Question:

My hunting buddy and I have a good hunting spot, we try not to overhunt it and NEVER hunt more than two days in a row. Everytime we go, we set up our decoys and our blind in the same spot, and it seems that the birds become more and more wary of coming to our decoys. Is it a good idea to set up in different places to keep the ducks guessing?

-Condred Roberts-

Answer:

Condred,

This is a topic that comes up frequently when I speak with hunters who are confined to hunting a single area or location over the course of the season.  Ducks and geese do learn certain avoidance behaviors based on their contact with hunters.  As this is the case, success many time requires a little creativity!  I would vary the size and location of your decoy spread to avoid a stale same set every day presentation to the birds (especially if you are hunting birds that have been in the area for some time-fresh flight ducks will be more naïve for at least awhile)  One tool that I think has great utility is laydown blinds typically used for field hunting.  If the birds seem to be avoiding your traditional blind and decoy spread, I would suggest using these blinds or other well camouflaged portable blind with a small decoy spread some distance from your traditional set up.  Some times these little adjustments can make a huge difference and improve the quality of your hunt.

Best of luck and good hunting!

John Devney

Do you have a Waterfowl Hunting Question?

Email us as hunting@deltawaterfowl.org - if it's selected for the web site you will receive a Buck Gardner Fowl Mouth Duck Call!