

I hunt in northern Minnesota and I have been seeing flocks of snow geese and Ross.

[@huntermckinney18]

That’s a full mixed bag right there!

[@D_Boone]

Call that the quad scotch.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Don’t know if I’ll ever top that!

[@chucksmith5002]

Enjoyed it Thomas haven`t been out to see what`s Flying the only thing I have on my Lake is Woodies and haven`t seen a lot of them this year.

[@rodnrifle]

Wow, great shooting!

[@slyflyby]

What a great hunt and video, Thomas! Nice Wigeon...they are my favorite duck also. Back in the 60s and 70s we use to call them in with our dog whistles. Now they have 2dozen plus brands of whistles on the market. Looks like more of an earlier push in the Mississippi Flyway than in the Central. Here in extreme S.Eastern SD.we have only 2 real fronts with very little movement to our migration. I believe more local ducks have headed south than incoming Migratory birds. Continued success hunting in the state of 10,000 lakes!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Sly! Did there seem to be more of them back in the 60s/70s or was it about the same as today? Some of the local guys I’ve talked to up here have been saying them don’t see as many of them as they used to

[@slyflyby]

@@HokeOutdoors I was only hunting in SE Louisiana at my camp and leases then Yes I would say there were alot more Wigeon in the 60s and 70s. What you called a male "storm" Wigeon I thought

[@slyflyby]

was a old mature bird. I seen lots like that. If you could get the Wigeon to answer your whistle, usually they would come in. The proper cadence is: whew W H E W whew on the whistle. Looks like you are set for a great season

[@dillonwhitehead69]

Awesome hunt, 4 doubles!!!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Dillon!

[@matthewvocci134]

Awesome hunt!

[@trashpandafighter8376]

Awesome hunt for sure. I would definitely have gone back the next day. Cranes respond very well to calling. In fact, you don't really need a crane call because you can make similar sounds on a short reed goose call.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother! We did go back to the same area the next day, had another great hunt but things did change a lot between the two days. The company I work for up, DRC calls, here actually makes an awesome crane but I just forgot to throw one in the blind bag on this hunt

[@josephmoravec8146]

More towards the south of MN has been good this year. Heard from a DNR buddy that the teal hatch was really big. Pretty sure we saw some Old Squaw today. Never seen them let alone this early. I’d put us a week ahead of what I’m used to at least the last couple of years.

[@korrupted_chubby8422]

Divers are already in the metro in mn

[@HokeOutdoors]

What kinds of divers are you seeing?

[@korrupted_chubby8422]

Shot a nice canvas. Buffle heads seen flying. Same with Goldeneyes

[@ricktaylor3196]

Amazing Hunt!! Awesome shooting guys!!

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Rick!

[@CazayPescaenelPatio]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5_FZaSgpcmDf68 Hunting 😨

[@roadhunter72]

Not seeing any migration yet here in SW Wisconsin. Teal and worries have moved out; very few mallards flying and some geese. Just waiting for a front to push the northern birds down this way.

[@braydenedwards10]

That’s some great land up there. I would love to see some pintails down here this year

[@elliottdrewry8994]

Wouldn't say that's a storm but definitely a stud drake. With a true storm, there is barely any if not no dark speckleing on the face. all the consistent cream of the top cape.

[@HokeOutdoors]

I appreciate the insight. Do you think the storm wigeon have the white head as soon as they come into plumage or would it get more pronounced as the season goes on?

[@elliottdrewry8994]

@@HokeOutdoors stoms are a mystery. Some people think they are born with the white head, others think they are just very very old drakes. I'm from the Washington Pacific coast and we shoot a lot of wigeon. You are more likely to shoot a euro before a storm. Only killed one in my 10 years hunting and fathers 25+. I think the bird you killed was a stud mature drake. I'm not sure I've ever seen pics or heard of a scruffy storm. Makes me lean towards maybe they are very old birds maybe with a loss of pigment or something that is much more noticeable later in the season.

[@elliottdrewry8994]

@@HokeOutdoors I just sent you an image on Instagram of the storm I my dad and I took a season back.

[@caleblovell1494]

I'm about 20 minutes south of Austin hunting iowa we've seen a lot of teal and wood ducks but the rest have been very spotted geese have been crazy since September

[@blaiseleonards4255]

Been fishing around some great duck hunting spots here in Louisiana and definitely seen a lot more ducks in October than usual

[@HokeOutdoors]

That’s awesome to hear! Y’all gonna get after them in a couple weeks?

[@blaiseleonards4255]

@@HokeOutdoors forrr surrre

[@reesehowells680]

PA opened Saturday and on the western side we had 2 decent cold fronts about 2 weeks apart with the latter happening Friday into Saturday the first day.Definitely had some new birds in because we hadn't been seeing many teal but we got into some in the morning. Lots of woodies and coots. Only 1 hen mallard.

[@HokeOutdoors]

That’s awesome to hear! Any geese pushing down there in big numbers yet?

[@reesehowells680]

@@HokeOutdoors saw a few big flocks in the last few weeks but I want to say mostly resident geese around here.

[@D_Boone]

@@HokeOutdoors Southeastern PA is full of geese. Already got a couple in the early season. Not many ducks, but it has been warm here up until this week.

[@garrettdavis4291]

Don’t think I’ve ever seen so many doubles on one video

[@bigjimar77]

AWESOME!

[@mattholden4028]

Way to go on the crane and the doubles man that's good shooting

[@marcgriffis7704]

Northern Illinois has been loaded with Canadas for a month. Pretty early here. Seeing thousands a day

[@fidiusjwhoopie]

Great hunt, great shooting as well, just wondering what you are doing with all these birds? Mr. Greenjeans freezer checking detail is wondering too

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thank you! With ducks I like to pluck them if I can, then either roast them whole or spatchcock and then grill. If they have pin feathers though I’ll typically just cut the skinless breasts into strips and use them in a stir fry or as fajitas. I’ve found cranes are good just about any way you cook them but the best I’ve had is stuffing the breast with fresh veggies then wrap in bacon and throw on the grill. Geese typically go into the meat grinder with some beef fat and then get used as burgers, chili, jerky, or in snack sticks. My boss, Cory, is one of the best wild game cooks I know so I’ve learned a bunch of techniques from him and he has a bunch of recipes he put into a pdf so I use that a lot and I’ll link it in case you want to check it out

[@HokeOutdoors]

qrcgcustomers.s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/account20160135/29136385_1.pdf?0.5008805363436615

[@coopernickerson7470]

You almost shot every birds. That’s a really good day like this, the wind, the sun and the camaraderie. Looking forward to see more videos.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Cooper! Couldn’t ask for a better day in a public marsh!

[@kaidencarr918]

Love the video

[@ShotgunMike]

I really like your videos.

[@evanwhitten2418]

Down farther on the east coast we haven’t seen big numbers of mallards or migrators, on the eastern shore of maryland we’ve seen pretty big numbers of black ducks, teal, mallards, and wood ducks rhough

[@HokeOutdoors]

That's encouraging for sure! Do you know if many black ducks typically nest around there?

[@nasserkuzbari2205]

Great video again. You did get two birds with one shot multiple times on this trip. Last Thursday, we did not see anything while duck hunting on the Potomac river. All the best.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Nasser! Not even any geese on the river? I bet about a month from now the ducks will be starting to using it a good bit

[@nasserkuzbari2205]

@@HokeOutdoors Not even geese!! Anyway, we can't shoot geese last week. I think next week we can. But it was fun watching a few rowing teams in practice, probably they scared the birds :)

[@dakotamcgee4577]

Up here in Minot North Dakota I am seeing a lot of gadwall,and pintails and only a few mallards Just saw the first snows yesterday. I feel like the migration it pretty on time

[@HokeOutdoors]

Interesting, I’m pretty much just as far north as you and we’ve been seeing good numbers of snows for the last week or more. Have the blue-wings mostly all pushed out up there by now?

[@tracyelsinger1088]

We're seeing some northern geese already here in Iowa, but not really any migrating ducks yet. Just woodies and teal and a few local mallards.

[@aljohnson1191]

I feel like the migration you’re seeing is pretty normal for this time of year especially with the pintails you’re seeing

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks for the input! Obviously it’s my first season hunting up here so I don’t have much personal reference to go off of but the locals I’ve talked to and hunted with have said it seems to be a week or two ahead of schedule in our area

[@colonelian]

Great hunt Thomas! I think we have very similar hunting styles. If you ever come out and hunt with Matt we'll have to hook up!

[@tyduckert5570]

In north Iowa we are also seeing an early migration for are big ducks but still also have a lot of blue wings in the area

[@HuntingAndFishingPakistan]

In Pakistan we experienced duck migration one month earlier. Now it should be peak season but very slow migration these days

[@jamesonfay8251]

Looks like you're living the dream. Ha. Where I live (KS) I would say species dependent. I've seen more pintails and wigeon than usual this early, but the big push of teal came later than normal. Too early to tell on much of anything else.

[@Waterfowler94]

I’m with ya on Ks they just have not pushed down really quite yet

[@keatontimmonsyt]

Maryland has some teal and mallards already and I saw where a lot of people shot teal in Virginia for the first split. I think it’s going to be a cold and good year.

[@yokohamaa520]

Epic epic epic

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks brother!

[@kylerobeen4359]

Hands down awesome hunt. I’m from west central Illinois and live inbetween the confluence the Illinois and Mississippi River. I feel it’s an average migration this year. Season starts on oct 29 so ig time will tell. But a whole lot of birds here two weeks before season

[@HokeOutdoors]

Thanks Kyle! What kind of birds do y’all have down there right now?

[@hondaboat]

Awsome video brother!!! Keep up the awsome work!!!👍❤️... what choke do you use and does it fit beretta and Benelli?

[@hawgpursuit_tv3708]

Those doubles were nasty bro especially the honkers

[@gripitandripit1492]

here in southern Alberta were seeing gadwells, mallard, teal, snows and lots of Canadas

[@veteranironoutdoors8320]

Im in southeast Nebraska, since October started ive only seen one flock of canadas fly over, no light geese, and everything else duck wise is pretty sparse. Managed to drop 3 coot, and the small flock of mallards that came in never made a close enough pass for any shots.

[@tomdehoog8738]

no birds here in Washington but hope some come in season opens this weekend good hunt and good shoting

[@austinkellett8620]

I mean I'm in Southen Ontario and it's been a way colder fall then last year, deer are rutting eailer than last year as well.

[@mikerobinson6606]

Great shooting! Not seeing any flight birds in Michigan Saginaw Bay area yet. What choke Tube are you running and which load? Geese, Ducks and Cranes with the same load?

[@nevadadiyhunter933]

Its been super early in nevada too lots of snowgeese

[@reidwalsh9258]

We have noticed some Canadas and specks moving into north central Kansas.

[@HokeOutdoors]

Is that ahead of schedule for the typical migration?

[@Quackakilla]

Here on some of the refuges in Washington we set up about 75-150 yards off the closed zones and traffic the birds into the spread the birds will land with any big bunch of birds we are going to be using 5 dozen goose decoys mostly silos and a a dozen floaters and 6 dozen ducks for opener but the area is so small and the water is tidal it is hard to access and there is about 10,000 ducks and a few geese and everyone in. The area as posted it on there social media it is gonna suck

[@leroygrube7185]

I’ve seen pintails and other ducks in southern Indiana.i think early migration…

[@HokeOutdoors]

Glad to hear it! How long before season opens up down there?

[@FAFO_24]

3-4 scotch doubles on one hunt? Then a crane and a Pintail which are my dream birds that i'll probably never get a chance to shoot. And why not add a storm widgeon to the mix. This is just crazy. Are you shooting Boss shells?

[@Son_of_Virginia]

What a hunt! Haven’t seen anything noteworthy here yet. Did you get a swan tag?

[@zackwerner5159]

Yeah I would say that it is the same way over here in Eastern Wisconsin as well

[@HokeOutdoors]

Seeing a bunch of pintails over there too?

[@zackwerner5159]

@@HokeOutdoors not so many pintails but last week there was a lot of widgeon and gadwall. Still lots of teal and some mallards and wood ducks. But it seems like divers are starting to come in early this year

[@Quackakilla]

Yeah the migration in Washington is crazy the geese,Canadas and snows and a few ducks are moving up in northern Washington and along coastal area the birds numbers are extremely high and the Colombia river area is spotty on birds most are in fields on the east side western Washington most birds are on water and ever once in a while they will be on golf courses and grass fields

[@HokeOutdoors]

I appreciate the report! Do y’all kick off the season out there this coming weekend?

[@Quackakilla]

@@HokeOutdoors yeah we start this weekend we are gonna go and hunt tidal water for opening day but we are gonna stay the night Friday due to no water and a lot of the birds are moving back up north

[@Nomorehandlenames9230]

Well there ain’t much-a nothin’ in Texas yet. Y’all keep sending them south, we’re tired of crappy duck seasons. 😂

[@HokeOutdoors]

Haha we’re trying our best! I’d love to see a good season down there if the last couple have been crappy

[@nathanyoder6477]

4 scotch doubles 😳😳😳

[@codykostrova3629]

About the early migration, I would say the migration is broken up into flight lines. What I mean is that the birds migrating through the Dakotas, Minnesota and here in Wisconsin migrate at the same time but different rates. I’ve noticed the geese are coming through early but the big ducks are taking their time while some of the fair weather species blew through already. I assumed it had to do with the ongoing droughts in Canada’s prairie region. Either way the birds that do migrate here seem to leave fairly quickly, with there being so much hunting pressure here. Hoping once it gets colder and the deer hunting gets good that some of that pressure gets let off and the birds stay a little longer. I don’t know how the weather was for you guys last year but it seemed like this time last year all we had around were divers and mallards. We had a steak of a couple weeks of cold weather systems pushing birds then we had a warm spell and it was too late the majority of the birds were gone. Last year I missed out on any good hunting only bagging 20-25 birds the whole season. This year we’ve experienced more mild weather so far and the birds are trickling down nicely

[@Laughinghawg]

That's about as mixed of a bag as you can get. We usually don't have that kind of mix (hunt'n AR). What gun are you shooting and what camo pattern?

[@jeetts59]

Is it compulsory to use non toxic shot, and what load do you use please

[@utaharcheryandwaterfowl]

Not much migration in Utah. It’s been pretty rough.

[@davidcaul7836]

Great video just wondering how come you rarely have a dog with you

[@praise-to-him]

here in Western Washington, the birds have been migrating early for the last 2 years. Iv been lucky, smoking birds. the gees are vary hard to find. ask any question for more.

[@braxtonduhon7894]

We seen some specks in south Louisiana

[@richiecaelwarts7873]

I've herd they had snow up in Canada up above Minnesota and North Dakota and Wisconsin very cold up there to maybe a little pressure up there mostly weather I think .

[@turboFPS]

Here in Wisconsin bird numbers are good still not seeing alot of big ducks lots of teal and wooducks.

[@coprilettodelnapoli5466]

What ammo have you used on the crane?

[@colgatedc]

what choke are you running cause im pretty sure i watched you hit 2 birds with one shot twice

[@christopherhazlett4245]

Kind of new to duck hunting. Why do you pat your gun before shooting? I have seen some people do it when they are sitting on the water to jump them up but I have seen you do it while in the air. Great videos! Love watching your content!

[@codykostrova3629]

(I think) the patting of the gun is to “wake up” the camera. Some brands have a built in shock sensor that starts recording if he didn’t tap the gun the camera would turn on at the second or third shot

[@christopherhazlett4245]

@@codykostrova3629 thank you. Makes sense.

[@landenproctor7280]

We’re seeing some early migrators in the coastal zone of nc