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Weather Triggers
Cold Front
Among the first big ducks south. Moves weeks ahead of the mallards
Wind
Wary in calm; wind is what makes big spreads work
Temp / Ice
Shallow sheet water locking up moves them out overnight
Habitat
Sheet water, flooded rice, tidal flats
The Daily Clock
How to hunt it, hour by hour
1
Roost
Night
Big open sheet water with long sightlines. Pintails sleep where nothing can sneak up.
Run It
Glass evening flight lines
Note the exit direction at first light
2
Morning Trade
First 2 hours
High circles over feed before dropping, often 8–10 looks before feet-down.
Run It
Big spread with a wide-open hole
Sprig whistle, not a hail call
3
Midday Loaf
10am – 3pm
Rafts on mudflats and shallow bars, preening in the sun.
Run It
Sneak the flats only if you can crawl
Better: rest them, hunt the evening
4
Evening Sheet-Water Feed
Last hour
Drops into inches-deep water to tip for seeds, silhouettes against the afterglow.
Run It
Hide low. Pintails see everything
Small silhouette-only rig works late
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