Just not a good day

L

Lead Loader

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Kinda frustrated a little after what seemed like a crappy hunt, decoys kept coming undone from pulling in the wind, i shot at 2 seperate occasions, and just wounded ducks that swam away into deep water, one of those times i put holes through the decoys and ducks, i know a lesson well learned is always hard but just gets to me when i wound it, its long gone from finding, btw it was right beside my decoys at 37 yards, just about to take the damn steel ammo and throw it in the water
 
there are always crappy days, but adapt and move on... they will be outnumbered by good days. To start with, keep your shots closer if you can... esp with steel shot. Are you using modified choke? Also if the bird looks even slightly 'aware' - blast it again! Even if you sink a few decoys, it's always best to do as much as you can to eliminate cripples... but sometimes it happens.
 
Learn to tie better knots or tie lots. Use smaller shot on the cripples. Silicone caulking will fix the holes in your decoys. Get yourself a furry 4 legged hunting buddy that doesn't mind swimming out after cripples.
 
You're taking 40 yard shots....with steel....through an I/C choke....and you are wondering why you're getting cripples? Have you patterned the gun with that combo?

Try switching to a tighter (Mod lead/Full steel) choke, keep your shots in tighter (30 yards), and step up a shot size (I like #3 for ducks)....I think you'll see your successful hits go up.
 
3" #3's out of a modified choke, should handle birds to 40 yards... But the closer they are when they hit the water crippled, the better chance you have of anchoring them with a follow-up shot. Try using a loop knot on a decoy snap swivel to attach your decoys... I have never had one break free.

P.S - don't shoot your decoys.
 
Steel is typically higher velocity and adjusting your lead does take some practice.....easy to blame the steel shot but I suspect there's a long list of other culprits first....starting with knowing your pattern.
 
Wrong Way said:
You're taking 40 yard shots....with steel....through an I/C choke....and you are wondering why you're getting cripples? Have you patterned the gun with that combo?

Try switching to a tighter (Mod lead/Full steel) choke, keep your shots in tighter (30 yards), and step up a shot size (I like #3 for ducks)....I think you'll see your successful hits go up.
Click to expand...

Everything ive used ive patterned, steel doesnt cut it at 40 yards well, ive used #3 at beginning, using #2 and 1 right now, just practice over this year has seen my hits go up, and at times the birds just fold at that distance. Also hevishot has been a good fallowup shot in the mag tube for me. I picked up duck decoy string thinking it was better but the insane windy day beat them up from the slack and a quick snap of the line, its time to pull out the glue on the knots on the smooth nylon line or melt it a bit together
 
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Lead Loader said:
Everything ive used ive patterned, steel doesnt cut it at 40 yards well, ive used #3 at beginning, using #2 and 1 right now, just practice over this year has seen my hits go up, and at times the birds just fold at that distance. Also hevishot has been a good fallowup shot in the mag tube for me. I picked up duck decoy string thinking it was better but the insane windy day beat them up from the slack and a quick snap of the line, its time to pull out the glue on the knots on the smooth nylon line or melt it a bit together
Click to expand...

Use a rubber stretch cord between your anchor weight and decoy line with crimps instead of knots. The only ones I have ever lost were the ones I hit with the prop while picking up.
 
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