Got skunked but not for lack of trying...

[mattaylor81]

Anyone have any luck today?  A buddy and I got skunked today.  There were a bunch of ducks flying at daybreak but they were to high and dead set on getting out of town.  Shot at a few but wasn't able to connect today. 

[General Disarray]

been a good week so far.  Limits sat and sun, again on Wednesday, 5 yesterday and another limit this morning.  Can't wait til the birds get here!

[AKBowman]

been a good week so far.  Limits sat and sun, again on Wednesday, 5 yesterday and another limit this morning.  Can't wait til the birds get here!

You hunting private or public

[General Disarray]

extremely public

[pjb3]

I can guarantee limits, U hunt the salts?

[h2ofowlr]

Took 3 guys out this morning.  We were limited by 9:00.  The wind and rain helped.

[Thenewguy]

I haven't gone out yet, the migrators coming in?

[h2ofowlr]

Yes, we got into the bright footed mallards today.  Starting to see the larger flocks of ducks as well.

[pjb3]

Guess you talking puddlers

[AKBowman]

I can guarantee limits, U hunt the salts?

I've been hunting Skagit this year. I dont have a boat so I've been walking in. Most areas are pretty limited to how far I can walk to get away from people b/c of tide guts. Any other general areas for getting down to the salt and killing some widgeon? I'm buying a boat next year.

[nwlynx22]

Well we didn' have much for weather friday but today was good shoot 5. Looking forward to wed. hunt.

[RailRob]

wish i have been hunting this year so far..last couple of days on the eastside have been goregous!!!

[mattaylor81]

Well we didn' have much for weather friday but today was good shoot 5. Looking forward to wed. hunt.

I should have went with you again.  I didn't know you were going by yourself.  Definitly looking forward to wed. though.

[mattaylor81]

Well we didn' have much for weather friday but today was good shoot 5. Looking forward to wed. hunt.

You should throw your pics up on here.

[Dustin07]

For those of you who are hunting public land and getting limits, two questions:

are you mostly pass shooting, or are these ducks wingset?
are your decoy spreads huge, or do you rely on small, yet more realistic deeks?


Reason I ask is because I usually hunt my folks fields and do OK, this year I've tried a couple public spots and the birds are a mile high, even in weather. seems like a bigger spread might be the ticket. (they tend to give me a look, but nothing serious, and with 4 or 5 blinds all within earshot calling i'm trying to figure out how to set myself apart)

[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!"...