Everyone has their own theory about this subject. Mine's a little different than those already stated and probably at odds with most posters here. Keep the variables in mind when evaluating a specific body of water and not talk in generalities which rarely apply equally to all spots.

First and foremost, is the subject pond a feeding, resting or roosting area?

Are the ducks that stop there ones that are staying in the immediate area for at least several days or other prolonged period of time, or just passing through on their way south?

Are there other bodies of water nearby that are hunted regularly?

Are you a decoy hunter that shoots only birds coming into the dekes, or are you a pass shooter?

In our particular case, hunting an 11 acre wetlands from varying fixed blind locations while working birds into our decoys, we could (and usually do) hunt every other day at different times and not burn out the pond.

We do have other hunters within earshot and it's an unusual day when we don't hear at least a few other shots in the distance. 90% of the time we hunt the first 90 minutes of daylight and hang it up. Some days we'll start the hunt around 10:30 AM when most hunters are done for the day and the ducks are often beginning the 2nd most active period of the morning.

If we have an attractive offering of groceries that season, and the ducks want in our spot, we could probably hunt there daily because I don't believe we see the same ducks twice ... only catching new ones passing through.

I've only been hunting waterfowl for 55 seasons now and still don't think I know all the answers. So take what I just shared with you as just an old man's opinion, for whatever it was worth.

I agree with a lot of what Cappy has to say on this forum, but there is no way I believe we don't see the same ducks twice. At least not where I hunt. I think a lot of these ducks hang out for a week or two before moving on- at least that is what I believe from hunting ponds.

Maybe Jim's wetland situation is different (close to a major body of water?) but that hasn't been my experience.

We aren't really in disagreement. Because we AREN'T near a large body of water, we AREN'T closer that 5-6 miles from the River, Peanuts AREN'T grown in the area any longer and there AREN'T significant other crops to attract and hold ducks here, then they ARE simply passing through ... IMO.

Put 4 or 5 days a week worth of pressure on the same 6 acre wetland and you will have average to sub par duck numbers for the entire season... Take the same 6 acre wetland and hunt it one day a week and you will see a lot more birds on the day that you do hunt.

With that being said I am not knocking what cappy does, I just disagree with his thoughts on this topic. He can do what ever he wants on his place and I think its great that he still gets out on his own at his age as much as he does.