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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 14, 2003 20:16:43 GMT -5
Thought it would be a good idea to have one thread that contains duck hunting tips from the waterfowlers that post here.
I plan to keep it active and hope that all the duck and goose hunters will provide their tips here as they think of them.
Here is the first of what will hopefully will be many of them:
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When you are hunting over a spread of decoys, if there are coots present, don't shoot them. Let them swim into your spread as this is a confidence builder for other game ducks.....
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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 14, 2003 20:25:53 GMT -5
Tie a block of styrofoam inside your decoy bag. This will keep it afloat in case it slips out of your grasp after you empty it.
They sink you know.... 
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Bennie
Hunter
Hico, Texas
Posts: 242
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Post by Bennie on Nov 15, 2003 12:57:29 GMT -5
Last year towards the end of regular goose season in Oklahoma I had better luck using smaller spreads of darks mixed with a few whites, with a snow roto goose to add movement.
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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 18, 2003 22:13:28 GMT -5
Good post Bennie. I agree that as the season gets later, use fewer decoys as the birds get decoy shy.
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Put your motion duck nearer to you than your other decoys (and off to the side). While you're calling the movement from the motion decoy will distract the duck's attention away from you. Motion ducks - roboducks - work too!!!! If you don't have one, get one.
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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 22, 2003 8:44:36 GMT -5
When hunting flooded timber if there is no wind, stand near a tree and kick the water with your foot to make ripples. This will give your decoys some movement and will make approaching ducks think there are feeding ducks there. Just don't get busted doing it!
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Post by jdickey on Nov 22, 2003 14:12:01 GMT -5
::)Hey ICM... my daddy taught me one, many years ago... DON'T SHOOT YOUR DECOYS ;D
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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 23, 2003 0:09:20 GMT -5
::)Hey ICM... my daddy taught me one, many years ago... DON'T SHOOT YOUR DECOYS ;D Glad to know you learned at least one thing - I've been trying to teach you for the past month how to shoot half a dove........ ;D ;D ;D and you still haven't learned.... ;D ;D ;D |
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Post by jdickey on Nov 23, 2003 11:08:43 GMT -5
;)It's not that I'm not trying.... I just can't make up my mind... which half of the dove I'm suposed to shoot! Them sombiches fly too fast!   |
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Post by ICMCumin on Nov 27, 2003 22:27:06 GMT -5
When hunting from a boat or a blind, always determine BEFORE any shooting is done, who calls for the group to shoot and what the limits of barrel swing are. Also determine whether you ALL stand or ALL sit while shooting. Mixed standing and sitting is really unsafe......
Barrel swing limits are also important as a barrel firing too close to the guy next to you is not only very unsafe, it will cause some serious hearing loss and consternation on his part!
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 3, 2003 9:47:29 GMT -5
Look for an abundance of feathers in the area when scouting for that next duck hunting honeyhole.
Ducks leave these 'calling cards' when they frequent an area. 
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DoeNob
Full Member
Houston, TX
Posts: 45
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Post by DoeNob on Dec 4, 2003 2:27:29 GMT -5
I could write a book with all my unproven opinions on this. But the biggest thing I see that frustrates me, especially when hunting with others is that MOTION FLARES BIRDS! Sounds simple, but the caller should be moving his hand and everyone else in the blind should be still as a statue. That fancy camoflage don't do anything if you are doing the bobble head doll dance or waving your gun around. This is a good reason why total concealment in a blind is better than being exposed, you can get away with some movement because you are screened from the ducks.
One more: on bluebird days, try to eliminate your shadow, its like wearing a neon sign if you are cammoed up but still casting a big shadow on the water or the ground.
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 5, 2003 22:17:45 GMT -5
Absolutely correct Do - I was duck hunting several years ago and was calling teal in. They were coming in just like you see on TV. I had my teal whistle in my mouth and let it drop out in anticipation of shooting when the teal were about 60 or 80 yards out and coming right at me. As soon as the whistle dropped, they turned 90 degrees and got out of there. It was like watching a Corvette hitting an exit ramp......Everyone talks about geese and turkeys having good eyesight - ducks don't do too badly either.......Boy - did I learn a lesson that day! |
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 21, 2003 4:02:02 GMT -5
Getting out to the hunting spot is a hassle. Trying to carry everything requires proper planning. Have a sling for your gun and put as much stuff on your back as possible.
I have a headlamp for walking to and from truck and especially for putting out decoys first thing. A headlamp is much better than a flashlight. It frees up one hand and you don't have to fiddle with it. (I had a friend that kidded me about my headlamp until he dropped his flashlight in the water - guess who got the last laugh!)
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Post by ICMCumin on Dec 28, 2003 17:04:31 GMT -5
On cold (sub-freezing) mornings, keep your duck call inside your jacket to keep it warm in order to avoid having the reed freeze up on you.
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Post by ICMCumin on Jan 22, 2004 4:34:34 GMT -5
When a flock is coming in, don’t shoot the first duck that comes in. Let that first duck commit, and then shoot the trailing ducks.
When you shoot the first duck, the ones that are trailing have a better chance of flaring and getting out of range faster.
Shoot the trailing ducks first, then the lead ducks and instead of having one good shot, you may have two or three good shots....
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