Field Hunting Questions

[SnowDog]

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

I just got access to about 75 acres of standing barley (West Side) that has some shallow "sheet water", but that is drying up fast. Once the water is gone, I figure I'll try field hunting, using the areas that the ducks are beating down feeding at night. However I've never done any field hunting for ducks and  could use a few tips for you pro's.

I hunt out of a layout blind and have 2 dozen Full Curl decoys w/ the removable keels and a couple pull string spinners. I really don't want to buy any new decoys if possible and carrying out full bodies sounds like a huge chore where I hunt.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Cheers!
SD

[pjb3]

Its for sure harder work, I gave it up and strickly hunt from boat anymore
Decs/gear/guns/mud/ being out of shape /getting older, not much fun for me

[incoming]

what u have is fine

[Skagit_Hunter]

Why wait for the water to leave. Nothing better than water and food

[Jc44]

If you plan on hunting in the field make sure you get th plenty early to make sure everything is perfect.  When you put out your decoys put them in kind of a U or a V shape with your blind at the back of that.  It creates kind of a funnel for the ducks to land in.  Camo is huge in field hunting make sure your blind is completely hidden.  A thing we will do is bring a bucked of mud and a hand broom and dip it in the mud and brush it on our blinds to conceal it better.  It does wonders.  Make sure you scout and know exactly where the birds are landing.  We have jumped into a field with out scouting to much and had the birds land maybe 60 yards to the right of us and there was nothing we could do it sucked.  If the birds start coming in but flare before getting close enough to shoot get up and walk all the way around your spread, front, back, and sides and look for anything that doesn't look normal.  Good luck!

[Skagit_Hunter]

If you plan on hunting in the field make sure you get th plenty early to make sure everything is perfect.  When you put out your decoys put them in kind of a U or a V shape with your blind at the back of that.  It creates kind of a funnel for the ducks to land in.  Camo is huge in field hunting make sure your blind is completely hidden.  A thing we will do is bring a bucked of mud and a hand broom and dip it in the mud and brush it on our blinds to conceal it better.  It does wonders.  Make sure you scout and know exactly where the birds are landing.  We have jumped into a field with out scouting to much and had the birds land maybe 60 yards to the right of us and there was nothing we could do it sucked.  If the birds start coming in but flare before getting close enough to shoot get up and walk all the way around your spread, front, back, and sides and look for anything that doesn't look normal.  Good luck!

This U or V thing is a noob move. never have I ever seen ducks on the ground other than a big mass. Or have I seen them say"hey Joe get back in line your screwing up the U or V"
Put you decoys in mass where you don't want them to land. thin them out towards the center or where you want them to land.
Your hide is the most important part of the hunt. The best gear will get you 0 if they see you. Know when to call and when not to.

[Jc44]

Well duh you don't put put them in a straight up U you put your dekes real thick on the sides and thin in the middle so the thick decoysact as a funnel into your blinds.

[Skagit_Hunter]

Well duh you don't put put them in a straight up U you put your dekes real thick on the sides and thin in the middle so the thick decoysact as a funnel into your blinds.

Isn't that what I said

[h2ofowlr]

Well duh you don't put put them in a straight up U you put your dekes real thick on the sides and thin in the middle so the thick decoysact as a funnel into your blinds.

Set the birds up similar to the way they are in the field.  No big water spread needed.  Small little groups may do just fine or even a dozen decoys depending on pressure.  As mentioned the hide is the key.  Early morning doesn't make to much difference, but as it gets light, the birds will flare if you are not hidden.   

[Moose381]

Another trick is to take a piece of black construction plastic out with you....bigger the better.  From the air it looks like a puddle of water.  It works!  set some dekes in it to add realism.  Give it a try if they dont want to commit to you field set up....I agree with the concealment deal on your blind...brush it good!!!

Keep Pressin

[L-ofalab]

Small family groups work for us. I just saw something that I've never seen before. We were driving through Turnbul refuge and saw 2 very straight strings of geese 6-8 birds in each. The strings were about 5 feet apart. There was very little distance between the individuals too. Maybe they had just landed and were heading for the shore?