Preparing for September teal!

[bowfishin fool]

Now that I have a season under my belt, squawking on a duck commander call sitting on three dozen poorly placed mallard decoys, I'm wondering why redheads refused to leave my spread while nothing else would sit?!?!

As teal season approaches I'm gearing up for a more successful season, but still lack a significant amount of knowledge. My questions are as follows

Will any duck sit down on any duck decoys?
If not how do I tailor my spread with out having several dozen of every duck?

I know I need motion, I watched ducks turn away all year to a guy a few hundred yards away with a mojo :/
Can I use mojo doves for the movement? Yes I'm cheap!

Is a more expensive decoy just going to last longer? My yahoo buddies shoot them anyways, what's the upside?

I'm getting so excited, only 53 days left!

[ByronF]

For teal just use mojo doves. For ducks but a duck w a remote

[Aggiechick]

I have had all types of ducks land and swim around in my spread....they are always the ones that you have limited out on

You can get inexpensive decoys, just get ones that at least last a few season...do not go the game winner route. If your buddies hit your decoys, make a rule that if a decoy is shot and sinks/does not float it must be replaced.

As for what decoys go in your spread, it is dependant upon where you hunt. Coast = divers, marsh = 1/2 and 1/2 (with some coots) , freshwater inland pond = puddles maybe some divers out to the side but only later in the year.

Motion is key but you do not always need a mojo, since some birds get a ittle warry. If possible, you can use a flag or a jerk spread to add some movement to your spread. If you want to use a mojo (I do, unless the pintails do not want to come in, then down it goes) you can purchase a teal mojo which is cheaper than the others.

[duckmanep]

My yahoo buddies shoot them anyways...

Time to find some new buddies, or start collecting some $$ from them!!

[Txpepper]

Look up a "jerk rig" on you tube and find out how to build one and do it. It will bring movement to your spread and you can build one for next to nothing. I build 5 of them for about $10.

[buxNdux]

Like said before try and match your decoys to birds in your area.. Often times some birds of another species will light in your spread, but most times won't. Birds get smart if you are hunting somewhere there are very few mallards then you probably do not want 3 dz greenheads out there. You can however use hens any time anywhere because most hen species are similar looking.

[bigdaddy590]

Early season blue wings = dumb

Put out a couple mallard hen dekes and a mojo. Should get your limit easily if you are where the birds are.

[Muddy Bud]

I just use a half dozen blue wing dekes and a couple bigger ducks, mottled, mallard, red head it dont matter as long as they're hens. As far as movement early teal are not very bright. We usually stand up and wave our caps at them till they turn, then we sit back down and wait for them to come in to the dekes.

[BoxKrancher]

Good thread fellas. My solution to any doubt about calling and decoys is scouting. If you are where the birds want to be then nothing else will matter. Scout your butt off and get to the spots they fancy, and you will have success.

[EastTx]

For Teal it is hard to beat a mojo. During general duck season I try to make my set look as natural as possible using the ducks that are most common where I hunt. A group of Mallards here, some Gadwall in another group, a few Wood Duck there, and maybe add a few Teal in. No secret formation is going to bring them in. I may change my spread 2 or 3 times if the ducks aren't decoying. You always need some motion and I like to use a jerk rig. I have done well using a mojo early in the season but when we start getting Mallards here later in the season they are sometimes mojo wise. If you have ducks circling that won't commit, a little movement from a jerk rig will sometimes bring them right in. If you have ducks circling and then flaring off, then you probably have something that needs to be concealed better like a blind, boat, hunter, etc.



I think that is the longest post I have made on here. I guess you can tell I am ready for duck season too.. Good luck with your season!

[Bonesplitter]

Hunt where the ducks are and it really wont matter.

[Capt Glenn]

Teal don't care what kind of decoys you use and a dove spinner works fine.

Overall the type of decoys isn't near as important as scouting and hunting where the birds want to be. That is the #1 thing. be where the birds want to be and the rest will fall into place.

Hunting primarily on the coast and prairie I like to use mainly pintail decoys because I like lots of white. I have piles of decoys and end up usually with a mix of pintails, widgeon, teal and whatever else. if we are hunting the bayfront we use a bunch of redhead and scaup dekes plus pintail and widgeon. It doesn't really matter to the redheads though. They will decoy to anything.

The best conservation tool ever is a duck call. Get a whistle and use your duck call sparingly. I love to blow a call, I know I call too much and I can blow a call well. If you are just starting stick with a whistle and keep the mallard call to a way minimum. If you are hunting the coast and prairie that is.

[glen]

Throw the call away. Get a whistle and don't hit it much. Try throwing a j-pattern and sometimes a X. Early season shouldn't matter much. I don't even carry mallard decoys as there are not many where I hunt. I just throw about 3 dozen teal and a few pintail during teal season. A jerk rig is better than a mojo in my opinion

[Dustinmcnutt]

Teal don't care what kind of decoys you use and a dove spinner works fine.

Overall the type of decoys isn't near as important as scouting and hunting where the birds want to be. That is the #1 thing. be where the birds want to be and the rest will fall into place.

Hunting primarily on the coast and prairie I like to use mainly pintail decoys because I like lots of white. I have piles of decoys and end up usually with a mix of pintails, widgeon, teal and whatever else. if we are hunting the bayfront we use a bunch of redhead and scaup dekes plus pintail and widgeon. It doesn't really matter to the redheads though. They will decoy to anything.

The best conservation tool ever is a duck call. Get a whistle and use your duck call sparingly. I love to blow a call, I know I call too much and I can blow a call well. If you are just starting stick with a whistle and keep the mallard call to a way minimum. If you are hunting the coast and prairie that is.

Spot on advise here. Being on the "x" is the most important thing when it comes to hunting any waterfowl.our mojos only get used a few weeks out of the year, after that they do more harm than anything. I believe jerk rig is one of the most effective tool for finishing ducks. I wish I had redheads swimming around in my spread lol don't see many of the up this way.

[bearintex]

If your buddies hit your decoys, make a rule that if a decoy is shot and sinks/does not float it must be replaced.

My rule is "If you shoot one of my decoys, you buy me a dozen!"