John Murray says puddle jumping for ducks excels during unusually wet fall conditions.

River and creek duck hunters are most adversely impacted by water that suddenly rises on their favorite hunting water. With the arrival of a strong or prolonged wet weather front, conditions rapidly change, and the behavior of ducks will quickly change as well.

A waterway that was the previous haven for numerous ducks a few days before will now be devoid of these feathered creatures. Some duck hunters will stubbornly return to hunt in these adverse conditions. These hunters grudgingly embrace the hard hunt challenge, but it is like trying to eat soup with a fork. No matter how this duck hunter adjusts his decoy patterns or modifies a calling tone, these ducks won’t be coming back until the conditions return to near normal.

Ducks don’t leave town; they go to a different neighborhood

The high-water event may appear to have made the ducks vanish, but they are still in the general area. They have relocated, partly because they did not want to expend energy as they battled the flood water. But, more importantly, the relocation was prompted by their hunger.

Heavy rain not only flooded the river and creeks, but also overwhelmed the saturated soil alongside the waterway basin. Unable to swallow up the excessive water, large puddles of water were created. Some of these puddles might be a few feet in size; others, hundreds of feet in diameter. These puddles are not permanent bodies of water, and depending on the amount of rain, may only last for a few days before the ground soaks up the water. Some larger puddles last longer, but the duck hunter does have a limited window of opportunity.

No boat is required in this newfound watery environment, because most of these puddles will be quite shallow, averaging from a few inches to perhaps a couple feet in depth. When these puddles occur in agricultural fields that are near the river and creek basins, this newly formed water promptly lures the ducks by providing the promise of a buffet. Duck hunters should concentrate on the moderately sized puddles that preferably have at least a 30- to 100-foot diameter. These have the necessary and attractive eye appeal to beckon to any duck that is flying above.

Ring the dinner bell

Hungry ducks are constantly looking for new areas that have food, and this is where the duck hunter uses that hunger for an advantage. The best way to invite those hungry ducks to dinner is to show them that other ducks are already sitting at the dinner table. In this smaller puddle zone, the hunter doesn’t want to crowd the available water with too many decoys. Half a dozen decoys will work best, and they should be spaced far enough apart to show that there is plenty of room for new arrivals. Try using a spread where the decoys are 10 to 15 feet apart, and a bigger section of puddle water is left wide open for an unobstructed landing zone.

Decoys are an important part, but using a duck call effectively is also a key factor. In this puddle place, hunters get the attention of flying ducks with a brief series of short hailing calls, and then add low volume feeding chuckles to clinch the deal.

Make yourself invisible

Unlike the advantages of a typical preexisting duck blind or camouflaged boat, the puddle hunter has to improvise when it comes to concealment. Hunker down in nearby vegetation if available, and camo yourself from head to toe with material that matches the surrounding growth. Don’t overlook the importance of face camo. A human face stands out like a spotlight in a dark field. It is also important to camo your shotgun and equipment as well.

If adequate vegetation is lacking, a pop-up blind or a roll of camo netting is a good option. Ducks are leery and possess good eyesight. Mimic the nonexistent movement of a stone statue, and be assured that if you think you aren’t concealed enough, the ducks will let you know that they probably agree with your doubts.

Take a leap of faith into a puddle

Most duck hunters don’t even consider the positive merits of hunting alongside a shallow puddle that appears in an overly saturated, low-lying area of a field. Other hunters will briefly think about it, but never make the attempt to do the actual hunt. These combined elements of doubting thought will help insure that competition for prime hunting spots is virtually nonexistent.

Another advantage is that puddle hunting doesn’t require a lot of equipment. A dog is completely optional, unless the hunter wants a four-legged companion.

If a prolonged downpour pumps up the water level on your favorite river or creek, search out the nearby, newly formed rain puddles ASAP, and get ready for some great shooting action.

Learn hunting methods you may not have considered in the fall issues of MidWest Outdoors, available the first full week of each month at the newsstand or by subscribing on our website.