Jet fighter duck and other characters checking out spread

[anthropisces]

I've hunted over decoys about eight times (I just began duck hunting last year) and I've had mixed success bringing ducks into my spread (which is currently a dozen flocked mallards).

Is it the case that I should only shoot at ducks that are landing or otherwise going slow? I had a duck come in to check out my spread like an F-15 last weekend. He came from way out, flying low and fast and came right in over them, then suddenly banked at which point I shot at the duck but didn't hit it. Should I be letting those guys pass by so that they might come back around? Or should I get better at hitting fast flying ducks? It came pretty close but was going Mach 2. 

Another question I have is; the fellow I bought my boat from gave me 18 decoys that he used for sea-duck hunting. These aren't fancy flocked decoys and are redheads and bluebills. If I'm hunting puddle ducks will they look at these not-fancy sea duck decoys and avoid my spread because the decoys are either the wrong type or look "fake"?

[KP-Skagit]

Shoot any duck you feel confident you can hit. The easiest shots are definitely when they are decoying hard. That said its common for them to come and check you out and then flare at the last second. Its a judgement call on when to let them keep coming and when they might flare.

In terms of decoys I will offer my two cents. I used to have a rig of mixed back decoys given to me by a family friend, all types of ducks, I shot plenty of mallards over them. My dad is about 100 times the duck hunter I am and I don't think his decoys have a fleck of paint left on them. I think it was the book "The Old Man and Boy" that had a chapter titled "It looks like a Duck to a Duck" about how they made their own decoys. I don't think the decoys make a huge difference compared to knowing the area and how the birds like to move through it.

[vandeman17]

I learned a long time ago that if there are multiple fast birds cruising through, aim at the front one and you have a good chance of shooting one following behind 

[Stein]

I agree, getting them to land in your decoys is an awesome thing but realistically doesn't happen a bunch for many of us public land hunters.  Either they don't really want to be there, don't like the decoys or whatever reason, but they will swing in to check them out with no intention of landing.

Shoot or don't, it's your call based on what you think you can hit and how far away they are.

[Widgeondeke]

If it was me and there is enuff water to leave a landing zone, I'd add in some or all of the other dekes. A mix pair can act as confidence dekes

When hunting ducks, unless they really want to land or you are very good at convincing them its safe...shoot at the fly-by ducks
Many times they will circle once or twice and still not commit to landing. Like mentioned, its a judgment call when to 

       
 

[Oldguy]

I've had luck with blue bill decoys as an attractor since they have some white on them. Couple dozen mallards and the bb's off to the side and have had a lot of mallars land with the blue bills. Haven't tried redheads but who knows if they would help.
Good luck to you.