re: Building a duck hole

Agencies are scouting for new unpermitted ponds from their desks while drinking coffee nowadays. Lidar

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Lidar

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LiDAR would already show a depression there. It’s a wetland. It holds water already but someone dug a ditch to drain it to the creek at some point. So really it’s just going back to its natural state.

Couple things:
1. Is there any type of easement on your land? Government, DU, carbon credits…. If there is and you didn’t get permission they better not see it, or play dumb and go to them after you do the project and tell them a friend told you that you couldn’t do it. I have seen them let that type of stuff go, but you better not do it again.
2. If you plan to change a “wetlands” classified area, you can get in some trouble IF it is worthwhile for their time and energy.
3. You said “wood ducks”, you better have a big hole if you are even attempting to shoot woodies in timber. Could have misread the wood duck part though. I am just going to assume you are only targeting woodies and all other species are just extra.
4. I assume you know enough about water and its possible issues on bottom land hardwoods if it isn’t done right. Tree species and whatnot.
5. Canopy is too tight to grow anything of importance. Remove all trees that aren’t producing hard mass Even the younger oaks if there are any. Have a plan for hiding, sun and wind. Remember woodies don’t always fly against the wind and are hard as shite to hit if they aren’t sky-lined or sitting on the water. 95% of your shooting will be 1st 15 minutes( if you are lucky)of shooting time.
6. You know your place better than us and how wet it typically is. Safe bet is plant 15-20lbs/A of jap and brown top mix. If it is too dry the jap won’t do jack, and vice versa with the brown top. That way you can get a decent idea for next year. If only jap makes then next year only do jap…
6. As for rice, don’t waste your time. I know what Rusty said, but you will be way more dependent on rains than you realize. I don’t know the infrastructure of Coca-Cola’s woods, but believe me, he isn’t planting rice in the situation you are. Plus millet will be way less expensive. I have shot tons of ducks in timber where there was absolutely no grass. It was constantly sprayed to keep clean.
7. Do a soil sample. It will matter. I have seen duck holes completely change once the soil was corrected. You will probably have to put out a bunch of lime, or just do it when you plant with pellet lime. That might be your best option.
8. I can give you a pretty good Millet program if you want.
9. Get ready to spray for army worms. If you can afford it do a residual formulation not just a pyrethroid.
10. You may need to spray broadleafs
11. Disk before you plant it. There are moist soil plants in the dirt and that will help you out in the future and even this year if you get the right rains.
12. Remember that brown top and Jap are only 60ish day millets. No need to plant too early. Yea, it will reseed its self, but you will have to redo everything revolving fert and chemicals.
*Edit
5. Revolving woodies flying with the wind- woodies do whatever the frick they want to in timber. In my experiences, it takes a strong wind to force them to land against the wind. So be prepared to shoot them going every direction.

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As for rice, don’t waste your time. I know what Rusty said, but you will be way more dependent on rains than you realize. I don’t know the infrastructure of Coca-Cola’s woods, but believe me, he isn’t planting rice in the situation you are

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I admitted that upfront. It's like farming new land vs centuries-old farmland.

But, it was a notable difference from the millet they used to use.

I've seen groups of 8+ limit out in under an hour regularly. It's a great place for ducks.

Plus, I like the video. It was one of Mr Robbin's favorite holes. You can see the two trees over his shoulder at one point (almost 10' apart) on one of my last hunts there when my father and I still have a minor issue today.

I was home from deployment. Rusty and Harvey (Mr. Robbins) were in the blind. My father and I were behind those two trees.

I was shooting my dad's Browning. He was shooting his father's old Stevens Double barrel side by side.

My dad propped his gun up to light a cigarette. It fell. In his frenzy, he dropped his zippo (my fault, too) and his gun into the water. As he snagged it, he pulled the trigger with the barrel underwater and split the ends.

He immediately yelled at me (10 feet away) and tried to blame me for causing it to fall. I said I didn't come home from another shitty deployment to get shot in the woods. That went over like a fart in church.

Still, today, the stubborn old man says we were right next to each other, and I moved a branch on my tree that caused his gun to fall.

I sent him the video evidence, but it will do no good.

That was a long time ago, but it was fun. Rusty is a stud duck hunter. National calling finalist, has his own Echo calls, championship dog bloodlines, and great sense of humor (plus, granted it was 15+ years ago, but I recall his wife as a smoke show and damn fine breakfast and dinner cook). Lucky man, hunting and guiding at a landmark site for ducks. Plus, the new clubhouse went from a modest cabin with an 8 ft wood fireplace to heat it to a 10000 sq ft mansion.... Not a bad life.

Even if you are correct, you are still wrong. Text him that you finally remember the incident and you recall shaking a branch, and offer him $100 as an apology, and see what he says. Then post the screenshots here, please.

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But, it was a notable difference from the millet they used to use.

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In a .5 acre duck hole? That is laughable.

100%

Cool project. Really hope it works out for you and you have some good shoots. Nothing like watching mallards and woodies drop in through the trees.