What didn't they like?

[USAFpj]

So I'm thinning out the herd of ringnecks in my area, and I'm hitting them in a place where they always show.  This morning, I set out a spread of a dozen mallards in a V formation, and the ringers are more than happy to buzz the dekes and fly figure 8's above them at about treetop level, but I only got (2) to actually commit and land in the spread .  Seems as if they are interested in the spread, but not so much that they want to bomb right in.  Today was the only day that I left the jerk string at home as well.  Thinking of getting a couple of ringer decoys, but everyone says they'll decoy to anything in the water, and I sure don't want to buy/carry more decoys

[Kola16]

Divers land with divers...not with puddle ducks 

You need a half a dozen rignecks, preferably all drakes (or mostly). They see the white duck and land with that. They also land with scaup decoys 

[USAFpj]

OK .  We'll see what happens!

[USAFpj]

Another thought- if this spot holds ringers in the same space everyday, should I just not use decoys altogether and just let them fly their normal pattern?

[h2ofowlr]

Your talking ring necks.  They will buzz over any decoys.  We have a lot of them fly our mallard decoys, but we don't shoot them.

[USAFpj]

I'm obviously a newb, cause I can't think of a disadvantage to this specie of duck.  I think they're beautiful, love those whistling wings as they cruise overhead at mach speed, and then just drop major altitude and skim the water deck to a flawless landing in your lap.  Wrap a breast half in bacon, stove top saute for 2 minutes, throw them in the oven for 20min at 375 degrees- man this is fun!  Coming from an Air Force mindset, I can't get over the flight characteristics, acrobatics, and landing pattern of these birds.  Everything including their cruising formation just strikes me as a work of art and wonderment in God's creation.  Yeah, I dig these ringnecks   After I master these guys, I'll move up in status to the Coot level

[waoutdoorsman]

I repainted 3 old mallards into bluebill dekes to mix in w my puddlers, and have pulled everything from cans to buffies, the black & white really stands out

If the area is small and you can pin point where the birds will be sometimes no decoys have worked for me

[USAFpj]

Another aspect is the size of the area I'm working with:  it's a slough that is partly frozen, so the feeding area is roughly 150yds by 50yds, so I was watching their hesitation today, and was wondering if I was 'overpowering' them with (12) mallards in an area of that size.  I can either up the count to a total of (20), or decrease to the number I normally see in there, which is around (5).  I'll do some more research tonight, but what do you guys think?

[Kola16]

Match what is natural. Sometimes less is more.

[Ned]

1. If I was a ringneck I would never land in a "V" spread of mallards either...........looks unnatural

2. Try putting 6-8 decoys in a "No pattern" spread where the ducks normally want to land, hide VERY well and be quiet.

3. You are suppost to shoot them when they "Buzz" the decoys. Why do you want them to land..............its called wing shooting.

4. Give them some rest. Sounds like you are hunting this spot to often and making the birds spooky. Give them a few days break to settle back down.

[USAFpj]

Ned, I did just that today.  I only used (6) mallards today.  (2) on a jerk string 5yds from the shore, (2) as a pair 15yds from shore, and downwind.  Last pair 15yds from shore, but upwind.  I basically brought the dekes closer in to shore, and formed a triangle.  The fog was horrendous around here this morning, and it didn't burn off.  I had the same group of ringers splash down, but way out of range, and they acted bunched up and nervous about the set-up; swam in circles but never got close.  A bufflehead landed in the spread, but turned and swam away at mach speed.  I did get a wigeon to land, and it was the only one I got, but still had a great time.  I agree, the wing shooting is the only way to do it, I just like the confirmation that the ducks like my set up, and landing in it is the approval.

[Bullkllr]

1. If I was a ringneck I would never land in a "V" spread of mallards either...........looks unnatural

2. Try putting 6-8 decoys in a "No pattern" spread where the ducks normally want to land, hide VERY well and be quiet.

3. You are suppost to shoot them when they "Buzz" the decoys. Why do you want them to land..............its called wing shooting.

4. Give them some rest. Sounds like you are hunting this spot to often and making the birds spooky. Give them a few days break to settle back down.

Sounds like you may have a home group of "educated" ringnecks