How a Guide Finds Ducks in Florida
Florida is an excellent destination for hunting waterfowl. It offers many challenges, but it can also be gratifying.
Let me put it this way: The success of any hunt, no matter where it takes place, is directly linked to the effort you invest before the season begins.
What Am I Saying?
You can’t just show up at a lake on opening day and expect to shoot a lot of ducks. You need to scout the area first.
So, what steps should you take to make sure you’ve done everything possible for a successful hunt? Let me break it down for you.
A Florida Duck Guide’s Approach to Scouting
When it comes to discovering new productive and legal spots for duck hunting in Florida, my approach begins online. I rely solely on these digital tools to pinpoint new potential hunting areas and track down waterfowl.
OnX Elite:
OnX offers some of the finest mapping services and the most current aerial photographs, updated as often as every 15 days. When I need the latest mapping information, OnX is my preferred choice.
Google Earth:
I also enjoy utilizing Google Earth imagery because it allows me to view historical satellite aerials of regions I might be interested in for hunting. This feature is particularly useful for identifying areas susceptible to flooding or containing SAV (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation). By examining past data, you can determine whether a location might be promising in the future. Moreover, certain areas may only attract ducks under specific conditions.
Knowing when those conditions are right can streamline your scouting efforts.
E-scouting is a great way to develop a game plan for when and where to focus your efforts in real-time scouting.
Forums
I hate to say it, but like many other places, Florida and waterfowl hunting do not have many secrets anymore. Spending a few hours looking for duck hunting spots can help you find areas where ducks are often visit. You can also find places with recent duck activity. People love to boast about their achievements, and some cannot keep their lips tight about where they were successful. Use this to your advantage. I know I did.
Forums can give you good tips. However, you can only find reliable information on legal hunting boundaries and official season dates on state websites.
official State Websites & Season Dates
The FWC: Your Source for Regulations and Dates
Always check the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) website for the official, most current migratory bird hunting regulations and bag limits.
FWC Main Waterfowl Page: fwc waterfowl
2025-2026 FWC Tentative Statewide Duck Season Dates:
Season Segment Date Range Important Note Early Wood Duck/TealSept. 20 – 24, 2025Limited to Wood Ducks and Teal only.First Regular Season Nov. 22 – 30, 2025A short season over the Thanksgiving period.Second Regular Season Dec. 6, 2025 – Jan. 25, 2026The main season for migratory ducks.Youth Waterfowl Days Nov. 15, 2025 and Feb. 7, 2026 Special days for youth hunters (age 15 and under).
Water Management Districts (WMDs): These sites are critical for maps and area-specific rules on public lands.
SJWMD: Sjrwmd Florida duck hunting regulations and areas
SWFMD: duck hunting on swfwmd lands
Spend time combing through these sites and look for state-managed Waterfowl areas (WMAs). They all have area-specific regulations, so be sure to read through them before hunting.
Scouting: Putting Boots on the Ground
After you create a game plan, the next step is to get out and start scouting.
I spend more time looking for ducks than I do actually hunting them. This is how I became a skilled duck hunter and an even better duck guide.
The Critical Role of Timing and Food
When I’m scouting pre-season, I always get out to my spot before first light. This allows me to see flight paths, patterns, and to witness firsthand where ducks roost and where they feed.
Being at a “feed” location is the best way to ensure you have ducks in your spread on opening days.
Why is SAV the Key? (Submerged Aquatic Vegetation)
In Florida, the presence of healthy SAV is the single best indicator of a duck feeding area. Ducks, especially Ring-necked ducks, Pintails, and Scaup, rely heavily on these underwater plants. Your e-scouting, especially with older Google Earth images, helps you find past SAV beds. Current scouting for healthy plant growth will lead you to the ducks’ “dinner plate.”
Scouting Pays Off: Even if I don’t see ducks, finding good duck habitat to hunt ducks makes me want to return. I check certain spots at different times of the year to see if they hold ducks. Ducks prefer a variety of diverse habitats in the Sunshine State. Putting in the time scouting will pay dividends during the day hunts.
Last Florida duck hunting season, I returned to a lake. I had only seen one or two mottled ducks there before, even though I visited many times. I went later in the season, and Migratory wood ducks had made this lake their home. This further proved my point: just because you don’t see birds today doesn’t mean the spot won’t hold ducks later in the season.
If you’re looking to jump the learning curve and want to learn firsthand from me this duck season, Book a guided duck hunt click the link here.