Duck hunting: learn about their habitat and stalking techniques
Ducks are a class of birds that prefer humid environments as their habitat. The ducks live, therefore, in environments characterized by the presence of any type of body of water. These bodies of water, be they swamps, lakes or marshes, can be both salt water and fresh water and can be either permanent or temporary. It is obvious that not all bodies of water are the perfect habitat for the settlement of ducks. In addition to the presence of water, in fact, the presence of nourishment is also necessary. In addition, ducks usually choose a place that is safe, a place that can also be functional as a hiding place.
This means that these bodies of water will also be chosen on the basis of their positioning and those positioned in hidden, little-known places and above all in places that are not the passage of boats or means of transport of any kind will be privileged. Ducks are looking for a refuge full of tranquility just as we humans usually do when choosing our homes.
There are several duck hunting techniques. First of all, it is right to remember a type of duck hunting that is no longer practiced, namely hunting to the ducks with the hawk. This type of hunting has now been supplanted by other techniques, but it is right to remember it because it is at the origin of duck hunting and because in its time it really found a wide diffusion. The falcon that was usually used for this type of hunting is the peregrine falcon. The most practiced hunting technique today is undoubtedly the stalking hunt done either in natural stalking places or in specially built places such as huts or barrels. The huts must be built on the edge of the pools and must blend in with the natural vegetation and hide in it. The barrels, on the other hand, must be positioned either on any islets present or near the shore. The barrels are large and it can often seem difficult to hide them perfectly among the vegetation but it is, instead, very important to do it as much as possible. Whatever the type of stalking it is very important to place calls or ducks that are usually obtained through the crossing between mallard ducks and mallards. In addition to the calls, the so-called molds are also positioned, that is cork or wooden shapes very similar to ducks. Another popular duck hunting technique is boat hunting. Also in this case it is a stalking hunt but it takes place directly from the central part of the body of water.