Early Teal Season Tips

It's just about go-time across our great country after kicking off dove last weekend, early goose in some areas and early teal season for us in the South next weekend. While we primarily chase mallards during the regular season and teal aren't considered to be the same as a late season "Ivy League" ducks, they can prove tricky so we wanted to throw out a couple reminders for you seasoned veterans and maybe new tips for those of you who haven't spent a ton of time getting after these blue rockets.

1. PRACTICE: "We talking about practice?" We are definitely talking about practice. While decoying and water swatting any bird is going to be top of my wish list, it happens quite differently then that most the time. These smaller birds fly fast, maneuver quickly and turn on a dime. Waiting until opening day to figure out you might have benefitted from taking a few shots at some sporting clays can be a little frustrating for you and your honed in buddies and more importantly on your pup who has also been waiting all year long to go fetch his first bird. Do yourself a favor and get to the range before the duck hole.

2. CONCEALMENT: If you listen to the Dr Duck Waterfowl Podcast, you've heard us say it a pretty good bit already, "concealment is key". You of course know this being a seasoned public land guy, it's a big deal. Everything can be right but one thing wrong and they gone. We love the patterns offered by our Realtree Outdoors family, especially the new Legacy pattern and while you might be thinking "I can kill teal birds in my t-shirt", taking that chance and not blending in with your environment is much less than ideal. You do not want to be "that guy" that flares the birds right before the shot caller takes charge of that first, very anticipated moment of the season. Use the shadows to your advantage. If you like pie facing and taking in the show, add some face paint to knock off that glare. Whether you are setting up in a pit, a-frame or on the ban of a tank or shallow part of your local lake, pulling surrounding brush (where allowed) can be a difference maker to hide movement and help you become a bird ninja. Act like that duck is toting his own shotgun, looking for you and you shouldn't have any issues.

3. SPREAD: Lots of different insight from different directions on spreads for decoying any duck in general, especially teal. In my book, the more the merrier. Presenting an environment that looks like it did when you scouted it is paramount. I have never seen mixing in different breeds of ducks during teal only season be detrimental. In fact, I have shot teal, as have you I'm sure, over a mallard only spread. So the keys for me will be making it look like it did the day before, providing an opening lined up with that day's wind with an ample landing area in ethical shot range and then adding in the next tip, movement.

3. MOVEMENT: In any natural duck setting you have movement. If you are missing natural movement on the water or in the field we are back to the "one thing wrong thing" right? Lot's of great options out there for movement over the past few years that can be incredible effective. Spinners, where allowed, are big and Blue Bird Waterfowl's new animator not only creates water movement from your spinner, it adds what George Parker is proving to be a valuable asset to any duck hunter in pursuit of success, water sound. Check out his website for more information but motion in your spread, even if just pulling a jerk string, is a big move for you.

5. SHOT SELECTION: With the first volley of your season comes a pretty significant build up of excitement. You have waited all season long for this single moment, be sure to take a breath, soak in that super cool moment of seeing your first group work the spread for the first time this year and make sure your shot call is on time. We can tend to call it a little early amidst the excitement, or maybe underestimate the quickness of these birds and miss the opportunity all together. Picking out a landmark, tree line or part of your decoy spread to define that zone can help you be more consistent with the shot calling. Of course ducks are going to be ducks and may not all work the same but this will at least provide a start. Generally speaking, I will use a distance, helped gaged by such a landmark, then at any point that duck STARTS to think about changing direction, I will probably call the shot right then, if it is my group's range. Be loud and be definitive when calling the shot, no doubters will help leaving no haters. Be in a position that when you call, everyone in your group is provided that same ethical opportunity.

Don't forget the snacks, enjoy the shared time with others and always #enjoythejourney Happy Hunting!