MALLARD DECOY SETS

[Guest]

I ask for advice pretty often on spreads as I seem to be unable to get one set correct in the low light portion of the morning. I have aobut 18 mallard decoys(the bigger ones)and just 4 woodie decoys, any and all opinions/ideas are well taken.

Broncosguy

[Fisher Dave]

You have plenty of decoys for the early season. You dont need more until the birds are flying in larger flocks. If your hunting on a body of water with little or no pressure even fewer decoys can be more effective in the very early season.

I would try putting a small puddle on each side of your blind and leave the center open. If you watch mallards closely this time of year they are mostly in small groups (3-8 birds) and they tend to spend most of their time cruising the weeds looking for food. The only place you see large groups of birds are at parks getting their fill of bread and popcorn.

Try different spreads and it will eventually pan out. If your hunting calm days electronic decoys do help alot to add some life to the spread. Spinning wing decoys cant be used for the first 2 weeks of the season, but * shaker * type decoys are still legal because there are no visual moving parts. Ducks will come in if they believe your decoys are truly ducks.

[Guest]

With the number of decoys you have I would recommend that you set to groups of birds set apart leaving about a 30 yard wide opening in the middle of them. and put the Woodies on the edges of the spread, they will stick out a lot better.

Hope this helps!

[Duck-o-holic]

Hey Bronc! Hope you're as pumped as I am for duck opener!! Here's my 2 cents on your question...

Your duck spread is certainly ample enough for good gunning. On the sloughs that I hunt, I am used to seeing a lot bigger groups than 3-8 (and I don't hunt in a park), but maybe things are different in your neck of the woods. In my experience, ducks will nest on small bodies of water, and stay in their family groups until the ducklings are large enough to fly. Once they are this big, family groups will congregate with others, and frequent the same areas together. Birds will often use the same "roosting" water, and will fly in large flocks to fields or other water to feed. During the Early Goose season, I saw several flocks of combined family groups. Most were between 20 to 30 birds. Most of the feeding water that I've seen around the Willmar area is LOADED with birds. Today I saw one little slough with close to 70 birds on one end.

With your spread, you will do fine. Fisher and Bemidji both gave you great advice with putting out two seperate spreads with a nice gap in the middle. To add to that, if you have a slight cross-wind, I would put the larger bulk of the spread upwind (maybe 12-14 mallards) and string them out a tad farther (but still within gun range), and the remaining birds (4-6 mallards + the woodies) on the slight downwind side a bit closer to shore (but as Bemidji said-- with the woodies on the edge). Remember that being hidden and remaining still is even more critical with a smaller spread.

Good Gunnin'!!!

Duck-o-holic

[Fisher Dave]

Duck-o-holic ...

I agree with you on the families joining into flocks.... I just havent seen too much of that locally here yet. I have seen a couple larger focks (30 birds) but most are still in smaller groups that I have seen on the water ... anything can happen in the next few weeks. The chicks are grown up.

Opener 2 years ago we had witnessed a massive flock of woodies on a central lake.. There had to be over 1000 birds.

I guess what I was insinuating is that most the time in the early season (opening)in my experiences I have noticed mallards were in small groups while hunting, and also while scouting before opener (within last week).

It doesnt take long for them to *flock up* once being shot at .. my theory is a safety in numbers type theory .. it might be all wrong but it works for me until a proven theory corrects it.

Fisher Dave

[Guest]

Thanks for all your reply's, I hunt up in Kimball area for ducks. Another question I have is htat I hunt on a private slough, and there are so many little pot holes around it, it seems that the ducks prefer to land there instead of in or around my decoys.

Thanks-
Broncosguy

[Duck-o-holic]

Bronc--

The main key here is to do some thorough scouting. Find where... and EXACTLY where, the birds want to be, and set up accordingly. I used to open on the same public area for years, and would often hunt apart from the rest of my party on a small pothole that was located near the two larger sloughs that my Dad and brothers would be set up in. We would all get good shooting, but often times with all of the gunning going on in the area, the birds were looking for a little hidey-hole away from the larger areas. In a spot like this, few dekes are necessary. I'd recommend scouting the area before season to see which spot is used more heavily. Even if you open on the bigger slough, keep an eye on where the birds seem to want to go.

Where I lease now, there are two little honey holes on our land, and I leave them as safe havens... for a couple of weeks or so. Once the big slough slows down, I hunt the smaller potholes and usually have a hayday!

Good luck in whatever you decide on. If you are in a larger party, it is sometimes wise to split up to keep birds moving, and optimize your chances!

Good Gunnin'!!!

Duck-o-holic

[This message has been edited by Duck-o-holic (edited 09-11-2002).]

[Guest]

Duck-

Thanks for the input, the slough we hunt is all surrounded by cat tails and it would be very very hard to get to the little wholes that they are dropping into unfortunately. Have you used a quiver magnet?(to give movement to the spread) Also I was looking at the 870 remington pump at gander mountain, what is your opinion on that gun if you have one? I am changeing from my mossberg auto been having jamming and not getting the next shell loaded problems and it only chambers 2 3/4 shells, according to the guy I work with it is older then him, and he was not kidding, and he is probably in his forties. Unfortunately it is a full choke gun so all my shots are about 70 yards for a decent pattern, kind of sucks as I do not want to just wing a bird. Is there a way to get the gun bored out so I could put a choke on it?
Thanks-
Broncosguy

p.s. where do you hunt? if you would like to give a younger(novice)hunter some pointers and get together I would greatly appreciate that.

[WaveWacker]

Broncosguy...I have a friend that lives/hunts around the Kimball area. From his reports sounds like you should have some decent shooting. As for your message in the "shotguns" post. An Remington 870 is a pump. Wingmaster is a "higher grade" gun then an express. I personally have shot a 870 wingmaster for about 17 years. I have put that gun through hell (excuse my french) and it has been more then reliable. Only problem that I am beginning to have is that I have to make sure now and fully slam it back when I want to eject a shell. I believe that this is due to the fact that the mechanism that physically ejects the shell is just plain worn out. I haven't had it in the shop yet however.

I am currently thinking of upgrading to either the Franchi or Benellii 3 1/2" model. This is mainly due to that I spend about 2 weeks in ND every fall and think that I could use the extra knock down power on those late season mallards and geese.

My advice to you is that if your looking for a good all around affordable gun, before you look at spending money on a new barrell or work done on your existing barrell for your Mossberg, go and price out the 870's. Like I said, I shoot a Wingmaster. I also know guys that have the express's, put them through the same abuse, and they are still very reliable. They come now with the Rim-choke's so you can switch chokes for different situations. Just my 2 cents worth. Good Luck.

[Finlander]

My advise to attract those ducks away from those remote potholes is to obtain as many decoys as possible to make the ducks think that is 'the place to be'!
We hunt a pothole with other hunters off in the distance who have a dozen or two decoys, a spinner or two, and a few goose decoys in there spread. When the ducks see our 125+ duck decoys and 2 dozen goose decoys there is no hesitation. They make a beeline to our decoys and avoid the other hunters!
Get together with another hunter and put together as many decoys as possible. It does'nt matter what time of the season it is, they see comfort in numbers!!
My suggestion for a gun would be to forget the mossberg and buy yourself a new
870 SuperMag that shoots the 3.5 inch magnums.
And if your going to look at Automatic's stick with American made, buy a 11-87 SuperMag. Best gun I ever shot. Drilled the snowgeese in South Dakota last spring shooting 3.5 BBB's and T's up to 50 yards!!
Good Luck !!!

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F-STOP

[Fisher Dave]

I have an old 870 wingmaster (over 25 years) and the newer model barrels will mount onto it. My action is the exact same as the 3" actions and will handle the 3" shells flawlessly. Several barrels are available with the Rem-Choke® system for the 870's from 22" - 38" long I believe is the longest .. at that point I think you could knock the bird out of the air with the barrel.

[Duck-o-holic]

Bronc--

Sorry so long for the response. I'm up north on vacation right now, and haven't been around a computer in a while. First of all, I'd be glad to show a newer hunter some pointers. I end up hunting all over, but can usually be found in the western portion of the state. I try to get out and hunt Mud Lake by New London/Spicer as much as I can, and actually had several great hunts with Gullguide there last year.

As far as the answer to your questions... you've already received some good advice on the 870. I'll add that it is a workhorse of a gun, and is very reliable. The 3 1/2" version would be a nice way to go if you decide to get one, as it will give you a lot more versatility for a little extra $. As far as your mossberg, you could consider buying either a new barrel, or having it bored out. A Mossberg would be easy to find a used barrel for, and I bet you could pick one up with three different chokes for around $100-$115. As far as your jamming problem, consider having a gunsmith bore out the gas ports. Had this done to my auto when I had jamming problems, and it kicks 'em out like a mule now. It was a very inexpensive fix!!

Hope this helps, and isn't too late as opener is coming up fast!

Good Gunnin'

Duck-o-holic

[walleyewacker]

Duck,
I have also seem big flocks of ducks already during the early goose season around the willmar area, I am closer to lake lillian. Except the flocks that I have been seeing are 50+. I am not as old/experienced at these things but I have never seen this so early in the season. They are all roosting on the same big slough day after day as well. Thanks for the posting guys because I had the same question as bronc. I mostly field hunt geese and do a little duck huntin, but watchin this the last few weeks has got me cranked up. I too am looking for ideas and spots to get some more ducks this fall so keep em comin.

[Fisher Dave]

I have been doing alot of scouting and have been seeing good numbers of birds just about everywhere. I think the ducks knew this cold spell was coming because they are all flocked up. The families seem non-existant... I think we're going to have a good start to the season. Hope the weather keeps this pace and brings northern birds down in a hurry.

With the size of the flocks going around I've decided to bite-the-bullet so to speak and bring out the entire spread (100+) deke's for the opener. I dont think I can recall a year in the recent where I have seen so many local birds...

I think the birds may be telling us its going to be an early winter ..

[HUNTER2]

I have shot a 11-87 Rem for many years and put thousands of shells threw it. I have shot on a sporting clays team and trap shooting team. I have used low base and high based shells with very few problems. I think if you can afford it go with a 31/2" gun that will shoot different loads. I dont know what the tests show now, but back when I bought mine they said the Rem would handle different loads the best. Good luck!

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Hunt&Fish tell you drop!

[walleyewacker]

Amen to that 11-87. If you want a gun that will handle any load under any condition go with it. I have been shooting skeet regularly for the last 3 years and it is the only auto-loader that I have seen that will cycle the tiny 7/8oz loads that I can get for cheapest. Has never fouled for the 5 years I have had it and about 800+ rounds go through it every year.

[Guest]

Well I decided to buy the 835 ulti mag mossberg that takes all the way up to 3 1/2 shot and decided to go with the 26" barrel. I shot with it this week and really liked it. I used to have problems, 5 out of 25 clays, as I was always shooting behind or under the clays with the old gun. It was probably just luck that I got 15 out of 25 clays so trying again tonight to see if that is the case. I do beleive that it is easier swing for me with the 26" barrel, the only problem is getting into the habit of the pump versus the auto for 8 years. but oh well have to adapt. And I am only hunting saturdays this year as my daughter is really enjoying sunday school, and the wife has her hands full with our 11 week old little boy. You guys would be proud as my daughter (3 1/2) already knows how to work the duck and goose calls. can not wait to get her out there to see what happens.

Broncosguy

[Fisher Dave]

Bronco's ..

If your only hitting 5/25 with the old and 15/25 with the new there is more to it than just a new gun. Have you used patterning targets on your old gun recently? It might be something to check out. Shotguns can get out of sight, or the choke may not be working properly. Try a patterning target with the same steel loads that you use for hunting and se what happens. The same load will have different performance out of every gun, and different choke tubes for the same gun. Its best to spend a few bucks on some chokes, a box of shells, and patterning targets to see whats happening out the end of YOUR gun. If your getting bad results, try another brand of ammo, you eventually will find a setup that will hold optimum performance for your gun, especially with steel. Lead doesnt seem to be as picky. one reason why is the velocity of the shells. Your lucky to get 1100 fps out of lead where steel averages about 1300, and can go up to 1900 fps. The high velocity loads are nice for energy at longer range (long kill range) but they are also very light on shot (3/4 to 7/8oz) to make these velocities possible. With less shot the gaps in the patern are larger.

I guess I just figured out the longest way possible to say that your shooting will get better when you know whats coming out of your gun. It doesnt hurt to put a few box's of steel after some clay's to shape up the shooting too .. big difference in the lead from the lead target shells.

[Guest]

FISHER...My old gun was a full choke, no tubes as a very old savage 720, and I shot a modified choke with the new one and I think that was the big difference. I am going to invest in some different chokes as you have stated, I have a buddy that I am going to do trade labor for the chokes.

Broncosguy
3-0

[Fisher Dave]

Bronco's ... that full choke would provide a great pattern .. at 70 yards or so... so just plan on waiting till birds are well out of range and lead them 35', the pellets should just about hover next to the bird and start to fall back to the earth. With any luck, just maybe, enough pellets will land on the back of the bird to create too much weight to fly, thus making it plummet helplessly down to earth... either that or throw the gun at them.

Just remember steel shoots tighter than lead. A modified is about the equivalent of a full for lead, a skeet is about the same as modified, and improved cyl is about the same as a skeet. If you have more troubles try a skeet or improved cylinder. They both will make a reasonable, tight pattern at decent yardage (up to 40) for shooting over the decoys or busting clays. Good luck with the new gun this season .. im sure things will go a lot smoother when your not shooting *slugs*. It is possible to drop high-flying birds with goose loads, but the smaller duck shot just doesnt have the energy at a distance to penetrate.

Vikings ... suck
(but still the home team)
Can anyone say .. Defense?

[Guest]

Fisher,
Do I know you, as I do have a real funny thing that happened when I was slug hunting once that a lot of people have had chuckle aobut over a few beers.

Broncosguy-
still 3-0.
p.s.maybe I was on ESPN and I thought I saw this: randy ratio=loss ratio.