What would you do survey

[fishhawk1750]

There were 50 or so ducks on a pond that we have permission to hunt. Half of our group wanted to jump shoot them as they were flushed, the other half wanted to flush set up and shoot when the birds returned. My vote is for setting up and shooting when they return.

[hanson]

What's the size of this pond?

If it was just a small pothole that is wadable, I think I would have flushed them out and tried to get what I could. I've seen on numerous occasions where the birds are spooked out and then they never come back. Thats the unpredictable nature of waterfowl.

Now if the pond was larger where the ducks could fly around the other end of actually go land at the other end, I may opt for the other option.

You just don't know. I would have really hated to spook the birds out hoping they would come back, to never have them come back.

[Dean Schellinger]

It partially depends what kinda ducks they are too. I know smaller puddlers like blue and green wing teal will almost always come right back in if you dont shoot or spook them to bad. But mallards or divers seem to be a bit more unpredictable when it comes to coming back. They might never come back or might wait till the end of the day. Like Hanson said waterfowl are certainly unpredictable.

[IceHawk]

If the pond is fairly small this time of year I would of opted the idea of jump shooting. Alot of the birds you see or find this time of year are migrators and they have been pressured and will often head out when bothered. I definately favor decoying over jump-shooting but as stated waterfowl are unpredictable and if the opportunity of jump-shooting presented itself I would of taken advantage of it.

[RonZych]

This time of year I would jump shoot around 8:00am. Get away from there until about 1:00 pm, Jump shoot any that may have come back, set up dekes for any that are going to return or any newcomers.

[hobbydog]

That can be a tough call. How many others hunters in the area....How long have the ducks been hanging out in this hole...time of day...how easy they are to sneak in on...does the pond have a good source of food or is it a loafing spot???? Lots of varibles. I have done it both ways....I prefer to spook'em and qickly set up but sometimes the chances of them are returning are slim and it is an easy sneak.....take the "bird in hand" approach.

[Guest]

Shoot as many as I could on the way out, and try to shoot a couple more if they came back!

That is what I would do. Ducks are too unpredictable.

[riverrat56]

If it would have been an easy sneak, take what you can get, jump shooting has its own set of challenges and jumping birds can be just as rewarding in getting them to decoy. This time of year as everyone said they might not come back, don't blow a good oppurtunity to bag a few if it presents itself.

[wingnutken]

I had a large flock of geese jump before whe got into range and they didn't come back. We should have tried to sneak from multiple sides. Ken

[mr wizard]

We pulled off the flush and set up quick method 5-6 times this season with great results. The birds came back in groups of 5-8 and it was a ball. I'd rather shoot over the decoys.

[Nova]

I'm with Wizzard on this one. I have done the scare off and set up 100's of times with great results. Sometimes it's doesn't work, but when you have the option of getting 15 seconds of shooting versus a great afternoon of shooting which would you prefer.