Photo by R.E. Ilg

A stiff, chilly breeze whipped across the cut corn field as three hunting buddies and I labored to arrange our goose decoys one cold December morning.

There would have been enough daylight to clearly see at this time of the morning, but a heavy blanket of clouds that threatened to unleash the first significant snowstorm of the season cast a dark shadow over the land. It was a perfect day to try to bag a fat Canada goose for Christmas dinner.

We were just about finished with our dekes when one of my buddies called out, "Listen!" Over the howl of the wind I could hear the telltale whistling of beating wings. Before I knew it, a flock of about 20 mallards appeared overhead, pitching and spinning as they prepared to land in the middle of our spread. Before they touched down, however, the ducks spotted us standing with our jaws open, and they made a hasty retreat.

We scrambled into the ditch that ran along the edge of the field and stuffed shells into our shotguns. We barely got our chambers filled when another flock of ducks sailed toward our decoys. Just before these birds hit the ground, my buddies and I came up firing. Two drakes and a fat hen dropped among the cornstalks.

That scenario, which took place more than a decade ago, was my introduction to hunting ducks in December. Now, it's one of my most anticipated hunting adventures of the year.

FIELD HUNTING ADVANTAGES
When most waterfowlers talk about hunting ducks, they'll mention boats, flooded timber or reed-choked marshes, chest waders and floating decoys. After all, duck hunting is generally considered to be a water-based sport. But in agriculturally rich areas, hunting farm fields is an extremely productive way to put a few ducks in the game bag.

Die-hard duck hunters who have spent all of their time on the water will find it an interesting variation to their favorite game. In addition, it gives goose hunters the chance to add something new to their game bags, not to mention more days in the field.

SCOUTING FOR DUCKS
It's been said a million times before, but scouting is the key to hunting ducks in fields.

Ducks need to be near water. That's no secret. So, start your scouting missions by locating water that holds ducks. Generally speaking, productive duck fields are close to a body of water of some kind. It could be a farm pond or a huge lake. It could be a stream or a river.

Ducks move on the winds of the fall migration. You can never be sure exactly when they will show up in your area and when they will leave. However, you want to be ready when they are around, so check local roosting and rafting sites regularly.

Remember, too, that you're looking for puddle ducks -- mallards, pintails, woodies, black ducks, etc. Locating a big bunch of divers, like scoters, bluebills or oldsquaws, won't do you any good because these birds dine on (and under) the water. Puddle ducks are the only species that will leave their water roosts and head inland to find nutritious grains and other farm crops.

Once you've found your ducks, determine which way the birds go when they leave their roost each morning, and concentrate your search for farm fields in that direction. Harvested crop fields that hold water in low spots after a fall rain are super places to find ducks, but the birds will use these fields even when the ground is frozen or covered with snow.