What's more important

[Maxxed Out]

I figure this should get some spirited discussions going, but what do you think is the most important aspect to a successful hunt?

[*]decoys #'s

[*]decoy setups

[*]Scouting

[*]Calling

[*]Your Hide

[*]Great Hair

[Gordie]

MOG for its none of they above I really like whole outdoor aventure of waterfowling but if I had to pick one I guess it would be decoy spread cause I like watching the birds work them but thats only second to great hair

[life=outdoors92]

if in succesful you mean actually seeing birds, then scouting/location. you sit anyone you want, but if there's no birds, you might as well head back home. fred zink says it, and i agree: in order to see birds, location, concealment, decoys, calling. in that order.

[Muthagoose]

Yup great hair, with the horseshoe growing its much less BUT there was a time...

[nate larson]

4 decoys #'s

3 decoy setups

1 Scouting

5 Calling

2 Your Hide

6 Great Hair/Black Hoodie/Meat stick barrel sticker

[brittman]

In MN and the Dakotas: SCOUTING

Even if you hunt the same lake every time out, scouting to know where on the lake they want to be is more critical than what you put out.

I will add another aspect to your list. In higher pressured areas ... getting to the X first. Even on posted land you never know when another set of headlights will pull into that spot (neighbor, relative, local banker or doctor, etc).

[RuddyDuck]

Scouting. If your not where they want to be or on their flight pattern, you won't be that successful. Then great hair or lack of.

[Maxxed Out]

I'm a little spoiled because on Lac Qui Parle you would have to work hard on most days to set up in an area where you didn't see birds. So because of that I say hide is most important followed by scouting. If you can't disappear in the field it's going to be a really long and frustrating day.

[TylerS]

Scouting, followed closely by concealment. If you're on the X, and birds want in, you honestly don't even need a call or decoys.

In my younger days, we jumped a slough once and didn't even fire a shot. Birds were out of range. It was quite a hike to get where we were, so we just hunkered down and chatted for a bit. I'd say within 15 minutes we had groups of ducks bombing the water again. We limited out in short order shooting "decoying" birds without a single call or decoy. It was a riot!

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Decoys? Who needs em! Scout, sneak, shoot.

[uwleagle]

4 decoys #'s

3 decoy setups

1 Scouting

5 Calling

2 Your Hide

6 Great Hair/Black Hoodie/Meat stick barrel sticker

X2

[gurkster]

4 decoys #'s

3 decoy setups

1 Scouting

5 Calling

2 Your Hide

6 Great Hair/Black Hoodie/Meat stick barrel sticker

Yep X3

[Feathers Rainin]

Scouting, your hide, decoy set up, then decoy numbers. Most people in this state call way too much at ducks. (not talking geese)I think it is the rookies watching the hunting shows filmed down south where you need to call ducks and assume thats how to get it done. If you have the right spot you don't need many decoys just set em up right and make sure you aren't seen and load em up. Scout, scout, scout!

[Finlander]

I'll sum it up by saying it's best to have enough time, enough places to hunt, enough decoys, and a very understanding wife!

[bigbucks]

I'm no expert, but in my experience: LOCATION. The rest all helps if done right, but if the birds want to be there & you don't totally screw up or get screwed up by someone else, you've got a good chance of bagging some.

[bigbucks]

In retrospect, that probably really means scouting.

[Maxxed Out]

Location is very important but if you can't disappear those birds aren't coming in.