re: Lets have a discussion about marsh hunting

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How do you primarily hunt? Boat blind, ground blind, etc?

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Pirogue. I've walked in a bunch in the past but it's a huge pain in the arse.

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Are you hunting big bodies of water or smaller ponds?

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Personally I prefer smaller ponds but we pretty much hunt where the ducks are by watching them. If I had to go in blind I'd pick a small pond.

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How many decoys are you using and in what orientation?

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3 dozen and two mojos. Generally we group the like ducks together. We bring two dozen grays and then assorted other ones but we focus on dabblers. Might have two redhead dekes just for fun. We put the dekes downwind and leave a hole in the middle for landing, but honestly they don't try landing in the hole enough for me to be convinced it really does anything.

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What do you think is the key to your success if you have any?

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The lowest hanging fruit is: be where the birds want to be. Don't be afraid to move (as little as 50 yds or as far as it takes to find them) if you get set up and they don't want to play ball.

Next: practice your shooting and kill the ducks over open water. If they fall in the grass you probably won't find them. Good shooting is waaaay underrated.

Next: if you can somehow get blind material above you (easy in Venice, tough elsewhere unless you bring blind material) to make shadows over you it will help a LOT. Also keep movement to a minimum until ready to shoot (well actually, get your gun ready as soon as you see the birds headed your way. Then be dead still until they're in range. It's like bowhunting.)

On our lease on coast we have big drive in blinds in the big water. They are brushed with cane, willows, palmettos and myrtles. Stand out like a sore thumb, but they fall in a flyway the birds use coming from offshore. Lots of decoys 8-10 dozen when we hunt. Keep in mind there's usually 10-15k sitting between me and the Mardi Gras rig.

When hunting certain ponds that produce on X wind we build blinds accordingly. 2x4s and 1x4s box of fast grass, piece of plywood you're in business. I go cut grass from area near by and zip tie it to fast grass to make it blend in. It's a little higher profile but the biggest thing is not having a black square with 2 pale faces in it. I used to cut 55 gal drums and sink them and run a 2x6 across them for seat. That will get you low enough. Just a pita to anchor and pumping out all the time, etc.

The rest we use pop ups and carry some myrtles and canes to break up boat outline and palmettos cover our backs. These smaller ponds i rarely use more than 3 doz. I have remotes on mojos, when they work they stay on.

When all else fails do what them guys up north do and sweeten your ponds. Saw a lot of guys brushing blinds with a new type of sugar cane this year.