Understanding the Wigeon Diet
The American wigeon is a grazer. Unlike mallards or pintails that dabble in flooded crops, wigeon prefer vegetation—both aquatic and upland. Studies show they feed heavily on:
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Duckweed, pondweed, and muskgrass
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Grass shoots, winter wheat, and clover
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Seeds from moist-soil plants like smartweed and millet
They also eat aquatic invertebrates during migration, but their diet is overwhelmingly plant-based.
At No Fly Zone Waterfowl, we like to say: “If it’s green and growing low, a wigeon’s probably eyeing it.”
Best Crops to Plant for Wigeon
1. Winter Wheat
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Provides excellent forage during migration and early winter.
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Wigeon graze on tender shoots—especially before hard freezes.
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Plant in early fall for best results.
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Flood lightly to create shallow sheet water (1–4”) if possible.
2. Japanese Millet (Shallow-Flooded)
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Produces small seeds wigeon will pick through.
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Grows quickly in summer and floods easily.
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Use in combination with natural moist-soil plants for diversity.
3. Natural Moist-Soil Management
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Encourage plants like smartweed, sprangletop, and barnyard grass by disking and letting wetlands regenerate naturally.
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These plants offer both seeds and cover in shallow sheet water, where wigeon feel safe.
4. Clover and Ryegrass (Dry Grazing Plots)
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Wigeon graze dryland grasses when shallow water isn’t available.
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Plant in leveed edges or near seasonal wetlands for opportunistic feeding.
Flooding Strategy for Wigeon
Wigeon prefer shallow water, often less than 6 inches deep. At No Fly Zone Waterfowl, we manage our impoundments by:
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Light-flooding wheat or millet fields at controlled depths.
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Flooding from October through December to match peak migration.
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Keeping areas open with low vegetation to reduce overhead pressure.
Wigeon Are Smart — Your Field Has to Be Smarter
Wigeon don’t just drop in like teal. They circle high, prefer open water or grazed edges, and are notorious for flaring at poor concealment. The more natural and subtle your habitat looks, the more likely they are to commit.
And that includes your feed. If your field looks like a buffet of natural greens and flooded lowland, you’ve got a real shot at pulling them off that big open water.
Rep the Bird in the Field and Out: The American Wigeon Hat
We created the American Wigeon Hat at No Fly Zone Waterfowl to honor one of the sharpest-looking ducks in the flyway. With its bold embroidery and clean rope hat style, it reflects everything we love about wigeon—subtle, sharp, and tough to decoy.
Whether you’re scouting a wheat plot at sunrise or heading into town after a long day in the blind, this American wigeon hat tells people exactly what kind of duck you chase.
Final Thoughts
If you want to consistently attract American wigeon, you have to plant for their preferences—not just your convenience. Focus on shallow-flooded wheat, millet, and natural vegetation, and manage water levels carefully throughout migration. The extra work pays off when you hear those whistles dropping from the sky.
And when it does, make sure you're repping the bird that earned it—with the American Wigeon Hat from No Fly Zone Waterfowl.