WOODIES Telltale ripples on the water ahead signaled something was moving in the otherwise still pool. Binoculars revealed a small group of wood ducks, gathered around a deadfall off the stream bank, feeding on white-oak acorns as they splashed into the stream. I plotted a stalking route to a decayed hemlock that would put me within reach. A slight breeze and moss-covered ground helped conceal my approach to the tree, then I sprang into sight, sending the birds airborne. The little 20-gauge barked three times, with two woodies hitting the water. It was a typical early season hunt for the most colorful duck in the Eastern flyway. OCTOBER HUNTS Wood ducks can be found in Pennsylvania into early fall, but once the weather starts to cool off, they're usually migrating south. That means hunters targeting these birds should focus their efforts on the early portion of the duck season. While wood ducks breed in Pennsylvania, many of the birds taken by hunters are FAST-FLYING OCTOBER 22