Wanting To Get Back Into Duck Hunting

[Feathers and Fins]

LMAO Chris, but we are trying to help a new hunter not someone who leaves decoys behind for friends to give room and board too.

[Bird Watcher]

LMAO Chris, but we are trying to help a new hunter not someone who leaves decoys behind for friends to give room and board too.

I wasn't kidding. It has nothing to do with the type of water you are hunting, be it open water or marsh. It is what type of pattern you are hunting. If birds are coming to where you are sitting. Less is more as far as decoys are concerned. If you are going to sit somewhere along the flight path and hope to convince birds to decoy, more decoys are a benefit. This applies to hunting marsh, lake, river, field, whatever.

[Chief Grey Bear]

In a Marsh setting a couple dozen is perfect, Big water you need more, Anyone remember the real gunners decoys Herters Model 72. Those were decoys for real men and made boys want to cry carrying out 3 dozen.

That's why I said I like 5-7 dozen.

You can certainly put out as many as you like.

But those numbers have always worked for me.

[Feathers and Fins]

This is how I rigged my decoys all are on long lines 15 yards long but can have line added for even deeper water.... First Decoy is at the 15 yard mark last one is at 31 yards ( 4ft apart ) By myself I can put them away in about 3 minutes putting out is even faster as they simply pull out of the bag as you walk out or the boat floats out. With my boat I can deploy 3 sets at one time by simply laying them on the side of the boat and let it deploy.

In shallow water just walk them out and the last decoy unwrap enough line to hit bottom and then loop the rest so it cinches tight to the decoy so no more comes off. If you want to make it a jerk line I just use T-post and knock them below waterline and attach a bungy cord to it. put another t-post at the midline and one so all the lines come together to come in to the blind 12 dozen jerk string decoys really suck in waterfowl.

I do suggest having at least 1 dozen still on individual strings so the line does not look straight if you are in a marsh just toss them out in the middle of lines. On big water it doesn't seem to matter if it looks like a straight line.

This is also real good for directing birds in if the wind is wrong for your spot. Say you have a south wind but you can only face east. start the first line 60 yards NE of you and bring them in to a cluster south of you 30 yards they will land on the inside of it most the time. Decoying is all about putting the birds where you want to shoot them.

As for Dogs with the long lines after the first few times they learn to pick a line to swim in and no issues but the first few times its a learning curve for them so be ready to reset and don't get mad at the dog they will figure it out and its real neat watching them learn. I think it was the best Breaking Tool ever as my girl had to watch where the birds went down then pick a line to go out to get each one.

http://youtu.be/ygSU_IosUlc

[BilletHead]

That Bigfoot BirdWatcher left behind did not eat much nor did it take up much room. I gave him a bath from where the cattle had played soccer with him and I did feel pretty sorry for it when those big goose tears rolled down its feathered cheeks when it was reunited back to it's flock and owner

BilletHead

[jdmidwest]

I usually gather more gear that only gets used a few times.

I have a layout boat, kayak, inflatable pontoon, and a 14 jon with a 9.5 I use for water transport. I have a snow sled for snow and icy field transport.

Mallards of 6 different brands and sizes, teal, wood duck, coots, gull, blue bill, canada floaters and shells, snow wind socks, heron decoy, and several different types of motion decoys.

I have a layout blind, popup blinds, bags of burlap and pvc for larger blinds, chair blind, and a blind I bought for my inflatable pontoon. Of course saws and clippers to cut brush for blinds. I planted cane and pompass grass for natural camo in my yard and use pin oak limbs from my trees also.

Chairs, cushions, reclining cushions, and tripod seats for blinds and sitting in trees. I have a deer cart to pack stuff in with.

I have a box of duck calls, whistles, goose calls, spec call, snow goose call, and even some wav files on my phone for the conservation order part that you can use electronic calls. I have an amp and speaker that the phone plugs into.

It really never ends, if you let it get to you.

[Boobie]

JD, Your post looks like my garage!!!!!!

[jdmidwest]

I wish it all fit in a garage. Boats all sit outside.

[Boobie]

I wish it all fit in my garage. Thank goodness for the mother in law. She does not mind.

[Feathers and Fins]

I just have to chuckle at the Garage comments, there is a reason my garage has 2 cameras in it and one outside of it plus and alarm. Waterfowling and Fishing brings out the paranoia in people.