Jump or Decoy?

[Specklebelly]

While sitting yesterday and freezing my posterior, I got to thinking how it would sure be a lot warmer to jump shoot some ducks instead of waiting for them to come to me.

I think most duck hunters are decoyers but not sure.  I use only public land so pond hopping is not available for me in most places. 

Which do you prefer?

[gooser]

good question, I prefer decoy shooting,however,...when the time is right,stalking and jump shooting can be much more rewarding. I do both types of hunting,but honestly have to say that 90% of my duck hunting is decoying. 

[alsatian]

I prefer hunting over decoys.  It is more relaxing to stand/sit and wait for the ducks to come.  It is exciting to see the ducks circle and check out the decoys and wonder if they are going to drop in or not.

But the good news is you don't have to be monogamous about your hunting method!  You can do both!!!  You can hunt over decoys in the early morning and late afternoon, best time for decoying ducks.  Then you can jump shoot ducks during the mid-day, provided you haven't reached your limit earlier.  Do both, man, do both!!!

[NONYA]

I would much rather decoy but there are some ditches I hunt that are jump shooting only,all i kill there is mallards,decoying you never know whats gonna drop in.

[Cement Man]

I love both ways.  There's nothing better than the sunrise and decoying ducks, but when the "9:30 lull" comes in, I'm ready for a little walk to warm my feet.  So I get out of the blind and slowly wade around the islands in the Upper Mississippi River marsh where I hunt.  My feet get warmed up, I find some neat old decoys that have drifted across the river, and every once in a while as I go around a point, I jump something.  More fun and excitement!

When there doesn't seem to be a duck within 300 miles, I have some other sure-fire ways to see some: answering the call of nature with waders down and no gun, picking up decoys when wading up to your belly button and no gun, and sitting with sandwich in one hand and coffee in the other, a pair will come zooming over the dekes and bust you - spilling coffee, gagging on the sandwich.  Works every time.

[gooser]

LOL.....cementman,.........thats the way it go's.......yep ,your 100% right,thats when you'll see them.

[Old English]

Cementman, thought it was just me! Last Sunday I said to my mates in the blind, get you guns ready, ducks on the way. I went out back, unzipped waders and.... it works every time. During another lull we sent 1 guy out to retrieve, hell if 200 ducks didn't arrive. We got just 2 of them and didn't even shoot our buddy who was waist deep in water with his head down. The same thing works while fishing!!

[Cement Man]

Well, at least it isn't considered "baiting". 

Back in 1979, the year after my lifelong duck hunting buddy moved out of state, I leased a small slough off of the Illinois River.  I had previously split the cost of another lease with my buddy, but couldn't manage it alone anymore, so I found this new, very promising looking place.  It cost $1,000 for the season. When I look back on what I earned then, raising a family, mortgage, etc., I must have been nuts to spend my whole annual recreation budget and then some on duck hunting. But being a little off my rocker would be an appropriate description when I reflect on the memories of what we used to do to hunt waterfowl!  Anyway, the season started with bluebird weather and for two days I didn't see anything but ONE drake mallard.  Flew right over the blind about 25 yards high.  Perfect shot opportunity.  I know, because I could see him real good from where I was backed up to a tree with my waders down about 100 yards away.  That was the last day I ever hunted there.  The next few weeks I found myself hunting with another friend at a different spot, and then my job interfered with my hunting, so that was it for the 1979 duck season.  From then on, I referred to that mallard as "the thousand dollar duck".  I hope he saw me with my waders down and was still laughing when he flew over someone else's blind who was ready for him!

Sorry if I got off topic, but it seems there are times when the birds "jump" us!

[Specklebelly]

We went decoying again today and had pretty good luck.

I had another first, my first redhead drake.  They are supposed to be pretty common around here but I have never seen one until  today.

If I had the $$ I would have mounted it, but oh well.

[dukkillr]

Jump shooting is a target of opportunity.  If I "go duck hunting" it's decoying.  Calling and working ducks is what makes duck hunting fun to me.