Scrubbing and cleaning decoys is imperative before applying a new coat of paint.

What a satisfying morning in a duck marsh! I was hunting with my 12 year old grandson Cord Given in a small piece of water surrounded by acres of tules that were interspersed with small openings. It was early January and the ducks were wise to the ways of hunters after a long season, yet we had just finished having a great duck shoot, shooting a mixed bird limit with a mallard, two gadwall, two spoonies and nine teal. Back at camp, we found out there had been few limits taken, making our morning seem more special.

I did not have one of the top draws this morning, so when it was my pick, I chose a blind in the back of the club and away from most other shooters. I gambled that the ducks would be looking for small hidey holes once the shooting began.

As Cord and I sloshed through the shallows to our blind, we could make out and hear ducks as they took off in the early gloom, so I felt good about my blind choice for the morning shoot. I carefully placed my decoys in the smaller pockets of water, visible, but yet not glaringly in the middle of the limited, wide open water. When birds would approach us, we called, but sparingly. Just letting the ducks know they were welcome to join us if they so desired. The only intense calling made was if birds were passing out of range or seemed to be departing after looking us over.

Fortunately, we had enough birds decide to come within range that we had a grand time, whooping and high fiving with each successful shot. I believe having attractive decoys, strategically placed and toned-down calling, was what helped create our successful shoot.

By referencing dried duck skins, the author is able to duplicate the colors of live fowl.

Decoys, in my opinion, probably help the waterfowler more than any other tool available. Sure, good calling will often put ducks or geese right in our face. However, once the waterfowl have reached a certain point, I believe it's the decoys that do the final sell.

Decoys close the deal
I've hunted with good callers, and at times I have been astonished by the responses these callers had gotten from hard hunted, late season, decoy wise and call wise birds. As for me, I know my ability with a call will generally pull enough birds within range, that I most often can get a decent shoot. However, the ace in the hole that I count on to help seal the deal is to have a realistic decoy spread--decoys that are attractive and seem to say, "come on down, all's well."

Let me summarize what I believe constitutes a good decoy setup. First, the decoys should be clean and realistically painted. Dull, dirty, chipped and slow sinking deeks just won't get the job done. Secondly, decoys should be placed so they appear to be contented, relaxed, happy birds. Tightly grouped decoys most often suggest they are alerted birds, bunched together for safety.