Leaving decoys out?

[royalwolf]

As I understand it, leaving decoys out overnight is a no-no on public or state-owned land. But what about private land? I may hunt a small pond on my grandfather's farm this fall where I've seen ducks before. If it's okay, I'd rather just leave my blocks out there instead of bringing them in every morning. Any reason not to? Do the quackers learn that they are fake?

Thanks

Tom

[Mark Christianson]

Leave em out.

Ducks aren't smart enough to spook out because they figure out what decoys are.

[Blair Nelson]

One thing to look out for is not to leave the decoys overnight if there is a chance of frost. Nothing like shiny frosted decoys to flare birds.

[wooduck26]

...Dont if there are alot of Muscrats on the slough I had a 'rat eat through a few G&H Mallards on our land in ND.....Dave!

[bigbucks]

Leave them out, it works fine. Don't leave them out until two days before deer hunting & have to chop them out of an inch of ice. I've "heard" that's not much fun. What really peeved me, was then the day before it warmed up & all melted, if I'd have waited a day it would have taken a quarter of the time.

I've had muskrats chew off the plastic decoy cord, the regular stuff they don't bother.

[FISH AWAY]

It states in the regulation book that you have to wait 1hr before opener to put out your decoys on public land. Is that true on private land also?

[TV BOY]

yes

[Norsky]

the paint/plastics will fade eventually if left out long enough in the sun

[Swamp Scooter]

Royalwolf,

I would not leave them out overnight. Just toss them on shore and throw them out in the morning.

If you get to your blind late in the morning and the birds are already flying blast what you can and toss between reloads. The movement on the water will attract the flying birds too.