Importance of Decoys?

[iceman2010]

I'd like to do some duck/goose hunting this fall. Never really done much of it but I was wondering if a guy can still be successful with just a call rather than goin out and buying a bunch of decoys?

[Kettle]

I wouldn't hunt without decoys. in regards to a "bunch" I wouldn't worry about that either, a good dozen floating mallards decoys and a dozen shell type goose decoys is wait you need for the basics.

check out an online web page where you can buy used stuff it starts with craig................. see what I did there.........

For goose call the I like the big river goose flute around 30 dollars and easy to use. As far as duck call I like the vintage OLT mallard call, easy to use and around 40$. I am on a budget at all times so I lean towards cheap yet good quality.

Kettle

[Gordie]

decoys can make or break your hunt sometimes less is more and other times you can have enough. I have gone out with only three decoys (goose) and shot my limit of both duck and geese. This doesnt work all the time though.

Time of year and pressure in an area tells what can be best fr your situation.

I remember one time I set up in this sweet little spot the day before opener of deer season oon a creek feeding a lake. I had seen quite a few mallrds dumping into that spot earlier in the week so I thought it was gona be easy to get a couple of birds I only took a few decoys with. Well after I had set up I notice a couple guys setting up on the other side of the bay well well day break hit they musta had close to 200 decoys out and I still figrued that I would get some shooting cause of the ducks that I had seen earlier well that day I fire not one shot but watch those two guys limit out every duck that seemed to fly by high or low were attraced to thier decoys like a magnet.

These guys didnt call that much either and after talking with them they said they hardly call later in the season as the ducks tend to get call shy.

This may not be what your looking for but these are just some of my expriences.

Personally I would take decoys over calls

[Finlander]

Decoys are the best way to get ducks and geese close enough to shoot. An unexperienced caller will actually keep them flaring away. A few decoys without calling will out-do calling every time. One sour note and there out of there. Try to get at least 2 dozen duck decoys and 2 Canada goose decoys (floaters) when hunting water and you'll have it covered.

If you do decide to get a duck and goose call, make sure they come with audio instructions. All you need for duck calling is a mallard hen "quack" when you first learn how to call. Go to a pond where ducks hang out and listen to them, only sound you'll hear from the ducks is the hen quacking.

Geese are basically the same when first learng how to call. When you see geese flying, just give a few simple honks on your call and let the decoys do the rest! Go to the Game Fair and you will get it straight from the call and decoy makers as to what to buy. Also go to there seminar's! I like Barney Calef, he does good seminrs for duck hunting!

Good Luck!

[jonboatjunkie]

Decoys are very important! I've had birds come in and land in my decoys and I didn't call at them at all. On the low end, you can pick up a dozen of the "Hot Buy" decoys for $30 (6 drakes/6 hens). Add another $30 for weights, cord, crimps, bag. That will get some birds to work for you this year. I only had a dozen decoys last year and was able to shoot some birds. I'm getting more decoys this year, but a dozen is a good start for a new duck hunter like I was last year.

Speaking from experience, get a good CD/DVD to learn how to use a duck call. I know I did more harm than good last year when calling. Just recently, I got the Buck Gardner Straight Talk instructional CD and my knowledge and ability for duck calling has grown drastically. I feel so much more confident going into this year's season! Good luck!!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I'd like to do some duck/goose hunting this fall. Never really done much of it but I was wondering if a guy can still be successful with just a call rather than goin out and buying a bunch of decoys?

Yep. Jump shooting and pass shooting. Find where the birds are, and determine by scouting how they enter/exit a roost or field and put yourself in position to shoot them. Decoy hunting is not the only way to shoot waterfowl.

[Finlander]

Also, have a way to retreive what you shoot via dog or boat or waders!

[RuddyDuck]

Decoys definately help for duck hunting, but no you don't need them. Pass shooting can be a fun way to hunt ducks. A good spot to pass shoot would be between two bodies of water, you can get them as they fly between the two spots. It's also a great way to scout out areas and hunt at the same time, then if you decide to get some dekes, you'll have a better idea of were the ducks are hanging out.

Other tips would be:

Make sure you learn to judge range so you don't start skybusting at them when pass shooting.

Also don't passhoot a 100 yds off the end of someones decoy spread, that will save your ears some choice words from other hunters.

No calls are needed for pass shooting either

Good luck and have fun.

[Farley]

i know a pond or two where you wouldnt really need decoys. A nice lowland area where there are a few small openings in the cattails, if you can get to the opening in the middle thats where all the ducks funnel into, but it's really tough to get to, so we use decoys to try to get them to come to the "easier to get to" part. I'm willing to bet we would still shoot a few if we didnt use decoys there, but its not tough to carry a half dozen with us.

[BoxMN]

Best advice - as I learned from old timers years ago - the best place for a call is... left in the truck

Depends upon what ducks you are after too. We hunt divers in MN and puddlers in ND. I bring a call in ND, but ALWAYS leave it while in MN. Divers don't need no stinkin' calls, haha! And I would rather shoot divers, personally.

edit - for geese you need a call though. The long honker is easy to blow and sounds decent. Heck my grandson called some in with his first try on the thing, and he was only about 10 at the time.

[Gordie]

Best advice - as I learned from old timers years ago - the best place for a call is... left in the truck

Depends upon what ducks you are after too. We hunt divers in MN and puddlers in ND. I bring a call in ND, but ALWAYS leave it while in MN. Divers don't need no stinkin' calls, haha! And I would rather shoot divers, personally.

edit - for geese you need a call though. The long honker is easy to blow and sounds decent. Heck my grandson called some in with his first try on the thing, and he was only about 10 at the time.

+1

[Maxxed Out]

IMO if you don't have decoys you're not really hunting waterfowl you're just shooting at waterfowl.

[surewood]

IMO if you don't have decoys you're not really hunting waterfowl you're just shooting at waterfowl.

+1

[RumRiverRat]

Decoys are the most important part of the hunt.

At least that is what I tell my wife, why else would I need all the ones I have!!!

[RuddyDuck]

IMO if you don't have decoys you're not really hunting waterfowl you're just shooting at waterfowl.

I assume then when they come into your decoys, you just throw rocks at them. They all evently get shot whether you use decoys or not.

I know the life of the pass and jump shooter isn't always glamorous, but it still can be a fun and effective way to Hunt at times. Decoys or no decoys, it's still fun.

[skee0025]

I will never leave my goose dekes at home. I have had days when i've had large flocks of canadians begging for a group to land in! They called great and circled forever but never quite got into range because they couldnt see where the calls were coming from. On those days even a single would have got them to commit..you live and learn.

[waterfowler85]

i'm pretty convinced that decoys are a big part of the game....otherwise i wouldn't feel the need to buy another dozen every year....

The real question is...how many decoys do you feel like picking up after the hunt

[BrdHunter01]

Nothing better than fooling a flock of ducks into ur deeks!

[Jackpine Rob]

IMO if you don't have decoys you're not really hunting waterfowl you're just shooting at waterfowl.

You need to get out a bit more son! Especially for mallards, locating yourself where the ducks want to be is extremely effective under certain circumstances, and requires no dekes.

A few of my buddies scoffed at the notion when we were little nippers, until I left them, the dozens of decoys and hiked about a mile down the shore. A few minutes later, the trusty old .410 spoke, and in short order I had my limit of mallards. The ducks wanted to land in a spot, and that urge was a far stronger pull than the decoys!

Over the years, I have built a blind and got very good shooting (especially in small waters) without a single decoy. Its neither sneaking nor pass shooting - but shooting at cupped birds dropping in. Nowadays, I have a half dozen inflatables that go in my pack, but it is rare that I actually need them.

[dan z]

there are many reasons to have lots of decoys and different species of decoys, I couldnt begin to tell you how many we use sometimes its 20 sometimes its 150. I do know that having seperate groups of different species have helped us out BIG time. its odd how some species like to be with other kinds and wierd how some ducks just dont even bother if the dont see there "brother or uncle" in the spread I have learned through many years of trial and error that the first time the ducks dont come in I move decoys from here to there and even pull them in sometimes I LOVE big spreads it adds to the hunt IMO. I know we could all go on and on and on and on and on about all things that matter.....

[Muthagoose]

Being on the X is the easiest and some guys feel if they aint on it its not worth hunting.

Thats where equipment and ability come into play. Decoys are crucial if you want to lure them to you and calling assist in that on certain species the trick is knowing when and what to call.callaed alot of geese close without a single decoy. Only time and practice will allow you to know when to do what..

Species specific is just one of a few alternate considerations. I watch the migration and use a certain main species in my spread.There are some good plastic production decoys that come in a variety of pose's and species.

I like to go on the other end of the spectrum and do things totaly opposite of everyone else.

Personally I feel that once the season gets rolling ya dont want to look or sound like everyone else.

[goblueM]

what, you mean you don't want your spread to be a dozen or two hot-buy mallards and 4 goose floaters? How many spreads just like that do you think a duck sees from Canada down to Arkansas?

[RumRiverRat]

Massive decoy spreads are fun to put out and hunt over.

Not so much fun picking up!

[strait-meat]

I would say decoys are needed but if you don't have any out you can get ducks to look around if you call for them but chances are they won't get close enough. If you even had 1 decoy on the water you would be doing way better than zero. I usually don't hunt with more than a dozen unless I am out with a friend then we combine so we will have 3 doz. But if you scout and find a good spot that the ducks are using some time you just need 3-5 decoys. I actually think it is pretty fun to shot ducks over less decoys than more. good luck

[Fins-n-feathers]

I usually get a chance to hunt opener on a lake near brainerd. The ducks just seem to ignore the decoys, but we still use them. But when I hunt up by Duluth or even up by Grand Rapids, the ducks will let you empty your gun at them a couple times while they circle and then set their wings and land in your spread. Of course, there are less then 1/4 the amount of ducks up there then down by brainerd. It seems to depend on where you hunt. But now that the season is earlier, who know what will happen.