Do you use decoys for waterfowl?

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FLYBYU44

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I have bought a waterfowl license for the past 3 years, but really only hunted the last 2 years. I do things a little differently than most, I kind of hunt like my Dad used to in BC, he never used decoys. There is a spot I go where there is a large pond/lake that borders the property. I have been there enough that I know the routes the birds use to access the water. I usually set up under a tree or by a bush so I have some natural cover and then wait for something to fly into range. I usually go in the early morning or at night when the birds are most active. This isn't the most effective way to hunt, but I don't need a lot of meat as only my son and I eat ducks and geese, so the few birds I get most time is more than enough for us. It is also a cheap way to hunt as all I use is my single shot 12 gauge, a blind bag with shells and some camo clothing. Just wondering if anyone else does this or if I am weird? Everyone you talk to figures waterfowl hunters spend an hour setting up decoys and need a big trailer just to haul them to the field, so I feel a little weird when I tell people what I do.
 
If that works for you then it isn’t wierd. I’ve done the same many years ago when I was a teen and money was sparse but it was too hit and miss and nowhere near as fun as gunning over decoys. I never used a single shot though as I never owned one. I saved money from my paper route and part time job at the car wash on weekends and bought myself a used A-5 and a decoy or two when I had an extra $5-$10.
 
Not weird at all. I have more decoys then I can carry and some days I like quick and easy. There's a little oxbow in the river I like. Birds flying up or down river usually cut across the oxbow and fly right overhead.

That being said - IMHO I find a very small spread effective. a pair of floaters with 1 full body sure pulls in loners and pairs. Even those fly overs will come down a little closer to take a better look at the small spread. Lots of reasons to run a "micro" spread.

Also, I feel that you would be better served with a cheap pump then a single.
 
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I would not bother hunting waterfowl without decoys, or over water for that matter, but that does not matter, if you enjoy the methods that you use. As long as you are able to retrieve what you kill, why should it matter how you choose to hunt?
 
FLYBYU44 said:
I have bought a waterfowl license for the past 3 years, but really only hunted the last 2 years. I do things a little differently than most, I kind of hunt like my Dad used to in BC, he never used decoys. There is a spot I go where there is a large pond/lake that borders the property. I have been there enough that I know the routes the birds use to access the water. I usually set up under a tree or by a bush so I have some natural cover and then wait for something to fly into range. I usually go in the early morning or at night when the birds are most active. This isn't the most effective way to hunt, but I don't need a lot of meat as only my son and I eat ducks and geese, so the few birds I get most time is more than enough for us. It is also a cheap way to hunt as all I use is my single shot 12 gauge, a blind bag with shells and some camo clothing. Just wondering if anyone else does this or if I am weird? Everyone you talk to figures waterfowl hunters spend an hour setting up decoys and need a big trailer just to haul them to the field, so I feel a little weird when I tell people what I do.
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Just purchase a dozen duck decoys. Add two Canada geese as confidence decoys. Waterfowl really respond to calling, therefore, purchase a duck call and practice a little. You can learn the basics of calling on "You Tube." Good luck and have fun!
 
Not weird at all, FLYBYU. If it is, well I guess that makes two of us "weirdos"! I've been out twice this year, same type of hunting as you, no decoys, just trying to get them between ponds on their flight path. First day was successful, got 3 nice big mallards. Was shooting very poorly though, should of had a couple more ducks and at least two Canada's. Went out two days ago by myself and didn't take a shot, too windy and everything was flying high or staying out of the wind. I enjoyed my company all the same, haha!

track said:
Just purchase a dozen duck decoys. Add two Canada geese as confidence decoys. Waterfowl really respond to calling, therefore, purchase a duck call and practice a little. You can learn the basics of calling on "You Tube." Good luck and have fun!
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I'm half-way there, got a dozen duck decoys during the WSS closeout, just need to round up a call. Kind of excited to see how well they perform, have the perfect little slough picked out already!
 
safehunter said:
Not weird at all. I have more decoys then I can carry and some days I like quick and easy. There's a little oxbow in the river I like. Birds flying up or down river usually cut across the oxbow and fly right overhead.

That being said - IMHO I find a very small spread effective. a pair of floaters with 1 full body sure pulls in loners and pairs. Even those fly overs will come down a little closer to take a better look at the small spread. Lots of reasons to run a "micro" spread.

Also, I feel that you would be better served with a cheap pump then a single.
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Couldn’t agree more. I’ve had a pile of limit shoots with micro spreads over the years.
 
I typically hunt with very small spreads when I do use decoys -- 3-8 black ducks, 12 tops, for late-season redlegs shooting. Otherwise, I often hunt them same way you'd hunt upland birds, but with rubber boots in a marsh instead of in the woods. Figure out where they live at certain times of tide, then walk those areas, jumpshoot them. Sometimes we pass shoot them on tidal bars as well. I could have zero decoys and would probably shoot 90% of the same amount of birds in a year. But there's just something about watching those big late-season blacks come coasting into your spread with the brakes on, getting your gun up and bam bam bam. I miss it :D
 
I generally use 6 to 12 decoys as singles to make a more realistic spread. That said i love jumping creeks and ponds for puddle type ducks.
This year ill be hunting from a kayak mostly
Weirdest thing ive seen is a black tarp in the middle of a frozen field with goose shells on the tarp. It worked like magic. Point is if it works for you than who cares what others think

As for calling. I suck at it. I can turn any duck or goose around. Single pair or entire flock it doesnt matter. I had my buddy throw my calls into the air and i blasted them with a 12ga.
I use an avery power flag. It works great. But if youre going to call its on you to make a quality sound. Something i can not do on any call
 
brybenn said:
... But if youre going to call its on you to make a quality sound. Something i can not do on any call
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Try a Primos goose flute. I find it's very forgiving.

811_CanadaGooseFlute.jpg
 
I hunt ducks and geese by whatever method is called for... mostly over decoys, but also jump shooting from canoes, pass shooting travel routes and even "spot and stalk and jump"... hunting over decoys with the dog, just happens to be the most fun... working the birds into the pocket is its own special thrill. In the early season, birds may only move for half an hour, once they are resting on the feed, it is "jump shoot" or nothing. For late season divers, I pitch out 5-6 dozen individually strung magnum Herter's foam dekes... it takes about 20 minutes to pitch them and pick them up... no big deal... but we hunt for a few hours each time out, as the birds are flying all day.
 
Problem with no decoys is that if you decide to hunt somewhere else, you may not have cover that lets you get in range. Decoys let you draw them to you.
 
I use decoys for ducks, but I go to a spot in the early season for geese they use a a route and pass shoot.
 
I love a good spot/stalk or jump-shoot, but find I have my best goose success with a super-small spread of 8 full bodies and a small brown blanket for me and the dog to hide under. The bonus part is that it’s easy to setup and I can walk into all kinds of places only having to make one trip.

Cheers,

Brobee
 
Decoys and calls add extra elements to your hunt. Which can be enjoyable or suck horribly. Depends on the effort you would like to put forth? Overall the learning how to utilize all the tools in the chest is the fun part. But decoys and calls require time, effort, energy and some money.
At the same time nothing better than watching a small flock of mallards circle back to a hi-ball come back call and cup their wings, set their feet to drop into your decoy spread!

Enjoy the hunt what ever way you decide to hunt em !
 
hessian_ said:
how often do you set out for the day and come back empty handed?
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Usually never if I shoot well, I always get the option to shoot, but if I do go home empty handed it is because I miss. The single shot is unforgiving, but I really like it, had a pump last two years and even a SBE2 for snow geese in the spring, the single shot is my favorite. My dad left his brand new Auto 5 home every time he went duck hunting, instead he took his Ithaca single shot. I guess I get that from him. I just love how light and handy it is, has a 26" barrel but it is so short with the tiny reciever.
 
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