Got skunked but not for lack of trying...

[General Disarray]

I hunt 99% east side public.  All birds are working our spread and not considered "pass shooting".

I usually hunt over 2 dozen GHG lifesize decoys.  if there's more than just me, we will usually cary a couple of dozen a piece, up to a reasonable amount.  We're also using a Flutterwing and sometimes 2.

[nwlynx22]

Out here in the skagit I use 3-5 dozens ghg with a wind-duk. Not alot of pass shooting took 5 birds Sat. all in the spread. All on public land where it can be super tough. I also use a marsh  rat layout from time to time.

[Dustin07]

thanks for the feedback guys. 

How much of a role do you think calling makes? where I was, I could hear at least 3-4 different blinds calling at flocks, so I had three ideas... call louder than them, call less than them, or call differently than them. I didnt' see any luck with less calling, but got flocks to turn with louder calling, and when I switched over to different calls. everyone was calling ducks, so I tried geese and had a little luck turning flocks.

[jordano]

thanks for the feedback guys. 

How much of a role do you think calling makes? where I was, I could hear at least 3-4 different blinds calling at flocks, so I had three ideas... call louder than them, call less than them, or call differently than them. I didnt' see any luck with less calling, but got flocks to turn with louder calling, and when I switched over to different calls. everyone was calling ducks, so I tried geese and had a little luck turning flocks.

I think it totally depends on the day and how the birds are acting. Sometimes if you call louder they pile in and other days as soon as you make a quack they flare. Other days you dont call at all and they pile in... It just depends on how shy the birds are and I think weather plays a part in that too. So it varies from day to day.

[Dustin07]

i'm going to try to go again friday on some public land. I might be hunting solo, but even if i have to make 4 trips back and forth to the boat or truck, i'll pack a lot of deeks.

[nwlynx22]

Sometimes a ton of decoys is  not the answer as we wait on migrators these birds get wiser everyday. I think one of the most under used techs is a smaller spread set at random.

[Dustin07]

Sometimes a ton of decoys is  not the answer as we wait on migrators these birds get wiser everyday. I think one of the most under used techs is a smaller spread set at random.

I've heard that from lots of people, and read it many times as well... and typically I hunt private land surrounded by more private land, so the birds are probably not as abused... but... it always seems like the more deeks i put out, the more birds I get. Even if it's just more singles and doubles dropping in, there are more of them.

I know these public land birds do get worked hard though and I could tell they were call shy already because they kept circling over 4 different blinds not wanting to drop in on those duck calls they heard, and when I started up on a random goose call they started turning as if "hey that's different, maybe it wont' shoot at us!"...