Hunting for Greenheads: Tips for Success

Hunting for Greenheads: Strategies Every Mallard Hunter Should Know

Greenheads—the drake mallards that define modern waterfowling—are among the smartest and most heavily pursued ducks in North America. Their adaptability, powerful wings, and wariness under pressure make them both challenging and rewarding targets. Whether you’re hunting small sloughs, big rivers, flooded timber, or dry agricultural fields, success depends on smart concealment, the right decoy spread, disciplined calling, and an understanding of mallard behavior throughout the season.

This guide breaks down the gear, scouting methods, and hunting strategies that consistently produce greenheads across various environments. For hunters looking to explore new waterfowl regions or guided duck hunts, browsing outfitters through Find A Hunt can help you plan with confidence.

Understanding Mallard Behavior

Why Mallards Are So Challenging

• Extremely wary: Greenheads quickly adjust to hunting pressure.

• Decoy-savvy: Mature drakes often study spreads from high altitude before committing.

• Flexible feeders: They adapt to rivers, shallow marshes, backwaters, fields, and timber.

• Vocal: Calling can be highly effective—but only when done right.

Daily Patterns

• Early morning: Quick flights to food sources.

• Late morning to midday: Loafing on open water, sloughs, or sandbars.

• Afternoon: Back to fields or shallow wetlands depending on weather and pressure.

Understanding these cycles helps you choose the right setup for each day’s conditions.

Essential Gear for Hunting Greenheads

Shotguns & Loads

Mallards decoy close, but late-season birds can be tough:

• Gauge: 12 or 20

• Choke: Improved Cylinder for early season; Modified for late season

• Shot: #2, #3, or #4 steel; bismuth #3–#5 for better downrange energy

Clothing

• Waterproof breathable waders

• Warm, layered clothing for cold late-season hunts

• High-quality gloves and a face mask to hide movement and shine

Accessories

• Duck call lanyard with multiple calls

• Headlamp for predawn setup

• Binoculars for scouting flight lines

• Game strap or bag

• PFD for boat hunts

Decoy Strategies for Greenheads

Decoy spreads for mallards vary dramatically by season, pressure, and habitat.

Early Season (Less Pressure)

• Use smaller spreads—a dozen to two dozen decoys

• Emphasize motion: jerk rigs or feeder decoys

• Green-winged teal or wigeon decoys can help attract mixed flocks

Mid to Late Season (Highly Pressured Birds)

• Use drake-heavy spreads for visibility

• Mix in sleeper and rester decoys

• Keep spreads loose and natural—avoid symmetrical “perfect” patterns

Spread Shapes That Work

• U-shape: Leaves a landing hole upwind

• J-hook: Leads birds into the pocket naturally

• Blob spread: Ideal for loafing water and windless days

• Rivers: Place decoys along current seams and soft edges

Motion Matters

Greenheads respond strongly to subtle motion:

• Jerk rigs

• Swimmers or pulsators

• Spinning-wing decoys (best early; use cautiously late season)

Calling Techniques for Greenheads

Mallards are among the most call-responsive waterfowl—but also the quickest to spot overcalling.

Core Calls

• Greeting call: Medium volume; draws attention

• Comeback call: Sharper and urgent for birds sliding away

• Feed chatter: Close-range finishing call

• Soft quacks: Effective in timber and tight cover

Early Season vs. Late Season

• Early: More calling works—birds are naïve

• Late: Softer, minimal calling needed—let birds work naturally

Key Calling Tips

• Match your cadence to real hens

• Don’t call at birds locked and committed

• Watch head turns—call when they bank to your side

• Learn to read bird body language (wings cupping, wingtips flashing, head cuts)

Scouting for Greenheads

Scouting is more important than gear in mallard hunting.

What to Look For

• Fresh feathers, droppings, and tracks

• Recent feeding sign in fields or mudflats

• Rafts of mallards loafing mid-morning

• Travel routes between roost and feed

• Hidden pockets of water ducks use to escape pressure

Best Times to Scout

• Afternoons: Perfect for watching birds return to roost

• Mornings: Track where birds go right at shooting light

• Evenings: Observe feeding patterns

Greenheads will use the same paths and pockets for days—until pressure forces them to shift.

Hunting Greenheads in Different Environments

1. Marshes & Backwaters

• Hide deeply in natural vegetation

• Use small-to-medium decoy spreads

• Motion is huge on calm days

2. Rivers

• Target soft edges, backchannels, islands, and sandbars

• Use current to your advantage—decoys should look naturally drifting

• Safety first: Avoid fast water during concealing setups

3. Flooded Timber

• Use wood duck decoys mixed with mallards

• Call softly; single quacks and chatter finish birds

• Keep decoys tight to gaps between trees

4. Dry Fields

• Corn, wheat, barley, rice, beans

• Layout blinds or A-frame blinds brushed heavily

• Use mostly mallard decoys with a few geese for visibility

Shooting Greenheads: Tips for Clean Harvests

• Pick out one greenhead, not the flock

• Keep your head down and follow through

• Lead birds more on windy days

• Stay patient—let them finish into the decoys when possible

Mallards offer great close-range shots when your hide and decoy spread are dialed in.

Field Care & Cooking Greenheads

Mallards are among the best-eating ducks.

Field Care

• Keep birds cool and dry

• Avoid crushing in the game bag

• Pluck or breast depending on meal choice

Cooking Ideas

• Seared mallard breast with berry glaze

• Grilled kabobs

• Duck poppers

• Classic confit legs

FAQs: Greenhead Duck Hunting

Do greenheads decoy well?

Yes—especially early season, or when hunting unpressured pockets.

What’s the best choke for mallards?

IC early; Modified later in the season.

Are spinning-wing decoys effective?

Very early season, yes. Late season, use sparingly or turn them off.

Where do mallards go in warm weather?

Shallow ponds, moist fields, and shaded sloughs with insect-rich food.

Do mallards fly in rain?

Absolutely—light rain often improves hunting.

Plan Your Next Waterfowl Hunt

Greenheads are the gold standard of waterfowling. With smart scouting, a clean hide, strategic calling, and well-planned decoy spreads, you can consistently bring drake mallards into range all season long.

To explore guided duck hunts or compare outfitters across the country, start planning through our hunt marketplace.