Corpusfishing.com

[THE_BLUFF_RAT]

I have heard many hunters try to explain why having a well mixed variety of decoy species is a plus. Why keeping a well painted spread is a must. My observations and experiences duck hunting have me believe that the ducks dont give a $hit about species or color. My old, beat up, ugly, barely floating decoys have tricked just as many ducks as the pertty ones.... Have i just been getting lucky all those times? Does species and color really matter?

[MakoJJ]

My first time duck hunting ever, I had 12 mallard decoys I bought on sale for $10. Limited out in less than an hour.

If the ducks are there... They are there!

However, now I have a much bigger spread. Getting ready for the opener this weekend.
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JJ

[AZ_squid]

For redheads i think you could just throw out some 2 liter soda bottles painted like ducks by an elementary school and still shoot your limit of them. however Pintail tend to be pretty picky (just my observation). Last year we added a few more pintail to our spread and seperated them from the others and had a lot more pintail decoy but only into the pintail decoys. Also the blue bills tend to come in a lot better if you put out 20-30 of them about 20 yards out of your spread in a big group.
That being said around the opener it doesnt really seem to matter but as the season goes on the ducks get a lot more gun shy (pun intended) so you have to get a little sneaky with them. But in the end if all you have is a couple dozen old mallards put them out and have a blast. I think we all get a little too over zealous when it comes to our techniques and equipment we "need". LET'S ALL GET OUT THERE AND BLAST SOME BIRDS THIS WEEKEND!!!
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It's not the destination, the journey is everything.

[slimfishin]

haha this is like the thread on taping your hooks what works for someone might not work for someone else. I agree with you guys though. Early in the season you can pretty much get away with anything but during the second spilt you gotta mix it up. And I do the exact same thing with my pintails. my decoys are old as well and I beat them up each season but it still easy to distinguish the species

[Drake]

Slim hit the nail on the head. Early in the year before we train them by shooting at'em for a few weeks about anything will work. Late in the year not so much. 2 dozen red heads 6 pintails and 6 widgeon or bald plates will kill duck late.

I do not think mallard work very well but may be just me. Mallard hen deocys can be painted up to look like about anything like a Black or whatever.

As far as breaking them out you really need to. If your observant you will find Pins working with reds but they are not flying in the same gang. They tend to be at a higher altitude and by themselves. They will fly and work with Mallards. No idea why... racist I guess.

[THE_BLUFF_RAT]

Alright thanks for the comments guys. I guess im gonna start paying more attention to the dieks. Here we go boys and girls, hope yall have a good opener!
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"When times are tough,
and the flocks are small,
take your time,
and kill them all"