Why do you have to get up at 3am to go duck hunting? I am not trying to stir the pot just asking a question.

Because if you are hunting public you need to be the frist one there to claim your spot. Then you have to give yourself time to set up.

you don't if you hunt private.

I've been rolling out of bed at 5:30 and still have to wait for the sun to come up.

that's the guys who hunt public lakes and have to beat other guys out there.

I get up at 3am not only for duck but for deer,doves,hogs,ect..
I like to beat the game at the feeder.

Ok I understand the public land stuff. What about ponds and private land? How early do you really need to be out there.

You dont have to... just depends on your location. I have spots that are a 1-2hr drive in the car, 15-30min drive in the boat, set out decoys, etc...Some people have to get up that early to beat other people to public spots, obviously private this is not the case.

3am for dove? Really?

Depends how far you are from your place and how long it takes you to set up.

Some of the younger guys in my area have been camping out on the lakes on opening weekend and drinking all night. Then, to keep other hunters away from their area, hanging flashlights on bushes so that other hunters think that someone is there! When we do go out early (4 am or so) I have a little propane burner and we'll cook sausage and eggs after we get the dekes out.

For public I wake up at 3. I wake up at 6 for private and shoot a lot more ducks than I would on public.

Wes----private ponds... be set up and ready 30 minutes before lst... drink some coffee relax then blast...

If you are on private land you just have to get there in time to get set up before l.s.t

My wakeup time always works backwards from shooting time. Look up sunrise, shooting time is 30 minutes before then. Usually takes about 30 minutes to get the decoys set up and unpack my shells, hang the gun up, get organized, etc. If there's a boat ride, that can be 15-30 minutes. And then there's the truck ride of 30 minutes to an hour and a half. Plus a little bit to get the morning constitutional out, and get dressed, and stop for a sausage biscuit at whataburger.

Long story short ends up with me setting the alarm for somewhere around 5 if I'm not trying to beat anyone, and earlier if I have to.

it just depends on how far you have to drive...and again whether or not it's public or private...I guess you don't have to get up at 3...if you don't want to be set up and ready to go in time

Yup it's a 5:45 wake up for me on the private stuff. Public land sucks.

3am...I'm normally on the road at least 30min by then.

I go early because I have chose to sit in the truck driving rather that sitting on the lakes close in the dark getting ticked off because someone sets up on top of me.

For the two private trips I normally take I have to drive a decent piece for them too so always up. I am looking forward to sleeping in after the season is over...but I ain't ready for it to end just yet.

"cuz we're fired up"

That comes from one of the Duck Commander videos. and that line pretty much sums it up!

only reason i get up is cause i got an hour drive and normally i forget something and if by chance i dont or its not important enough for me to turn around then there is normally some dickin around by the guys i hunt with so even at 3am its likely that were late

Jase drinkin coffee talkin to the camera on the way to the blind, openin mornin I believe...can't beat that line

Here is my rule: Make sure you are set-up, in your spot, 30 minutes before LST.

This gives time to load and drink some coffee (say 15 minutes), ducks start to come in (say 5 or 10 minutes later), drink some more coffee and line up a good skillet shot 4 ducks preferably, LST take your shot, drop 4 with one shot, 2 fly up, drop them with your next 2 shells. Finish your coffee, pick up and go home.

I ain't trying to 1 up anyone here, but I have to get up at 2am for both public and private. I just don't get going, so I need that extra hour to wake up.

Just put out more corn if you wanna sleep in and you can show up later

I wouldnt be a duck hunter if I had to get up at 3am......no way.

I do get up a tad earlier than I need to just in case something goes south . Plus I can take care of my bussness before I put my waders on .

I do the 3am thing about 4 times a year and thats it. Ducks are fun to shoot but they are not worth a waste of a weekend. By that I mean if I get up at 3 I am going to take a nap when I get home and then youve wasted the whole day. Might be fine for a single guy but if you have a wife and kiddos then you better not be asleep the whole weekend.