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Author Topic: decoy selections  (Read 3857 times)

Offline jeepster

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decoy selections
« on: November 10, 2015, 11:30:04 AM »
How do you guys choose which decoys you are going to bring? I have several dozen gang rigged older mallards, some widgeons and some teals , and a bunch  nicer of mallards doing duck stuff, but lately but I've been wondering about leaving the mallards at home and just going with a dozen widgeon and 6 green winged teal, maybe tossing a hooded merganser or two in the mix, maybe bringing a mallard or two, but I certainly don't see many, so why but out the decoys for a duck that isn't very common where I hunt?
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Offline mburrows

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2015, 11:46:49 AM »
Sounds like you answered the question yourself. The mallard decoys are bigger so they help make your spread a little more visible. I like having multiple species in my spread.

Offline Tealer

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2015, 12:27:25 PM »
I bring every decoy every time. I start tossing them and determine when I like it as I go.


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Offline AWS

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #3 on: November 10, 2015, 01:09:31 PM »
I use mainly widgeon pintail and and teal with a few mallard mixed in.  It is amazing how the teal will land with the teal decoys, I keep them in bunches  not mixed in with the large decoys.  My walk in decoys are three pintail and seven teal, everything decoys to this combo for me. Teal decoys give me a lot of ducks on the water without the weight.  If I'm hunting with a partner I have a second bag with the same set up for walk in. If I'm in the big boat I'll ad 5 goose floaters even on non goose days just for distance visibility.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.

Make mine a Minaska

Offline EWUeagles

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #4 on: November 10, 2015, 01:17:45 PM »
Decoys are fun I say throw them all out! I normally try to scout and then throw out what I am seeing. If I am hunting an area that has more geese I throw out more geese decoys, same goes for teal, redheads, cans and so on. There is no magically combination though. Some guys are like AWS who take a small spread some people love throwing big spreads. I have been known to use 12 dozen or so over water.

Offline AWS

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #5 on: November 10, 2015, 01:40:03 PM »
Years ago I used to run pretty large spreads but I hunt alone most of the time now and picking up more than 3 dz in the wind or out going tide can be tough when your alone.  Funny I think having a bunch of experience at this makes up for larger spreads as my duck numbers are actually better now.
After the first shot the rest are just noise.

Make mine a Minaska

Offline Special T

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #6 on: November 10, 2015, 02:23:29 PM »
The 3 parts to sucess in duckhunting is location, presentation and concealment. If your hitting big water numbers help a lot. If its smaller water then what you throw out is more important. I have a buddy that hunts a small private pond and he has 3normal mallards and a half doz sleepers and pounds them hard.

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Offline EWUeagles

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #7 on: November 10, 2015, 02:28:19 PM »
The 3 parts to sucess in duckhunting is location, presentation and concealment. If your hitting big water numbers help a lot. If its smaller water then what you throw out is more important. I have a buddy that hunts a small private pond and he has 3normal mallards and a half doz sleepers and pounds them hard.

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Your right except the 3 parts to success is Location, Location, Location. Your buddy is probably killing a ton of ducks because his spot is pretty great and he doesn't burn it out. I bet he would get similar results over all feeder decoys. Also I think concealment is 1000 times more important than presentation.

AWS do you think experience makes up for larger spreads or do you think your experience has taught you where the better spots are to hunt?

Offline Special T

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #8 on: November 10, 2015, 02:34:29 PM »
There is no doubt location is heavily weighted. I have limited when on the X with 3 faded and peeling decoys in the puddle. I think concealment or the lack there of, can flair a lot of birds. Even if you not concield well but dont move or do so slowly will help a bunch. I think many hunters have had ducks drop in the decoys while just standing still during decoy pickup.

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Offline AWS

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #9 on: November 10, 2015, 02:51:10 PM »
I think experience helps in picking better spots, even going in cold to a new area I can pick spots to hunt pretty well.  I personally think blinds are over rated.  Other than native plants I don't use a blind even to sitting on a bare bank with my feet dangling in the water with my dog laying along side me.  Rarely do the birds flare other than by movement of the dog breaking(he wants to retreive before I shoot, but he's old and it is fun for him, after a couple of breaks he remembers the birds don't fall if I don't shoot) or me bringing the gun up.  Sometimes I think ducks get blind shy and just a lump on the shore rarely bothers them.

Often I just pull my boat, along the bank, or log and hunt out of it, no blind and kill ducks.

Like this, I sit on the floor of the cockpit or stand in the water alongside it with the dog lying on the deck.

« Last Edit: November 10, 2015, 03:00:50 PM by AWS »
After the first shot the rest are just noise.

Make mine a Minaska

Offline h2ofowlr

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #10 on: November 10, 2015, 06:02:05 PM »
Today I didn't bring decoys, but I had a spool of 20lb fishing line and a spool of 1/4" pencil lead.  I walked the bank and picked up every plastic bottle I could find.  I had 14 and tossed some mud and some slight water.  Shook them to dirty the bottle.  Tied 4' of fishing line on the neck attached to a 3" piece of weight.  I shot my 7 ducks over those.  Never landed one bird, but shot them over the spread.  shot 10 shells, so it worked out!
Cut em!
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Offline Special T

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #11 on: November 10, 2015, 09:01:32 PM »
h2ofowler thats because your ALWAYS on the X! You do more scouting in one week than most do in a whole season! Your calling is passable too.  :chuckle:
In archery we have something like the way of the superior man. When the archer misses the center of the target, he turns round and seeks for the cause of his failure in himself. 

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Offline CP

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #12 on: November 11, 2015, 06:00:31 AM »
These 6 Avian's have become my favorites.  They are light weight, easy to carry, easy to setup, take down and move; and they look great.  Often, they are all I use unless the spot needs some floaters.


Offline jeepster

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #13 on: November 12, 2015, 10:45:32 AM »
Hmm, sounds like I need to revise my decoys. You guys are right about ducks being blind shy, indont hunt in a blind either, theu get boat shy too however I have a zodiak style boat painted camo with a burlap cover I made that has fake grass stuff interwoven into the fabric. I pull my boat up into the bushes, cover up, only part exposed is my eyes. The fact it's in an inflatable roll up style dinghy makes it pretty comfortable to lay down in, but is kind of chunky and not very low profile. I have a lake I hunt at, not big water like the bay, but it aint no pond either. Lots of birds gather there, but its big enough they stay separated

I'm thinking maybe I'll get some pintails, maybe more widgeon and teal too,
catch it. kill it. cook it. eat it.
Forget the bear spray, use wasp killer. Concentrated delivery stream, 10X the product, and only $3.00 on sale.

I smoke two fish in the morning, I smoke two fish at night, I smoke two fish in de afternoon makes me feel alright

Offline Bill W

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Re: decoy selections
« Reply #14 on: November 12, 2015, 11:04:52 AM »
These 6 Avian's have become my favorites.  They are light weight, easy to carry, easy to setup, take down and move; and they look great.  Often, they are all I use unless the spot needs some floaters.

Your decoys look nice.   I thought they looked just like real and i like they way they spun on the post.

 


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