Pond and Slough Duck Hunting

[TheBigShooter]

I'm new to the forum, hunted my whole life in Saskatchewan and recently moved to Alberta. I've been doing lots of research and driven around just North of Drumheller and saw quite a few ponds and sloughs that look like duck sanctuaries. Has anyone hunted ducks in that area or am I just wasting my time? Seems like the migration is starting fairly late this year but with temperatures starting to cool up North I'm thinking the hunting is going to get hot in a hurry.

Thanks in advance.

[Justfishin73]

Too far south---tons around Edmonton--they do seem to he coming late--I agree--think October will be great hunting

[TheBigShooter]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

Too far south---tons around Edmonton--they do seem to he coming late--I agree--think October will be great hunting

I'd think that the fly way should bring them through there or do they typically cut pretty hard East towards Sask?

Is there good pond hunting up by Edmonton?

[Justfishin73]

The pond I drive by every morning on way to work. Too close to road to hunt

Pic won't work. So many can barely see water

[TheBigShooter]

Crazy - Is it easy to get land access around there? I'm in Calgary so I'm just wondering if its worth the time to drive up and do some scouting.

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by TheBigShooter

Crazy - Is it easy to get land access around there? I'm in Calgary so I'm just wondering if its worth the time to drive up and do some scouting.

So-so. Need the small farm ponds, those big sloughs are BRUTAL to hunt. 5 ft tall cattails and sink a foot every step.

Pic of last weeks hunt

[Mulienewbie29]

How do you reteive your ducks?? Hip waiter or boat? For your small ponds and sloughs

[Justfishin73]

Originally Posted by Mulienewbie29

How do you reteive your ducks?? Hip waiter or boat? For your small ponds and sloughs

Had a pup for that hunt, but, yes-waders and a 20 ft retractable pole with a hook. Either way, plan on being wet and stinky

[TheBigShooter]

I made a a big floating fish hook and I just toss it out and reel them in, but usually I just use the waders and walk out and grab em.

[MyAlberta]

Originally Posted by TheBigShooter

Crazy - Is it easy to get land access around there? I'm in Calgary so I'm just wondering if its worth the time to drive up and do some scouting.

Access can be tricky. Hope you know some landowners around the lakes. I have hunted the area for years, and have come home without a shot due to permissions. Might be a bit different this year with swath wet on the ground.

There is a couple of Hutterite colonies. IF the geese’s are hitting there, chances could be good.

That general area, and north and east, was once a plentiful region. But with the sunken water table and the opening of Beaverhill, it just ain’t the same

[tikka250]

i hunt a pile of ponds and sloughs for ducks. and it can be quite successful.
for pond only ducks its the same as malards or geese. find the feed and hunt there. for malards the best is to find em "puddling" birds will hop from the roost to a puddle for a drink of fresh water before hitting the field. puddle hunts can be some of the best mallard shoots out there if you play it right.
we dont have a dog so all our retrieving has been in waders. in my area i have only encountered 2 sloughs that were too deep to wade.

[r-von]

Originally Posted by Justfishin73

The pond I drive by every morning on way to work. Too close to road to hunt

Pic won't work. So many can barely see water

i may be mistaken but is there really such a thing as being to close to a road while using a shotgun for game birds?

of course i obviously don't know the particulars in this case but in the regs it states:

discharge a firearm from or cause a projectile from a firearm to pass along or across:
a) a provincial highway (this designation applies to all former primary and secondary highways),
b) a road that is paved, oiled, graded or regularly maintained, unless
- the road is held under any active disposition under the Public Lands Act or under an order under the Surface Rights Act, or
- the person is hunting game birds with a shotgun under the authority of a licence.
Note: if there is no identifiable ditch or fence to mark the outside edge of the roadway, then the roadway extends 20 feet from the edge of the traveled portion.

[Justfishin73]

Private property and 100 m from their house