Since I've gotten no responses to my question..... If I interrupt your duck hunt while I'm fishing I apologize in advance.

I guess you can post an honest question on here and everyone ignores it.

Apparently the only way to get a response is to post a pic of your catch or kill so that someone can tell you theirs was better or bigger and how your not a sportsman.......,.

Duck hunters generally get out there before daylight and most, not all, leave early morning. Start your trip a little later so you can see better and may avoid being in the same spots.
Listen for gunshots.
Look for decoys.
Look for posted signs and reflectors.
Look for parked boats where the hunters may have paddled in with a pirogue.
Stay out of the smaller ponds and broken marsh. Most guys don't hunt the large bays and bayous so you usually won't bother them there.
If you come across a duck hunter, quietly move out of the area and let them finish their hunt- you likely have many more areas to go fish than they can go hunt.
Look for blinds. Many also hunt with blinds on their duck boats so they are mobile and may not always be in the same place.

the problem lies in that hunters are well hidden so you often dont see them until you hear them shoot or unless you run right up on them.

there isnt a lot you can do other then talk to the local launch operators and they have the best idea on what areas to avoid.

it would be nice if they put up flag poles to warn you of where they are but they wont do that.

other then the average jerk the hunters understand you cant avoid running into each other at times unless they are on private leases or clearly marked hunting areas.

its rare to ever see today but my grandfather used to stick signs at marsh entrances to say ''warning - hunters are in the area'' and he would put these up before every hunt and take them with him when he left, he rarely ever got interupted by fishermen unless they came from a direction without a warning sign. he said it wasnt a big bother and looked at it as part of hunting just like putting out decoys

Thanks for the responses! As a sportsman I try to be as courteous as possible when on the water or in the woods. I avoid crowded areas or spots that I know produce if someone is there already. As much as I want limits I enjoy being outdoors and savor every moment. I will always offer help to someone that needs it.

With that being said I also try to avoid confrontation as much as possible. I don't have that little filter that prevents a reaction to someone else's action. That's why I fish during the week and not weekends. Less people! We all have seen things happen at the dock or on the water.

So thank you again for your responses and I will take your advice. To all the duck hunters I wish you a safe and successful season!

As a duck hunter... Thank YOU for the concern to begin with. Thats being a true sportsman. Corey D

Bottom line: Stay out of the ponds until 8 or 9AM. Sometimes you can see them from a distance, but often not. Best to stay in the bays or protected shorelines early in the morning. Let them have their day, they spend a lot of money and effort on hunting, and the best part of the hunting season is short.

Thanks for posting the question. Its a good discussion.

Thank you everyone for your responses! Hopefully everyone else will read these comments and follow everyone's advice. I'm sure others have wondered and now they know.

Good luck!