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Mallyard
06-30-2004, 12:26 PM
I have acess to 3 ponds near my house. Last year when we hunted them we set up and didn't get a shot all day.. The next day we drove around, and went down this old old road, had to do some 4-weelin. We found this pond way in the back of this pasture and it was packed full with about 400 to 500 ducks. 2 of the ponds that we can hunt are a mile or less away from this awsome pond. I was wondering if there was any way that we could lure ducks into coming into our pond with mabye a feed. One of the ponds is totaly outlined with cattails, so it would provide good cover to hunt from... Thanks for any info...

Mallyard
Brett Beinke
06-30-2004, 01:58 PM
Yes Cattails are nice to hide in but they do not provide any food to waterfowl and can choke a pond out. If you have good current rice is hard to beat. For us Sago (sp?) is a key food source. You get your pond full of Sago and the birds will be there! The best advice I can think of is to check with your local GFP or DNR. They can let you know what vegitation grows well in your area that waterfowl really like.
J Kryspin
06-30-2004, 02:12 PM
Get in touch with your local DU Biologist. They'll be glad to help you determine which "crops" will grow in the ponds when pH levels are read, etc.

Of course you can always go with something along the lines of the Mossy Oak BioLogic Waterfowl Forage.
J Kryspin
06-30-2004, 02:13 PM
Managing Wetlands for Ducks (http://www.forestry.uga.edu/warnell/service/library/c0718/)
SwampHunter
07-01-2004, 12:40 AM
Have you checked to see what is in the ponds that have birds in them? There could be a real simple answer to your question.
In my experience if the ducks won't use a pond to begin with, it's hard to make them come to it and if they do it will take a good while. Do the birds even fly over your ponds within calling distance?
The problem might not be dealing with feed at all, it might have something to do with the flyway.
Mallyard
07-01-2004, 09:24 AM
yah we'ce acctually seen ducks on the ponds.. I thank all of you for ;your help..

Mallyard
dkhntr
08-04-2004, 08:20 PM
Leave a trail of corn from one pond to the other. :D

Seriously, I don't know what local food source grows in your area, but get some and plant it. For us, rice and Sago as Brett mentioned are great.