First hunt success! Plus a question...

[aaronoto]

Went out on my first duck hunt this morning and scored a shoveler and a woody.  Had two good flocks come off the water and right by me 5 minutes before legal shooting time   Had some other good opportunities present themselves but I didn't quite connect...  All in all I'm happy to come home with at least 1 duck on my first opening day!



A question though - I was hunting an area with lots of lilies and other aquatic junk that didn't leave much open water.  I threw some decoys out since I had them, but with all the cover they blended right in with everything else.  The birds didn't seem to be honing in on them either.  In this kind of water is it better to just leave decoys at home and hope I'm in the right spot/path or is there anything I can do to help draw the birds into my spread?

[Skagit_Hunter]

Well the place got you a spoonie The turd ponds in Everett is full of spoonies. Lesser desired ducks what most call schit ducks like that type of water. Woodies included.. see any mergs buffies or coots?
Look for better water.

[dannysdaddy]

get that woody mounted!  if you want to get on the better ducks find some more open water or sheet water fields.

[Kola16]

I would not leave your decoys at home no matter where you hunt  Oh, and next time, make the woodie look nicer. They are cool birds, and if you didn't mount this one, mount the next one.

[aaronoto]

Hard to leave ducks to find ducks, but I do have some other spots in mind once we get a bit more rain.  I don't know what happened to the Woody but it's back and wings were messed...  Would definitely like to get one mounted though.  Saw a lot of them today so I'm hopeful I can get another.