Duck hunting: One of the types of hunting that can be said to be common to the whole Italian territory is hunting waterfowl which is certainly also one of the most complete and varied forms of hunting.
This type of hunting is practiced in humid areas characterized by the presence of ponds, lakes, swamps, marine lagoons, favorite destinations for birds such as ducks and waders that frequent the entire peninsula. In the hunting of aquatic animals, the huntable preys essentially belong to the migratory avifauna that arrives on the Italian territory in the autumn period; usually we speak of Alzavole, Gadwall, Codoni, Wigeons, Germani, Shoveler, Morette and Pochards, aquatic birds sharing the same habits such as the frequentation of wetlands, large expanses of water where they can stop for most of the day and then moving in swamps and marshes in search of nourishment.
These are precisely the places where waterfowl hunting is practiced, in particular ducks, using methods and stratagems that, albeit with modern devices, date back to ancient times and are handed down among hunters from generation to generation. Among the various methods devised by man for duck hunting we undoubtedly find barrel hunting, a very widespread tradition in some areas of Italy such as the Venetian lagoon, the Po delta and the Longarini marshes in Sicily; no less widespread is hunting from fixed posting from huts built on the shores of lake areas or in the middle of even more inaccessible swamps such as that in the Tuscan territory of the Padule di Fucecchio.
The barrel hunting method requires the hunter to place a barrel or other artifact watertight and large enough to allow him to remain dry but at the same time almost entirely immersed in water. With this stratagem the hunter will expose only a small part to the view of the waterfowl, that is the one that protrudes out of the barrel and therefore above the surface of the water. The barrel should also be camouflaged if possible among the aquatic vegetation such as a reed bed or, in the absence of this, the camouflage can be optimized by positioning branches and shrubs so as to blend in with the surrounding environment and deceive the view of the aquatic.
The problem of camouflage is fundamental in all types of hunting but it becomes more important in the hunting of aquatic stalking from the shed; it must in fact be taken into account that ducks and waders are among the species of aquatic birds that have the most developed sense of sight as well as cunning animals with exceptional sight that frequently move in more or less numerous flocks: it is enough that a single bird in the flock warns a danger to inevitably blow up the chance for the hunter to go sign. All this must therefore be taken into account in the preparation and construction of a good shed to obtain an effective camouflage that can hide the hunter from the sight of water birds in the best possible way, thus making them approach as much as possible.
In Italy, the methods used to build the huts are different and they vary according to the characteristics of the humid area in which they hunt but, above all, according to local traditions.
The shed must be built in such a way that it is as homogeneous as possible and similar to the surrounding landscape, with the rear higher so as to conceal the hunter's head protruding, it must not be too wide but suitable to remain there for a few hours. The ideal for comfort, durability and functionality is the masonry shed, partially buried, camouflaged with climbing and evergreen plants, at the foot of which the cages with live decoys are placed. The huts most used in Italy for hunting waterfowl are: the coveggia, made entirely of tall grass surrounded by water; the basket, positioned near the bank or the mouth of a river; the hiding place of reeds or herbs, placed behind the barrel or vat, where the small boat is hidden in the stalking and finally the hut, built in a very raised position.
Fundamental accessories for hunting aquatic stalking both in barrel and shed, are the calls and the fixed or animated molds. As far as the molds are concerned, we speak of plastic shapes, in the past made of wood, generally depicting anatidae of various species; the most common molds are those depicting ducks in a static floating position, placed on the surface of the water. There are also other types of molds depicting ducks in the position of descent into the water; this type of mold contains a mechanism that rotates the wings of the shape perfectly simulating the movement that an aquatic bird makes as it descends to rest on the surface of the water. Before setting out, the hunter can position the molds as he likes, forming a group or placing them spaced apart.
Each hunter has his own method for the arrangement of the molds according to his own experience and that handed down to him, according to the meteorological conditions, according to the particularities of the hunting area and obviously taking into account the species he chooses to undermine; it is very useful, if not essential, to know the habits and behavior of each single species that you intend to hunt. For example, hunting ducks that tend to gather in large groups stopping in capacious bodies of water, the hunter who intends to set up a captivating "game" for these birds, will have to place at least twenty molds forming a fairly compact group. The second step is to wait for the arrival of the real ducks, paying close attention, in case you have live calls, to any cries produced by these because some species sing when they notice the arrival of other birds.
Other methods for hunting waterfowl are that of temporary stalking and hunting in a wandering form with the help of the dog; with these hunting methods the snipe is generally threatened.
Another aspect of duck hunting to examine is the use of rifles and ammunition suitable for these prey; in fact, it is necessary to take into account that often in the hunting of the aquatic ones the shot is quite long and these species of birds are generally endowed with a thick and robust plumage that protects them from the water as well as a robust musculature. Precisely for these reasons, 12-gauge magnum chambered rifles with 70 cm barrels and medium or larger chokes are generally used; as far as ammunition is concerned, the most suitable cartridges must contain at least 36 g of lead shot from 6 to 4. It must be said that in most of the Italian wetlands the cartridges with lead shot for hunting aquatic banned in order to avoid the risks of lead pollution; they are then replaced by so-called “non-toxic” cartridges containing steel or tungsten shot.
Another factor not to be underestimated for those who practice aquatic hunting is clothing; considering the environment in which this type of hunting is practiced and the continuous contact with water, waterproof rubber boots, any waterproof clothing and in general good hunting clothing that can withstand harsh climatic conditions of cold and humidity. In conclusion, it must be remembered that, despite the contrary opinion of environmentalists, the hunting of anatidae, with its traditions handed down over the centuries, guarantees the protection of important wetlands, natural habitat for various species of birds, amphibian animals, insects and numerous species. of plants. All this because in many areas hunters work to keep artificial bodies of water alive, to manage swamps while safeguarding the territory in order to ensure waterfowl a congenial place where they can stop during their migrations and at the same time keep alive the ancient tradition of aquatic hunting.