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Started By
Message
Duck Hunting Open Water Field
Posted on 12/7/16 at 8:54 am
Posted on 12/7/16 at 8:54 am
So i got into a blind last year with two of my friends. We had a decent season, averaging just over 6 ducks per hunt (typically 2 man hunts). We had flooded stubble last year. This year, due to crop rotation, we are just open water. We arent doing as well as last year so far. And what ive been told by a number of different people is its because we dont have the stubble like last year so theres nothing for the ducks to feed on in our cut. However, theres a blind 700 yards from ours with similar conditions (open water, few flappers, and maybe 3 dozen more decoys) that is smashing the ducks. One of my buddies hunted that blind and said the only difference is that the other blind has a dozen "flock a flickers" set out. Is it safe to assume that because these motorized decoys give off the image of ducks feeding in the cut, its more attractive to the ducks to come into? Im just looking for your thoughts, opinions, or suggestions on what we should do to improve our hunting. When the other blind hunts, they are constantly shooting, while we dont fire a shot. But when they dont hunt, we get a lot more birds coming in. Do these "flock a flickers" make that much of a difference in open water? Either way, i have a half dozen "flock a flickers" coming in this week to try out next split.
15
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:00 am to Homey the Clown
There are a lot of factors that could pull the ducks to their field instead of yours. Here are a few that come to mind:
-quality, size and visibility of their decoy spread (including motion decoys)
-quality of the duck blind including relief from surrounding cover
-presence of food (doesnt appear to be at play here though since you say they are in the same situation as you, but it could be if they had a different crop in their pond that left more duck food)
-the natural flight path of birds in the area
Since you say that you have worse hunts when they are hunting, I would say you're on the right track trying to improve your decoy spread. Add a few dozen dekes and some motion to the decoys and go from there.
-quality, size and visibility of their decoy spread (including motion decoys)
-quality of the duck blind including relief from surrounding cover
-presence of food (doesnt appear to be at play here though since you say they are in the same situation as you, but it could be if they had a different crop in their pond that left more duck food)
-the natural flight path of birds in the area
Since you say that you have worse hunts when they are hunting, I would say you're on the right track trying to improve your decoy spread. Add a few dozen dekes and some motion to the decoys and go from there.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:01 am to Homey the Clown
How much open water are we talking about?
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:02 am to Homey the Clown
They should/could make a difference on sunny days. You probably need more decoys too. But in the end if the ducks are wanting to go in the other hole more than your hole there is not much you can do to compete.
This post was edited on 12/7/16 at 9:02 am
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:05 am to gorillacoco
Thanks for youre reply. We currently have two flappers, and two wonder ducks. Hopefully the addition of a half dozen flickers will help. We are definitely brushed up well enough, and the two blinds seem to be in the same flight path. We already have about 140 decoys out, plus the motion decoys, so putting out more isnt in the cards, at least not this year. Its just driving me crazy that they are getting limits while we are getting two or three fly by shots.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:08 am to Homey the Clown
Do they have remotes for there mojos? How about y'all?
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:11 am to Homey the Clown
drag a fine mesh scoop net along the bottom, filter out the silt....
if nothing left - you really have no feed.
if you have seeds, submergent grasses, seeds and invertabrates - you have feed.
no feed - if it's a resting pond - different strategies than a feeding pond.... and different times in the day/moon phase both are used.
if nothing left - you really have no feed.
if you have seeds, submergent grasses, seeds and invertabrates - you have feed.
no feed - if it's a resting pond - different strategies than a feeding pond.... and different times in the day/moon phase both are used.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:12 am to Homey the Clown
Whats the story on your decoys? Multiple species? Was reading an article yesterday that talked about the importance of putting out dekes with a lot of white on them, so Pintails, Spoonies, Widgeons, etc. Theres probably a lot of truth in that, especially in big open water.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:23 am to Homey the Clown
You might be my blind partner
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:48 am to Homey the Clown
quote:
This year, due to crop rotation, we are just open water. We arent doing as well as last year so far.
What kind of blind are you in?
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:54 am to Gingersnap
Neither have remotes.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:55 am to TheGreat318
We have teal, mallard, pintail decoys mostly.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:56 am to choupiquesushi
There is no feed, so what strategy should i be using?
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:56 am to MWP
Sunken pit blind
Posted on 12/7/16 at 9:58 am to Gingersnap
1500' x 1900' x 2300' triangle cut with about 12-15" of water
Posted on 12/7/16 at 10:04 am to Homey the Clown
The flock of flickers are nice, but from your descriptions. I'd rig up a couple dozen more decoys during the split.
Do y'all pick up every morning or leave them out? If you leave them out, go big.
I was in a similar situation one year where the neighboring blind was doing better. My blind partner and I talked about it and finally said, lets put out every decoy we got. Went from 60 or so to 250+ decoys.
Smashed a 3 man limit the first morning. The blind we were envious of killed 3 and called us to see what we had done different. They noticed.
It wore off and we ended up reducing numbers as the season went on. But sometimes a drastic change can spur the birds interests. If they have been there a few days seeing your spread and the next day it's slammed with 4X as many decoys they think "Oh shite, what's going on over there? Let's check it out closer."
Do y'all pick up every morning or leave them out? If you leave them out, go big.
I was in a similar situation one year where the neighboring blind was doing better. My blind partner and I talked about it and finally said, lets put out every decoy we got. Went from 60 or so to 250+ decoys.
Smashed a 3 man limit the first morning. The blind we were envious of killed 3 and called us to see what we had done different. They noticed.
It wore off and we ended up reducing numbers as the season went on. But sometimes a drastic change can spur the birds interests. If they have been there a few days seeing your spread and the next day it's slammed with 4X as many decoys they think "Oh shite, what's going on over there? Let's check it out closer."
Posted on 12/7/16 at 10:08 am to Clyde Tipton
We havent picked up the decoys yet. But i will this week (most of them, at least), then gonna put em out opening morning of the second split along with the flickers, and other motion decoys. Im hoping using a combo of the flickers and feeder calls will at least get the ducks close enough to shoot.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 10:09 am to Clyde Tipton
Also, we already have out all the decoys we own i intend on getting a couple more dozen in the offseason, and my partners do, too.
i intend on getting a couple more dozen in the offseason, and my partners do, too.Posted on 12/7/16 at 10:09 am to Homey the Clown
Is the other blind picking up every day? That could be an issue too, if they pick up and y'all don't.
Posted on 12/7/16 at 10:13 am to Clyde Tipton
They only pick up the motion decoys. Thats why im going crazy thinking about it. Other than the flickers, the conditions are almost exact. They leave out the decoys. They have about 170 decoys to our 140ish decoys. They have 3 flappers, we have two, and two wonder ducks. But they have flickers and we dont. Same depth of water, the cut is about the same size.
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