Best weather for duck hunting?

[bear40doux]

What are the best weather conditions fro waterfowl hunting? Is it the same for duck as it is for geese? What is the worst? I went out on my 2nd day of hunting today and got skunked and we didn't see a duck all day and only saw very few geese, but on the drive home...I saw a ton just mingling around in subdivision ponds or in fields. What puts them up in the air?
Thanks for reading and helping.

[nside20]

I would say it really depends on where you are. When I lived in the NV. the area I lived in held tons of birds. Sunny days were the ticket. Any type of weather system seemed to keep the birds down. They would stay rafted up until the fronts passed. Now, where I hunt in IL holds almost no birds, Killing pretty much strictly migrators. In that area were waiting for the storm systems up north to move the birds. So a lot of times we are seeing the birds right in front of storm fronts so the weather is far from a blue bird day. It really comes down to knowing your area. I suggest keeping a journal of your hunts, record wind, temp, and the like and in time you'll have a good idea of what to expect from certain areas at certain times.

[nvr8884]

I know in the metro area...birds seem to fly when its rainy and cloudy..sunny days they seem to sit fat dumb and happy:D

[mike.]

scouting is key to seeing birds

[Connor M]

When living in Virginia, we would pray for snow storms or just plain cold nasty weather. But after moving around a little I have changed what I like.

The idea that ducks like rain, IMO, is ridiculous. It just doesn't make sense considering a duck would rather fly in clear weather than getting pelted in he face with rain. Living now in SD I have found we have out best success on cold clear days with a stiff wind.

[nvr8884]

When living in Virginia, we would pray for snow storms or just plain cold nasty weather. But after moving around a little I have changed what I like.

The idea that ducks like rain, IMO, is ridiculous. It just doesn't make sense considering a duck would rather fly in clear weather than getting pelted in he face with rain. Living now in SD I have found we have out best success on cold clear days with a stiff wind.

That's what I thought..it didn't make sense.. I have heard from quite a few people that they "prefer" to fly during cloudy days and rainy days because it gives them "more" cover and are not as easily seen in the nice blue clear sky.. to me that makes sense..but then again I might be wrong..I just see a lot more activity when its rainy

[nvr8884]

sent you a pm

[bear40doux]

nside,
I hear what you are saying about hunting strictly migrators. I live in IL, but hunt on a WI state park bout 40 minutes north of my place. My buddy was saying we've been shooting at nothing but locals...and once the migrators start coming down it should be pretty fun. Hopefully.

Connor & nvr,
I don't understand why they would want to fly in rain either, but I did notice the other day when we had clouds and a slight drizzle that birds were flying non stop all morning and afternoon.

Hopefully, the action will pick up soon.

[NWMO H20-FOWLER]

I am a believer in the worse the weather the better the duck huntin!!!! That is usually the case in Missouri for me !!!!

[Watch em fall]

Weather doesnt seem to matter tooo much.Last year was my last youth hunt we went out in the afternoon and within 15 mins i had 1 woodie 3 malards a scarab and a pintail.
But there have been days when it was 45 mph winds, rain and fog and we have done great. I say the best days are the days the birds are there.:D

[Geesekiller]

Fowl Weather for Fowl hunting seem to be the best but I had great days on bluebird days and I had great days on fowl weather days.

[NickHallph-1]

i like to hunt in snow the best like not a blizzard but just some snow i like to hunt in snow when its actually snowing not when it is already on the ground and i like rain to fowl weather for waterfowl seems the best

[duckin82]

i cant say the weather is gonna make us or break us unless its really warm out and the birds just arent movin but i prefer to hunt in the nastiest of conditions, blizzard, snow storm, high winds, single digit degrees, thats my kinda weather

[Doug Steinke]

40 degree high, absolutely clear skies and a 20 mph southwest or northwest wind.

[Jesse Johnson]

Well in my area (southeast MO) it isnt really the type of weather what the birds like to fly in, but its how easily hunters can hide. I preferably like to hunt alot of willow sloughs and a cloudy day makes no shadows for cover whatsoever so the ducks can easily see you through the brush and can easily pick you out. Then a sunny, clear day provides lots of shadows and gives you more cover options.

[Zach White]

Cold clear days with a stiff wind.

That is the same with us in most situations, along with a good snow fall!

[Dux r me]

geese dont really matter.........for ducks I like overcast and cold for both.............warm weather will kill you.

[CRIPLE CUTTER]

ducks cold over cast windy days. wind out of the north west is the best. i hunted in 55 mile a hour gust one day there were birds every were i killed a limit setting decoys. it was bad ass.

[Goosman]

Twentyfive mile northwest wind driving snow!!!!!!!!!!!2008 Hunting Journal
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/2405/gunev0.gif (http://imageshack.us)

[CRAWLER]

I'll take sunny and windy any day of the week.

[Micah Evans]

the nastiest weather you can imagine
here in washington, the harder it rains, the harder it blows, the more birds yo see are falling from the sky =)

[Stephen Pitt]

For where we hunt clear blue skies, temps in 30s, and a good wind I perfer a south wind.

[goosetalk]

Whether its raining or not, a good wind will get the birds stirred up. Heavy rain or snow keeps them sitting tight. I love a 15-20 mph wind with light rain, sleet, or snow. On the other hand, the best mallard days are 40 F or below with bright sun shine in December.

The good rule of thumb in my area is hit the fields (flooded or not) when its nasty and hit the timber lakes and sloughs when its cold and sunny.