The Best First Duck to Hunt (and How to Start) in Tennessee & Arkansas
If you’re a newbie in the sport, we’ve got good news: You don’t need a garage full of gear to fall in love with duck hunting! Named the #1 duck hunting guide service in the U.S. by Game & Fish Magazine in 2016, Reelfoot Lake Duck Hunting Guide helps new hunters build confidence fast through guided hunting services in both Tennessee and Arkansas.
Below is a practical roadmap for getting started, plus our take on the most beginner friendly ducks and how a guided duck hunting trip can accelerate your learning curve.
The Best First Duck for a Beginner
Listen. The short answer is: You can’t go wrong with gadwall or mallards. Gadwall (“grey ducks”) teach clean fundamentals with straightforward decoying and forgiving setups, while mallards are iconic, especially in Arkansas timber and Tennessee timbered holes.
If you’re looking for a comparison between the others, here’s a quick-read table:
Beginner Friendly Ducks (TN & AR)
Species | Why It’s Beginner Friendly | Typical Habitat | Difficulty | Tips |
Gadwall | Predictable lines, decoy well to modest spreads | Rice, sloughs, shallow lakes | Low–Medium | Soft quacks + realistic motion; keep spreads tidy |
Mallard | Teaches calling, angles, patience | Flooded timber, rice, backwaters | Medium | Don’t over‑call late; let them finish vertical |
Green‑winged Teal | Fast reps build gun mount & lead | Rice edges, shallow flats | Low (decoys), Low (calling) | Keep shots inside 30; swing through, don’t stop the gun |
Wood Duck | Close quarter reads in cover | Timber pockets, creeks, buckbrush | Low | Minimal calling; hide is everything in tight cover |
How to Get Into Duck Hunting – The Simple Proven Path
Define your first goal.
Is it learning decoy placement, calling basics, or safe shot windows? Tell us. We’ll build your day around it.
Pick your classroom.
- Arkansas: Classic guided duck hunting in green timber, willow brakes, and rice.
- Tennessee (Reelfoot Lake hunting): Historic public water, natural loafing zones, and legendary blinds near the Reelfoot National Wildlife Refuge.
- Arkansas: Classic guided duck hunting in green timber, willow brakes, and rice.
Start with a mentor.
A professional guide shortens the learning curve. Our guided hunting trips focus on why ducks commit and how to adapt.
Learn a simple spread.
Start small and realistic. Use fewer decoys, place smarter, and hide better.
Master concealment.
Silhouettes and shine spook birds more than anything. We fix this first.
Practice high‑percentage shots.
We coach shot angles, lead, and discipline so birds leave cleaner and so do your ethics.
Add skills as you go.
Calling, jerk‑string motion, species reads, and blind etiquette. All taught in the right order.
Arkansas vs Tennessee for Your First Hunt
Arkansas
The classroom for vertical finishes. Timber hunts teach patience, such as reading wingbeats, when to call, and when to be quiet.
Tennessee (Reelfoot Lake)
A masterclass in reading rafts of birds and natural traffic. Our lineage on Reelfoot means we know how to position new hunters for clear, ethical shot windows.
Your Best Flooded Timber Duck Hunting Guide Is Here to Help
Our guides are here to make sure you understand why the birds finish and how to repeat it. That’s the difference with true guided hunting services, where we prepare you with skills you can take anywhere.
Call or TEXT (731) 588‑4531 to plan your very first Arkansas or Tennessee guided duck hunting experience (and ask about add‑on guided snow goose hunting). With Reelfoot Lake Duck Hunting Guide, your first hunt can be the foundation for a lifetime in the blind. Contact us today!