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Post by wiwoodduck on Dec 30, 2013 4:16:22 GMT -6
I want to take up duck hunting this next year. So I am getting geared up. I have a decoy question that I am hoping you guys can help me with. I was looking at some Flambeau Wood Duck decoys ( they the only ones Gamder Mtn had that day ) and I thought they seemed very big for Woodies. When I got home I looked them up on the internet. The ad said that they are magnum sized so that Wood Ducks can see them better in wooded or very marshy areas. I can see that point, but my question is, wouldn't the ducks be scared or cautious of their unnatural size? Would it be better to get a decoy set that was more true to Wood Duck size or is magnum better? Also, are Flambeau decoys any good? Here is a pic just to show you which ones I was looking at, you really can't see how big they are, but you may recognize the decoy. There were at least the size of a live Mallard though. Thank you for your help.
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Post by jtg1551 on Dec 30, 2013 12:19:21 GMT -6
I personally like magnums, bigger decoys draw more attention, so you don't have to use so many. I wouldn't worry about scaring them away.
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Post by koonce on Dec 31, 2013 10:44:49 GMT -6
By in large size of decoys will not flare birds, especially early season when most the wood duck slaying is conducted.
Wood ducks are weird birds to decoy, seems they either commit suicide or act like they are and then peel and skirt your spread. I personally dont even own wood duck decoys anymore because they are not needed. Throw out some mallard hens and call it good. Sometimes the spinner works great on them and other times its best to pull the spinner. I have had my best luck with woodies using 3 or 4 decoys on a jerk string.
Flams are okay decoys, Not top of the line but there is worse. I will say that my old flams hold paint very well, and the reviews on the newer ones are mixed. I have no experience with the newer ones so I cannot comment on durability.
If you wanna save some coin, check out rummage sales and grab some old woodie deeks if you feel the need to deploy them. Cost a dollar or two per decoy and I can assure you they will work as well as any other decoy. Shoot you could kill them over hotbuys painted all black..... Its been done before.
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Post by jtg1551 on Dec 31, 2013 11:36:08 GMT -6
How do you find best to run a jerk rig? This was my first year, and it seemed I caught myself with my thumb up my a$$ every time the birds came in.
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Post by koonce on Dec 31, 2013 15:56:06 GMT -6
After trying spinners then no spinners, running a jerk rig was what worked for us to pull them in. Didn't work all the time but we had better luck using that than anything else.
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Post by jtg1551 on Dec 31, 2013 16:22:00 GMT -6
My spinners were like gold for me. I don't think there were very many ducks all season that didn't flyby without coming down to take a better look
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Post by wiwoodduck on Jan 1, 2014 1:07:59 GMT -6
Thank you both very much for your help. I have more questions though, I hope you don't mind mind. What do you mean by spinners? Do you mean these? What about the motion duck butts, are they any good? Also what is the best Wood Duck call? Thank you for your help, I hope I'm not a pain. This is all new to me.
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Post by koonce on Jan 1, 2014 12:32:54 GMT -6
^. Yea but you don't need a wood duck spinner to kill woodies.
Jtg. I agree it brings them in but we could not finish them for squat with the spinners on. They would always peel out at the last min. Not all of them but more than I wanted. I do hunt some pretty pressured areas which may have a more negative affect with spinners because there are everywhere.
Just gotta use what works for ya.
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Post by jtg1551 on Jan 1, 2014 14:31:44 GMT -6
The first half before the split, I knocked down every duck that flew past me, after the split I couldn't hit the broadside of a barn if I was standing in it. That's what really cut my numbers down.
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Post by koonce on Jan 1, 2014 18:54:11 GMT -6
I suck at shooting so i only shoot at the ones decoying. Bow'd up landing gear deployed.
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Post by jtg1551 on Jan 1, 2014 20:27:04 GMT -6
I've got a 16 ga. Single shot that was my great great grandpa's I want to take it out next year just to say I've got ducks with it. But I have to buy the Hevi-shot classics, which is like 40$ a box
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Post by koonce on Jan 2, 2014 10:13:55 GMT -6
^OO0f. That stuff aint cheap. But according to them hevi shot kills a duck "deader" than any other shot.....
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Post by jtg1551 on Jan 2, 2014 11:12:49 GMT -6
Defiantly not cheap, but It will be worth it to say I killed ducks with that gun.
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Post by wiwoodduck on Jan 2, 2014 17:22:22 GMT -6
Thank you guys, I really appreciate the help.
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Post by wiwoodduck on Jan 2, 2014 19:21:44 GMT -6
Do you guys hunt with a dog? What part of Wisonsin are you guys in?
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