Decoy gurus advice please!

Stevegeraghty

So, I think I might be a bit late in the season but I'm wondering if it's possable to decoy ducks to a new pond at this stage?

So a few details
I've found a small pond/puddle beside a lake where I shoot and its directly under a evening flight line.

It's about 40x20 feet in size with trees around it, because of the cover it's much better to shoot but because it's so close to the lake they don't land.

My question is if I put out a handful of decoys and call away are they likely to come in.

deerhunter1

Stevegeraghty wrote: »

So, I think I might be a bit late in the season but I'm wondering if it's possable to decoy ducks to a new pond at this stage?

So a few details
I've found a small pond/puddle beside a lake where I shoot and its directly under a evening flight line.

It's about 40x20 feet in size with trees around it, because of the cover it's much better to shoot but because it's so close to the lake they don't land.

My question is if I put out a handful of decoys and call away are they likely to come in.

might be better off feeding it for a while maybe

Double Barrel

A half dozen decoys and don't over do the calling.

useurowname

You'd be better off to start feeding it, although to get a decent evenings flight shooting time is against you for this season. Give the call a go some evening, I never saw much point in putting decoys out for evening flight myself, first off the birds are set on a purpose and if your pond is their destination you're in business regardless of decoys, secondly if it's dark they can't see them anyway duck have poor night vision, I've often stood in a flood at dusk and Mallard have landed right beside me...and I'm a hell of a lot bigger than any decoy.

Stevegeraghty

Double Barrel wrote: »

A half dozen decoys and don't over do the calling.

What kind of calling? Just a bit of feeding chatter?

Stevegeraghty

50% of the time I don't bother with decoys but I find a handfull helps direct them that last few meters to tell them where to land

Double Barrel

Stevegeraghty wrote: »

What kind of calling? Just a bit of feeding chatter?

Steve

A Lonsome hen call will get their attention and a feeding call will convince them. Stop calling if they are coming in.
Good luck

Ducks see other ducks or decoys on the water in low light.
I have stood in my share of flooded fields and shallow rivers and ponds at night and Duck hunters look like big stumps as long as movement is kept to a minimum and ones face does not shine in the moonlight.

Tommyaya4

as above i would feed it first

Stevegeraghty

So I went down this eve but couldn't get anything down, prob wasn't a good idea but I left a few decoys on the pond to see if it will get them interested over tomorrow??

Good or bad idea?

useurowname

You tell us.. is there a chance someone will come and pinch them on you??

Stevegeraghty

useurowname wrote: »

You tell us.. is there a chance someone will come and pinch them on you??

I highly doubt anyone will even see them let alone rob them

Double Barrel

Stevegeraghty wrote: »

So I went down this eve but couldn't get anything down, prob wasn't a good idea but I left a few decoys on the pond to see if it will get them interested over tomorrow??

Good or bad idea?

Good idea on the decoys!, their confidence decoys at this point.

This could take dome time and do not expect miracles, a bit of feed, a little calling and time.

And this is important - do not shoot the first ducks you see on the pond let them get used to the place and others will show up. Then you can shoot singles and pairs after a while- think next season.