If the duck is injured, it’s best to use wet dog food so the duck will get some water and avoid dehydration. You can also put out a bowl of water for an injured duck to get rehydrated.
A net with a handle will give you good leverage to be able to scoop up the duck without having to get too close. Get a net with an opening greater than 1 foot in diameter. A large fishing net is a good option.
Keep the net hidden behind your back so the duck does not see it.
Grasp the duck by the neck while it is in the net to gently lift it off the ground. If the duck flies away before you can get the net out, try the method again the next day.
While holding the duck by the neck you can safely place it in a carrier for transport, or release it in a new location.
Observe the location where you have spotted the duck for several nights. You maybe able to locate a nesting location where the duck sleeps each night. Look for matted grass or droppings nearby to find the duck’s resting spot.
Open the latch of the carrier before approaching the duck to prevent the noise of the locking mechanism from disturbing the duck. A plastic animal carrier for a small dog or cat is a good size for a duck. Avoid carriers with long slits as the duck’s wings may slip through and become trapped.
A funnel trap works by allowing the ducks to squeeze into a narrow opening that is tapered inward making it easy to get in but hard to get out. Hammer the posts into the ground in a circular shape with the ends of the net extending inward to the middle of the circle. Drape a piece of netting over the top of your trap to keep the ducks from flying out.
Traps can be placed on dry land or in shallow water. The best time to catch ducks is after they have mated and molted their flight feathers which leaves them grounded.
Spread bait in and around the trap. Keep the majority of the bait inside the trap to encourage the duck to enter the trap. You don’t want them to feed outside of the trap, but it is necessary to place a small amount of bait such as corn outside the trap to attract them to the area initially. Place a decoy duck in the trap. When ducks see another duck in an area they are more likely to investigate and approach the area. Placing a mounted duck inside the trap is the most realistic decoy, however wooden or plastic decoys can also be effective. Use a duck call to attract ducks to the area where your trap is located. Be sure that you stay hidden in blind or under cover to avoid spooking the ducks.
If you must grab the duck with your hands, grab it by the neck rather than the wings to prevent injury to the duck.
