How to hunt waterfowl on bluebird days
Duck hunters are weekend warriors who stare out at perfect, windy weather, hoping it holds. Then the weekend comes, and it’s nothing but bluebird skies. Stormy weather is best for duck hunting, but hunters can make freezing conditions work for them too. Learning how waterfowl behave in different weather conditions can dramatically improve your hunting techniques and extend your hunting season. Blue skies are better for the birds — they can fly and feed where they like. The sun reflecting off the water turns it into a mirror, making decoy spreads more obvious. The reflections also make it more difficult for hunters to hide their faces and guns. The slightest shadows and movements can alert the ducks, so practice these four essential hunting tactics for best results on bluebird days.1. Be willing to keep moving
On bluebird days, it’s crucial to stay mobile. Birds tend to feed at night and rest during the day. So instead of hunting near the food source, hunt in the resting areas. Look for good areas with at least 500 birds.
2. Scout locations and log the ducks’ behavior


Birds are creatures of habit that stick to migration patterns. Scout locations on calm days and study the birds' behavior and migration patterns. Go to the areas where you plan to duck hunt, and pay attention to the birds’ behaviors during the day.
Log the times they feed and the times they rest. Note their flight routes and when they’re in flight during the day. Keeping detailed logs of the ducks’ behaviors on calm days can improve your hunts on clear days.
3. Work on your camouflage
Those blue skies make everything more visible to birds, so pay careful attention to your camouflage. Try to cover up any reflective surfaces and limit your movements. Use face paint or a face net to reduce the reflections.
4. Add movement to make your decoy spread
Duck decoys are less likely to fool waterfowl on bluebird days. So you have to work harder to lure them to your spread. For example, adding movement to your decoys can lure the waterfowl to land. Spinning wing decoys are great at pulling high-flying birds down into calling distances. Once the birds are a few hundred yards from the decoys, shut off the spinners and use a jerk string to move your decoys. Movement usually does the trick, especially when combined with good calling.How to call ducks into range on bluebird days
Sound carries better and faster on clear, warm days, which makes calls louder to the birds. Make sure not to wail on the duck call when the birds are close, as it may scare shy and wary ducks away.
Use the downsides of bluebird days to your advantage

Let us help you find the right duck call for your next hunt — Shop duck calls Read part 1: How to hunt in stormy, foul weather