Pond management

[codman]

Next year i plan to do some waterfowl hunting on my parents land that i hunt it has quite a diversity of areas to chose from woods, to fields , to swamp/pond. Id like to start in the spring this year and clear some of the woods around the swamp pond thats in the woods. No to attract ducks would a good way be to just open the canopy to draw them to the pond. Ive seen ducks in it every year but would like to draw more in. The way the water gets to it is from the bass pond on my parents lawn. Its spring feed and goes from that to swamp and then eventually builds up into that pond off in the woods. Is there anything i'am missing as far as to attract the ducks?

Also on the bottom side of the field we have a river that runs the whole length of the property I could always make a pond going into the field from the river.

[dogdoc]

If you clear trees only clear the non-fruit/mast producing trees. Do not clear oak trees. Acorns provide some great food for ducks. In the summer when water levels are low sow in some japanese millet and buckwheat. These are fast maturing plants that provide some great seeds for ducks. If the soil is wet/muddy you can just toss the seeds into the mud. The jap millet will handle flooding as long as part of the plant is above water.

It sounds like you have a lot of potential and a great duck hunting spot. Wish I had river access. Great hunting when everything else is frozen up.

todd

[codman]

I checked the area this past weekend and and theres plenty or hickory's and briars in the area. I plan to thin those in some areas and Get it ready for the waterfowl forage. ill probably clear out around the swamp so they can go towards that to. Looks like a very good area and will be a busy year thats for sure.