Opener decoy tactics

[Proskier2038]

So with opener only 10 days away my nights are restless and my finger itches like crazy.... Hope everyonE is as excited as I am!!

I have 2 dozen mallards a dozen woodys, 8 honkers, and a wind powered mojo... Honkers are mostly for visibility but I was wondering what you would do... Pick up a second mojo or a dozen teal or a dozen mallard feeder butts.... I will be deploying about 85% hens on opener any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[Kyle]

Depends on where you plan to hunt. If bird numbers are high, your current decoy plan is probably overkill. If your hunting an area that has relatively low numbers, big water,or might have other hunter's pushing birds around then your plan is probably pretty good.

In Nodak, I bring 2 dozen mallard decoys when hunting water and that's it. Doesn't matter if I'm hunting early in the season or later, 2 dozen mallard decoys on a good slew will bring in limits. In MN, I won't hunt a slew unless I know there are a lot of birds using it. I've tried the decoy numbers game, and for me it never really made the extra work setting decoys worth it.

Good luck!

[Proskier2038]

I will be hunting a chain of wildlife management areas with larger sloughs and there is usually high pressure across the area and a lot of ducks moving-

[Kyle]

I would say you have a good plan then!

[dan z]

When having a big spread a good area to land really helps. I'm a big spread guy and moving a few decoys can make your day. Once your spread draws ducks your in the money. Moving decoys takes up more of my morning than shooting. Say what you wanna say but my strategy usually brings home birds. Its a great feeling when you have it right. I can usually make the flocks land in a said spot and if they don't I make a change. Sometimes you get it right the 1st time but most times when the sun breaks I move a few here and a couple over their. Makes sure none touch and no head wrappers.

[Proskier2038]

Thanks for the input guys!

Anybody use a jerk-cord? I tried once and it resulted in tangled decoys but I hear some guys swear by em-

[booger]

I swear by them. When I pick it up I wrap the bungee cord up on the anchor, then around each decoy head then the handle. Keep this altogether and it won't be such a tangled mess. Otherwise you are taking the carbeener/pins out of and into the decoys each time out which is a PITA.

I plan on taking out 4 larger mallards on a jerk string, then about 12 teal 5 woodies and a couple geese opener.

[fishuhalik]

We had a really bad 1st hatch in NoDak, so ill be putting out about 2 1/2 doz hens, 2-3 drakes. Set in family groups of 4-6, a few groups on the right & a few on the left, a landing area in front, & a pair of lucky ducks. 2 doz geese, 6 floaters in the water & 6 shells on shore on each side. Never tried a jerk string but I'm gonna string up a couple birds on each side.cant wait!!!

[tracker x-2]

I use a Jerk string for about 4 years now. I can say it sure helps,but................... its a pain in the A$$ for the guy running the cord with water splashing on your gun/calls (and hands if its cold). plus the extra movement you need to do to put tension on the line when working a group of far ducks and then find out you spooked some flying right over head lol.

So i like it and it helps for us it just comes at a cost I guess.

[dan z]

I'm a jerk string guy also

[booger]

Anyone throw out a ton of decoys for opener? Like 50-60? If so how did it work out?

[HNTNBUX]

This year I am going to start with less. For YWD I started with 10 geese, 2 dozen mallards, 6 wood ducks and 4 ring necks on a bay off of fairly big water. Early in the morning it worked great but by the time is was fully light out the birds flaired. I started pulling decoys and ended up with about 8 hen mallards and the wood ducks which led to more decoying ducks. I know the one goose I called in would have come in tighter if I still had the goose decoys out as it couldn't figure out where to land.

I have always been a big numbers guy and likely will be again at times but I plan to try this approach a few times and see how it works.

Movement can be very important when it is calm. I use a jerk string, spinning wing and pulsating decoys when allowed. If I could find wind powered decoys that work well I would use those too.

[Kettle]

1/2 dozen wood ducks, 1/2 dozen mallards, 2 duck butts and 3 on a jerk rig, so 17 total.

Kettle

[srfishin15]

1/2 dozen teal, 1/2 dozen mallard hens, 3-4 drakes, couple geese, couple mallard feeders, one wind spinner. The spot is more important than the decoys.

[CANOPY SAM]

The spot is more important than the decoys.

+1 Especially on the opener.

I always go really light during early season. And very light, easy and precise on the call as well.

Once they get educated then then the game starts to get interesting.

[Feathers Rainin]

Save your money on decoys and use it on gas to scout. I typically use less than a dozen decoys on opening day. One year we had 4 out and shot our birds quick and probably didn't need any. Opener is not the time to be out on obvious spots with a huge spread IMO. Find a little pocket the birds want and pray that a skybuster doesn't set on top of you. Good luck!

[fishersofmen]

pray that a skybuster doesn't set on top of you. Good luck!

Amen to this......

[dietdew]

Who needs decoys? Setup 100 yards down wind of someone else and just shoot em on the way to there decoys. Don't have to get up early and it's a lot less work.

[onthefly]

Save your money on decoys and use it on gas to scout. I typically use less than a dozen decoys on opening day. One year we had 4 out and shot our birds quick and probably didn't need any. Opener is not the time to be out on obvious spots with a huge spread IMO. Find a little pocket the birds want and pray that a skybuster doesn't set on top of you. Good luck!

+1

Skybusters = my pet peeve, slough last year went empty fast cause I was in btwn 2 groups that shot at EVERYTHING

[fishuhalik]

Funny man dietdew...

[CANOPY SAM]

Who needs decoys? Setup 100 yards down wind of someone else and just shoot em on the way to there decoys. Don't have to get up early and it's a lot less work.

Double D. That could, in some loose and remote way, be considered inflammatory.

BTW. There, their, and they're...all different spellings, and applications!

[dietdew]

I was referring to the decoys over THERE.

[Big Jeff]

I am new to duck hunting and we have mallards some geese and some bluebills. Are there blue bills even around central MN right now? Still working on scouting but its to far from home.

I like the idea of going a little lighter on numbers. I plan on 2 dz mallards some geese off to one side, a wind mojo and I made a jerk cord for this summer that I can't wait to try.

[Kettle]

Jeff, your decoy setup should be fine. As far as bluebills in MN I would be surprised normally a later in the fall type thing

Kettle

[Proskier2038]

Where in your spread do u typically run a jerk cord? I know a lot of people talk about

Making a "c" or a half moon type pocket but I have had luck

With more of a "w" with two pockets and a few ducks splitig the pockets - maybe put the jerk right in the middle?