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Animal guide · Class 1 · Medium

Wood Duck — Call of the Wild Guide: Behaviour, Best Weapons, Strategy & Where to Hunt

How to hunt the Wood Duck in theHunter: Call of the Wild: class 1, how it behaves, need-zone times, the best weapons and ammo, hunting strategy, the best reserves, trophy scores and official screenshots.

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Official screenshot © Expansive Worlds / Avalanche Studios Group
Hunt & Live Team Updated October 25, 2026 3 min read
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The Wood Duck is a class 1 waterfowl in theHunter: Call of the Wild, found on Askiy Ridge. It can reach Medium difficulty. This guide covers how it behaves, when it feeds, drinks and rests, which weapons and ammo to use, how to hunt it, and the best places to find one.

1Class
MediumMax difficulty
670Diamond score
—Max weight
1Reserves
NoGreat One

The Wood Duck in the Game

1 official image from the game's store page. Tap it to enlarge.

Behaviour

Ducks and geese gather on lakes, rivers and marshes, flush in groups and fly fast. They return to the same water at predictable times.

Daily routine (need zones)

Like every species, the Wood Duck splits its day between feeding, drinking and resting zones. These are the published windows (in-game time). Find the zones on your save, then be there at the right hour.

FeedDrinkRest
WhereFeedDrinkRest
Askiy Ridge Hunting Preserve05:00–07:00, 09:00–11:00, 13:00–15:00, 17:00–19:00—00:00–05:00, 07:00–09:00, 11:00–13:00, 15:00–17:00, 19:00–00:00

Best Weapons for the Wood Duck

The Wood Duck is class 1, so you need ammo rated for class 1. Ammo class decides what is legal and clean; the gun mostly changes handling and range.

Our picks:

WeaponTypeAmmo that covers class 1From
Cacciatore 12Gshotgun12 GA BirdshotBase game
Caversham Steward 12Gshotgun12 GA BirdshotBase game
Benelhag 12Gshotgun12 GA BirdshotScotland Hunting Reserve
Cassidy Combination Gunshotgun.22 Mag Jacketed Hollow-Point / Hollow-Point, 12 GA BirdshotMulti-Class Weapon Pack
Couso Model 1897shotgun16 GA BirdshotRancho del Arroyo DLC
GOPI 10G Grandshotgun10 GA Plastic BirdshotSalzwiesen Park DLC
Giddings SSC .410 Coyoteshotgun.410 BirdshotPump, Flip and Fire Pack
Grelck Drilling Rifleshotgun16 GA BirdshotWeapon Pack 2
Humphrey 10G Coach Gunshotgun10 GA BirdshotOld West Weapon Pack
Miller Model 1891shotgun10 GA Brass BirdshotSmoking Barrels Weapon Pack
Nordin 20SAshotgun20 GA Birdshot, 20 GA Steel BirdshotDuck and Cover Pack
Strandberg 10SA Executiveshotgun10 GA BirdshotHigh Caliber Weapon Pack
Strecker SxS 20Gshotgun20 GA BirdshotWild Goose Chase Gear

13 weapons can legally take a Wood Duck. Data from our weapons database; class ranges can change with patches.

How to Hunt the Wood Duck

  • Use a shotgun with birdshot; it is the only sensible load for birds in flight.
  • Set decoys and use the right caller where the store offers them, and hide in reeds or a blind.
  • Lead the bird in flight; most misses are behind it.
  • Watch where birds land and set up there for the next drink or feed window.
  • Trophies: only max-difficulty animals can reach diamond. Check the trophy rating with binoculars, use in-class ammo and kill with one clean shot to pass the harvest check.

Best Places to Hunt the Wood Duck

The Wood Duck only lives on Askiy Ridge, so that’s where you have to go.

Trophy Scores and Rare Furs

SilverGoldDiamondWeight rangeMax difficulty
460580670—Medium

Rare furs: Albino (Very Rare), Dilute Silver (Very Rare), Erythristic Golden (Very Rare), Leucistic (Very Rare), Melanistic (Very Rare), Piebald (Very Rare).

Sources: our species database (class, thresholds, need zones and furs compiled from community trackers and checked in game where possible), official store screenshots, and community guides. Compiled October 2026. Spotted something off? Tell us and we'll fix it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What class is the Wood Duck in Call of the Wild?

The Wood Duck is a class 1 animal. Use ammo rated for class 1, for example Caversham Steward 12G with 12 GA Birdshot, Nordin 20SA with 20 GA Birdshot, Kullman .22H with .22H Soft-Point.

Where can I hunt the Wood Duck?

The Wood Duck lives on 1 reserve: Askiy Ridge.

What is the best gun for the Wood Duck?

Any weapon whose ammo covers class 1 is legal. Good picks are Caversham Steward 12G, Nordin 20SA, Kullman .22H. For bowhunting, the Hawk Edge CB-70 with 300 gr Small Game Point arrow works.

What score is a diamond Wood Duck?

A Wood Duck needs a trophy rating of about 670 for a diamond (gold about 580). Only animals at the top difficulty levels (Medium) can reach it.

Can the Wood Duck be a Great One?

No. The Wood Duck has no Great One version at the time of writing.

What rare furs can a Wood Duck have?

Rare fur variants include Albino (Very Rare), Dilute Silver (Very Rare), Erythristic Golden (Very Rare), Leucistic (Very Rare), Melanistic (Very Rare), Piebald (Very Rare).

When does the Wood Duck drink?

Published drink windows: . Times are in-game hours; zones differ between saves.
Wood Duck — official store art
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Independent fan guide · no ads. This guide is an independent, fan-made project by Hunt & Live. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Expansive Worlds, Avalanche Studios Group (Fatalist Development AB), or their partners. Parts of the materials used are property of Fatalist Development or its affiliates. All rights reserved. This material is not approved or endorsed by Fatalist Development AB or any of its affiliates. theHunter: Call of the Wild and all associated animal designs and logos are trademarks of their respective owners. Game screenshots are official promotional images from the game's store pages. These pages carry no ads and are free to read — no sign-up, no paywall. Game values change with patches and DLC; numbers were checked against community and official sources on the date above. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we'll fix it.