- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Let's talk duck decoy strategy/theory
Posted on 3/29/17 at 8:39 am
Posted on 3/29/17 at 8:39 am
Alright, duck hunters of the OB, I'm interested to hear your thoughts on duck decoys. Over the past 2 seasons I've shifted my primary strategy from mimicking realism as closely as possible (super realistic paint schemes, higher hen to drake ratio, blended species spreads, etc...) to focusing more on visibility (high-contrast paint schemes, heavy drake spreads, high-visibility species like mallards sprigs and geese with very dark hen dekes).
So, where do you shake out? The primary driver behind my switch is 1) realistic hen decoys add virtually nothing to a spread as they blend in too well, 2) other puddle ducks like grays and wigeon seem to have no trouble decoying with mallard and sprig decoys but the opposite does not seem to hold true, 3) ducks won't decoy to decoys they don't see.
The result is that I'm favoring adding decoys to the spread like these Tanglefree Migration Edition and GHG PG January Mallards
Tanglefree:
GHG PG January
over the more realistic Avian X and Dakotas
Avian X
Dakotas
I know I'm splitting hairs and if you're on the X it doesn't mater, yada yada yada... But it's 213 days till the season opens and I have to do something to scratch the itch...
So, where do you shake out? The primary driver behind my switch is 1) realistic hen decoys add virtually nothing to a spread as they blend in too well, 2) other puddle ducks like grays and wigeon seem to have no trouble decoying with mallard and sprig decoys but the opposite does not seem to hold true, 3) ducks won't decoy to decoys they don't see.
The result is that I'm favoring adding decoys to the spread like these Tanglefree Migration Edition and GHG PG January Mallards
Tanglefree:
GHG PG January
over the more realistic Avian X and Dakotas
Avian X
Dakotas
I know I'm splitting hairs and if you're on the X it doesn't mater, yada yada yada... But it's 213 days till the season opens and I have to do something to scratch the itch...
11
Posted on 3/29/17 at 8:45 am to The Last Coco
I am no great duck hunter by any means. But after a couple of decades of it I have boiled my decoy theory down to a few bullet points:
1) I do not carry hen decoys at all. The only decoys in my bag are mallard drakes. I don't see the point of a camo decoy.
2) I don't do spinning wings
3) I do anything I can to put movement on the water. Anything that spits, splashes, wiggles, or disturbs the surface of the water, I add it to the spread.
That's all I got....
1) I do not carry hen decoys at all. The only decoys in my bag are mallard drakes. I don't see the point of a camo decoy.
2) I don't do spinning wings
3) I do anything I can to put movement on the water. Anything that spits, splashes, wiggles, or disturbs the surface of the water, I add it to the spread.
That's all I got....
Posted on 3/29/17 at 8:48 am to The Last Coco
I'm with you, but still like some realism in the spread.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 9:12 am to The Last Coco
1) Generally the only time I have more than a couple hen decoys out is if I'm using some hot buy hens for teal season or if hunting a field. No sense in buying a teal setup when the hot buy mallard hens will work just as well.
2) I don't use spinners. I hate em. I do however use a bubble butt higdon and jerk strings religiously
3) I will add though on occasion I will use just a lone hen decoy on jerk string if I'm not in a field. Folks wouldn't believe the ducks that one hen deke has caused to die when she's out by herself and folks around you are all using bigger spreads on the river. I learned that from an old guy that helped me get started and have never forgotten that sometimes they just want something different to land in than a big pile of decoys. That's when that one lone hen is killer
2) I don't use spinners. I hate em. I do however use a bubble butt higdon and jerk strings religiously
3) I will add though on occasion I will use just a lone hen decoy on jerk string if I'm not in a field. Folks wouldn't believe the ducks that one hen deke has caused to die when she's out by herself and folks around you are all using bigger spreads on the river. I learned that from an old guy that helped me get started and have never forgotten that sometimes they just want something different to land in than a big pile of decoys. That's when that one lone hen is killer
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 9:17 am
Posted on 3/29/17 at 9:15 am to The Last Coco
When I used to duck hunt all I had was a few greys, a few teal, and about twice as many poule d'eau. group the poule d'eau, and two groups of ducks, leaving a runway in front of the blind. Never needed to get more tactical than that.
This post was edited on 4/5/17 at 8:55 am
Posted on 3/29/17 at 9:45 am to The Last Coco
Rafts of coots
I'm adding spoonbills next year because I hear the white on them shows up well
I rarely use mallards because i hunt in Louisianas marsh where there's only a handful
I'm adding spoonbills next year because I hear the white on them shows up well
I rarely use mallards because i hunt in Louisianas marsh where there's only a handful
Posted on 3/29/17 at 9:58 am to The Last Coco
Pretty sure you're hunting in OK so its a lot different down here in LA.
When I hunt the timber, I kill more ducks over a couple mallard drake decoys than anything else. Majority of my mallard limits came over 2 dekes.
When I hunt the marsh (mostly with redfish) one or two dozen good looking grey duck dekes with some coots mixed in does the trick. Like he said, bump up the coot raft quantity.
I do believe that quality decoys is key along with motion. Flappers are overused.
When I hunt the timber, I kill more ducks over a couple mallard drake decoys than anything else. Majority of my mallard limits came over 2 dekes.
When I hunt the marsh (mostly with redfish) one or two dozen good looking grey duck dekes with some coots mixed in does the trick. Like he said, bump up the coot raft quantity.
I do believe that quality decoys is key along with motion. Flappers are overused.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:02 am to Huntinguy
quote:
I'm with you, but still like some realism in the spread.
I have a pretty decent spread of GHG and Avian X. I like the realism but honestly, it probably looks better to me than to the ducks since I hunt Catahoula where the spreads are black painted jugs.
What I use alot of is motion decoys. We do jerk strings and they work. Best thing to use IMO.
That and camo everybody good. Concealment is key.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:08 am to MWP
quote:
We do jerk strings and they work. Best thing to use IMO.
This.
Jerk strings are a difference maker. Couple seasons ago we were hunting on a Saturday morning, saw lots of birds but they never would commit to the spread. We went out and bought two jerk strings that afternoon. The next morning under similar conditions they working right in with their feet hangin.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:13 am to The Last Coco
I like to do the following:
If set up with sun to my back, you must ripple the water or provide motion, also, to your theory, add some white to your spread..I used to paint all the assess of my mallard decoys white.
If in fields muddy your water, if in marsh or lakes leave the water clear
Adjust anchor strings so you can keep decoys really close together, 5 foot strings and all decoys the same distance apart looks like decoys.
I think species specific decoys are not necessary.
Most importantly, put them out exactly where the ducks want to sit.
If set up with sun to my back, you must ripple the water or provide motion, also, to your theory, add some white to your spread..I used to paint all the assess of my mallard decoys white.
If in fields muddy your water, if in marsh or lakes leave the water clear
Adjust anchor strings so you can keep decoys really close together, 5 foot strings and all decoys the same distance apart looks like decoys.
I think species specific decoys are not necessary.
Most importantly, put them out exactly where the ducks want to sit.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:21 am to No Colors
@No Colors: agree on all points and would add some coots for confidence builder
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:33 am to The Last Coco
If you're not spending 2700 a year on mojos, I just think you're wasting your time.
In all seriousness, I like to move around my place a good bit, lots of potholes of varying sizes. I really hate having to deconstruct a jerk cord every time I move to a new spot (and have paid the tangle price for half assing it plenty of times) but its definitely in my blind bag every time I move.
In all seriousness, I like to move around my place a good bit, lots of potholes of varying sizes. I really hate having to deconstruct a jerk cord every time I move to a new spot (and have paid the tangle price for half assing it plenty of times) but its definitely in my blind bag every time I move.
This post was edited on 3/29/17 at 11:04 am
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:46 am to TheGreat318
quote:
If you're not spending 2700 a year on mojos, I just think you're wasting your time.
I find MOJOs to be very interesting and extremely divisive. I know avid duck hunters from all ranges of the central and MS flyways and some swear by MOJOs and some swear AT MOJOs. And there is no consistency about it. I know marsh hunters who wouldn't leave the dock without them and I know hunters near me in OK who wouldn't be caught dead with a MOJO. It's perplexing to me. The conclusion I have come to is that, like most hunting tactics, they are useful in the right conditions and harmful when either over-used or applied to the wrong situation.
The only consistency I have found is that they're great for teal universally and field hunters love them.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:46 am to TheGreat318
How many call activated jerk strings do you have
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:46 am to The Last Coco
Personally I'm a fan of the single, hyper-realistic decoy. But I have to hand paint them to get the realism I'm looking for.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:50 am to Duckhammer_77
quote:
@No Colors: agree on all points and would add some coots for confidence builder
Forgot to add:
For confidence booster I like a pair of floating Canadas. Or, a big arse Great Blue Heron standing on a log. But that's only if I can get there by boat or ATV. I'm not carrying that in very far.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 10:51 am to Polar Pop
quote:
How many call activated jerk strings do you have
Do you even designated puller?? #DP
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:05 am to The Last Coco
No more than a dozen Dukes. I like to spray mine with clear gloss and the button ups with a bilge pump are the shite. Carry on.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:06 am to The Last Coco
I hunted in California in late January this year and those dudes do not even load their guns without a mojo going. First morning they forgot the battery and they walked 10 minutes back to the truck, drove another 15, and came all the way back just to get it going.
To be fair, we didn't kill a single bird til it was going...and then we killed lots.
To be fair, we didn't kill a single bird til it was going...and then we killed lots.
Posted on 3/29/17 at 11:09 am to The Last Coco
No more than a dozen Dukes. I like to spray mine with clear gloss and the button ups with a bilge pump are the shite. Carry on.
Page 1 of 2
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News