The Upstate is blessed with an abundance of smaller rivers and creeks that wind their way across the area. They provide plenty of feeding and resting grounds for waterfowl, both resident populations and those making more southerly migrations.
The types of waterfowl likely to be encountered by creek hunters include a mixed bag of mallards, wood ducks, mergansers and a host of other puddlers and divers, depending upon the time of season and size of the streams.
Don’t rule out the possibility of coming across some of the state’s many resident Canada geese while hunting creeks. Equipment, locations and strategies differ greatly from the standard duck- hunting setup, but the results, especially as the weather cools, can be exceptional.
One drawback to hunting smaller rivers is a lack of places to launch a trailered boat — which is also a plus. In these cases, a small johnboat, canoe or kayak that can fit in the bed of a pickup might be your best means of transportation.
The use of decoys varies when hunting moving water. If accessing the area with a small vessel, limited storage space is a consideration. A half-dozen decoys will be all that’s necessary if decoys are used.
It’s best to equip decoys with short anchor lines and heavier than average weights. Blind material differs; most hunters opt to hide the boat and dig in against the bank .
Duck calls should be used sparingly in small streams. Ducks seek out smaller rivers and creeks to rest. Calling can help persuade ducks passing high overhead to swing down for a closer look, but calling too much, especially with no decoys for the ducks to identify, is unnatural and can cause birds to spook.
Shot loads and choke patterns should accommodate quick and relatively close passing shots.
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