by Woody » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:16 am
I felt like adding a few details that may help newer hunters learn what or what not to do.
Location:
A 50 yard across by 200 yards long opening in a small marsh. Birds roost and loaf at this location and just to the east.
Gear:
2 goose decoys
10 duck decoys (woodies/mallards/wigeon/pintail)
2 mojos
4 kayaks
4 man permanent blind
2 Franchi I-12, a Mossburg 500, and a Rem 1187 (Problems: None)
Decoy strategy:
We cut a hole in the lily pads earlier in the year about 10 yards in diameter in front of the blind. We placed our decoys in the lily pads leaving the opening clear for ducks to land (this may or may not have been a problem). We placed the goose decoys off to the north west of the duck decoys. The Mojos were set up in the lily pads and pointed to look like they were going to land in the hole.
Because we came in on kayaks we were limited on our quantity. So, we only had 14 decoys which I think that plus putting the decoys in the lilies ended up costing us birds. The guys a few hundred yards away came in with 40-50 decoys which made their spread very visible and drew in the majority of the birds. I assume the visibility was the key, because we have hunted this blind may times and we usually kill more birds than any one else in the marsh because typically we are on the "X" here (I'm a social butterfly and always talk to everyone back at the launch to see how they did). Plus their calling was good awful, their blind was not very well brushed, we could see and hear them moving around all morning from a few hundred yards away.
Have you ever wondered why your dick still looks brand new, but your face is starting to look like an aging pirate?