How to Find Private Land to Duck Hunt & How to Choose Your Spot

Wesley Littlefield

01/09/2026

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Growing up, my dad and I primarily duck hunted on private land. Over the years, I picked up several tips for getting permission. I have since put them to use and discovered other ways to hunt many private spots. However, that’s just the half of it. Once you land permission, you must know where to hunt on that property; otherwise, it’s just a bird watching expedition.

That’s why by the end of this article, you’ll know the best practices to get permission on private duck hunting land and how to pick the perfect spot to hunt. Let’s start with the simplest way to obtain permission.

Easy Mode - Using Infinite Outdoors

The easiest way to get permission on private duck hunting land is to use Infinite Outdoors. As a member of IO, you can book private land hunts across the nation at reasonable prices (all hunters in the party must be IO members). When you use IO to book the property, you reserve the spot, so you’re not competing against other hunters on the same property. You’ll need to bring your gear and understand where the best places to set up will be, as this is a DIY hunt. An additional benefit is that some locations offer guided trips, so it doesn’t have to be a DIY hunt if you don’t want it to be.

Speaking of guides, you can hire a guide to hunt with on their private land. Hiring a guide is great because you use their gear and expertise to hunt the best spots; however, it is more expensive than using IO. I prefer to hire a guide when hunting a completely new location (typically a new state) for only a few days. It allows me to maximize my hunting opportunities.

No matter what, if you want the easy way, you’ll have to pay. But I hunt multiple private properties where the landowners refuse to allow me to pay, and I’ll share my secrets shortly.

Medium Mode - Using Mapping Apps

I’ve used maps to find hidden-gem duck hunting spots on private and public land. I begin my search by opening up Google Maps or the Infinite Outdoors app and seeing all the water bodies near the location I want to hunt. If I have a history of hunting in that area, I’ll start with the places I know I’ve seen ducks and look for other similar spots. If I’ve never hunted the area, I’ll look for the duckiest-looking spots (crop fields, marshes, flooded timber, shallow ponds, etc.); once I find and mark several on my maps, I look up the owners and try to contact them by driving to the properties or using public records to get their contact information.

I also use maps while scouting to get a better idea of how the birds are using the area. This helps my setup look more appealing because I know what the ducks are looking for when they’re coming to my spot. Using mapping apps while scouting has also led me to hunt more locations because I see ducks go down in areas I would have overlooked.

Using mapping apps isn’t a golden bullet solution, but it will definitely help you find more private land spots at a much lower cost (especially per hunt) than hiring a guide.

Hard Mode - Using Traditional Methods

Using traditional methods is the most difficult, because it’s often the most time-consuming. What are traditional methods? My two most successful are befriending other hunters and landowners. I had the privilege of hunting some incredible spots (for free) simply because I was friends with another duck hunter or landowner.

The keyword here is “friend.” I don’t just talk to them during hunting season. I spend time getting to know them and their families throughout the year. If my buddy needs help moving, I’m there; if they want to go fishing, I’m there; if they just want to hang out and watch the game, I’m there. If they’re a landowner and need help sorting cows, fixing fence, baling hay, or anything else, I tell them to call me first, and I’ll be there to help. I’m not there to mooch off of them.

Creating these friendships doesn’t happen overnight. It’s taken me many years of helping landowners and naturally developing friendships to hunt on their private land. It’s also important to note that I didn’t start these friendships solely to hunt their private properties. They’ve happened naturally, and, most importantly, I aim to provide more value to the friendship than I take.

If I’m unable to help the landowner as much as I’d like, I try to get them a gift card to their favorite restaurant, or at the very least a case of beer, as a thank you. Many hunters overlook how being grateful and appreciative goes a long way with landowners.

Now that we know a few different ways to duck hunt private land, it’s time to learn where to set up.

Choosing the X

While it is possible to run traffic on private land, it’s best to hunt the X. However, the X can and will move from day to day, depending on the weather. I recently hunted the X, well, almost. A buddy and I were on the 1-acre pond the birds wanted to be on, except the wind didn’t cooperate. The ducks wanted to land on the other side of the pond and didn’t give us any shots until we moved over there. While we were VERY close to the X, being 50 yards away meant we brought home fewer birds than we could have if we had been set up on the X initially.

So how do you choose the X? You don’t, you let the birds pick it, and you notice when you’re scouting. This is why scouting is so important. You see where the birds are at, note the weather conditions, and hunt that eXact spot (if the weather hasn’t completely shifted).

Hunting the X isn’t always easy because it’s still essential to have the wind (and sun if possible) at your back. Some places might have permanent blinds you’ll want to hunt, but birds can also become leery of those, especially as the season progresses. So even though a blind is already there, it might not be the best spot to hunt.

Parting Shots - Finding Private Duck Hunting Land

Now you know how to find private duck hunting land and how to choose the perfect spot. I know the tips above work because my dad and I have used them for decades to get permission to access private land. Duck hunting on private land is possible, whether you want to spend a little money or not. It all depends on how much effort you’re willing to put in.