Please criticize my duck hunt!

[jamesfromseattle]

I would try focusing on a specific area and trying that to either develop a place or then move on.  Scouting two counties in a morning isn't very effective as most of the inland places (quality sites) are good hunting for an hour or so after legal light.  Big water places can have birds moving longer during the day.

^^^ This

OP have you made a jerk string yet? A jerk string is very important and critical with a small spread. Jerk on it a bunch when the ducks aren't looking or far away, but stop jerking when they are close and looking. As if you were 15 and your mom....nevermind I think you get the point...On calm days I would rather hunt over 6 decoys on 2 jerk strings (3 on each), than I would over 5 dozen motionless decoys. Ducks see the movement of the dekes and the ripples on the water from the sky way better than calm water stagnant decoys. Or at least they are drawn to it better.

Yep, put the jerk string together and gave it a try. Seems to work well. Perhaps the most surprisingly inexpensive piece of outdoor equipment I have. Used a brick, an old bungee cord I found under the house, some zip ties, and the butt end of an ancient spool of mono. Only item requiring money was the zip ties.

[metlhead]

Since you mentioned a brick, sumpin I've done with sucees for years was to grab rocks and other non-floaty junk nearby and make a pile. When birds swing, toss a few out for instant water movement.