Duck Hunting in Fields vs. Flooded Timber: Key Differences Every Hunter Should Know

By Ronnie Philips • Heartland Waterfowl

Waterfowl hunting looks different depending on where you are in the country. For some, it’s a sunrise over an Arkansas timber hole, mallards backpedaling through the trees. For others, it’s geese swinging over a cut cornfield in Kansas or mallards finishing over wheat in Saskatchewan. At Heartland Waterfowl, we’ve been fortunate to do both, and if there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s this: field hunting and timber hunting are two entirely different animals.

Both can be magical. Both can be frustrating. And both will make you a better hunter when you understand what separates them.

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The Setup

In the field, it’s all about visibility and realism. We want spreads that look like a feed — whether that’s honkers on cut corn or mallards in beans. That means numbers matter, and so does shape. Landing pockets, wind direction, and yes, making sure everyone knows exactly where the field entrance is so we don’t ruin the hunt driving across the wrong spot.

In the timber, the setup changes. You don’t need 10 dozen decoys to kill ducks in flooded woods. You need the right hole, the right water depth, and enough space for birds to work through the trees. It’s about creating confidence in tight quarters. A dozen decoys placed in a natural opening can outwork a big spread in timber.

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Calling & Motion

Calling in the timber is like talking in a church. Every note echoes, and ducks are close enough to hear every mistake. It’s about control, rhythm, and subtlety. In the field, you’ve got more distance to cover. We lean on goose flags, aggressive calling, and motion decoys from Mojo to pull birds from high and far.

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Gear That Matters

Fields demand durability. You’re hauling blinds, bags, and dozens of decoys across cut stubble, often in brutal wind. That’s where Tanglefree’s blinds, gun cases, and blind bags earn their keep. Timber hunts demand waterproofing and comfort. First Lite’s Forge Waders and layering systems are non-negotiable when you’re standing waist-deep for hours.

And no matter where you are, the fundamentals don’t change: Beretta shotguns cycle, Kent shells pattern, Carlson’s chokes put the load where you need it. That’s true in beans or in the timber hole.

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Brotherhood in Both

At the end of the day, the location might change, but the brotherhood doesn’t. In the timber, you’re shoulder-to-shoulder, whispering in the dark, waiting for ducks to filter through the trees. In the field, you’re spread out across layouts or A-frames, but the banter and the ribbing are just as sharp. The coffee still tastes the same, the snacks still get passed around, and the stories still grow bigger by the minute.

That’s the beauty of waterfowl hunting: no matter where you drop the decoys, the pursuit is the same. We’re chasing birds, chasing moments, and chasing memories with our crew.