Prairie waterfowl are best hunted in the fields, NOT on the water. The water is their "roost", mallards and geese will go out to feed in the grain or pea fields twice each day. Scout the feeding spots, not the roost. If you shoot on the water, you'll probably get some birds, but will mess up the shooting for several days later for everyone else, including yourself. Nothing ticks off experienced waterfowlers like some greenhorn blasting away at the water, when you can have much better close range shooting in the feeding fields, lose fewer cripples, and repeat it all the next day.