I have NEVER duck hunted and don’t plan on being a pro. I have seen several different flocks of ducks where I do some creek fishing. 99% are wood ducks and I’ve seen one mallard by itself.. what are some basic tips, do’s/do nots I need to know.. just like to kill a few to eat.. I know absolutely nothing about it

Shooting and setting up for woodies is pretty easy. Get set up by that creek simply by leaning against a tree on the bank. They will come in early and fast. Be sure to use steel shot and know shooting time. 30 min before sunrise is legal. I’d use #4 or larger shot. No need for decoys or calls.

Wood ducks you pretty much get between where they roost and where they are headed and shoot them the first 15 mins or so of shooting light. Not much decoying or calling them. You could also wade or paddle the creek and do some jump shooting which is fun and what i would try.

Wood ducks are different than most ducks. They don't respond often to calling or decoys. Figure out where they're flying, or ideally where they want to land, and be there before they get there. They're going to fly within minutes of first legal light.

Have your finger on the safety and be ready to shoot.

If you can find bismuth #5 shot or even #7, you should do well. Woodies are a fraction of the size of a mallard.

Most importantly 3 is the limit . Mr green jeans frowns on shooting over the limit .

I can vouch for a 4 duck jerk rig for woodys…they will dive bomb em or at least get em closer when they are buzzing by. We do it all the time

What kinda choke I need to screw in?

I like a light modified or modified if the shots are 25 yards and in. I shoot 3” 4s

Wood ducks tend to fly 30 minutes before sunrise and for maybe 20 minutes. After that it's just stragglers. So be where they want to be or between there and the roost. The other thing to do is jump shoot them (or so I hear). I've tried to walk up ducks and I just can't do it, even when the ground is wet/quiet. If you knock one down and it's still trying to swim, shoot it again. They dive down and drown themselves in debris, or go off into the thick stuff where you can't find them.

They are great to eat. Cut the breast out with the skin on after plucking their chest. Lightly score the skin with a real sharp knife and pan fry in light oil/butter in hot cast iron skin side down till the fat is rendered out and skin is crispy. The flip for a few seconds till center is medium rare. Don't go past medium rare.

Never shoot a roost. If ya do probably be after official time to quit. Wood ducks wont come back for weeks.

Everybody should experience a wood-duck roost shoot at least once in there life!!

Agreed BuckWheat. My younger days almost dark here they come fire coming out of barrel. No way to know how many or who shot what. Splashing the water. But fun fun……..

My advice on duck hunting. Don’t start.

Only reason I ask is bc their are 0 duck hunters there and I want to eat em… I’d choot em in the head with my 22LR (while swimming of course ) but I know that’s just the same as poaching..

And you would only get one shot.

If you can see where they come in and land you are in the money. If not watch their travel patterns and set up along their flight path. Good thing with woodies is you don’t have to be there super early or stay very long after sunrise

I have a stand on the very edge of a large creek and I always see wood ducks when I hunt the stand. Many times I have simply thought about maybe one day just sitting on the creek in a log jam and letting them float by me. I always see alot of ducks on the creek and they are always traveling up and down it. I have not taken the time to hunt the ducks and I dont have a duck stamp to do so. I cant see it being something I would enjoy because it seems to be so easy, I know it's not.

Can be as easy as you make it or as hard. Definitely in the scenario you presented I’d give it a try a few times.

As others have said, find their travel route. Roost to feeding spot. Try to be at the X and setup 15 minutes before legal shooting time, set your phone to vibrate at legal shooting time and be ready. Flooded timber, beaver ponds and the up creek side of a creek bend have always produced for me. Don't really need decoys or a call but they can help sometimes. Would not use a Mojo but a jerk string like Gobble4me747 mentioned can bring them in for a closer look in a big beaver pond. 12 gauge 2 3/4 #3s or #4s or a 20 gauge 3 inch shell in #3s or #4s work for me. Improved cylinder or modified are ok since most shots are within 20 yards at least where I hunt.

Do not shoot the roost. It can ruin the spot and the flyway they use. I have never seen a roost that you could legally shoot in the afternoon even on cloudy or rainy days. Ducks usually come in 20 - 30 minutes AFTER legal shooting time. Legal shooting time in the morning is 30 minutes before sunrise and it ends at SUNSET. A lot of folks that shoot a roost will play dumb and say, I thought shooting time was over at 30 minutes after sunset. Nope, its SUNSET.

Good thing about a woody hunt is that you can hunt ducks and then get in a tree stand by 7:00.