Motion in the Decoys = More Ducks in the Bag!

Motion in the Decoys = More Ducks in the Bag!
By Capt. Bill Saiff III

Just six years ago, I sat on the edge of a beaver flow in upstate New York working puddle ducks on the third day of the season. It was a Monday, and the swamp I was hunting had seen no opening weekend pressure. I was hoping for a shoot that would rival those experienced on opening day. As the sky turned pink in the east, we could see the silhouettes of different dabblers as they traded between wet holes. The nasal quacks of hen mallards could be heard throughout the wetland as they mixed with the shrill whistles of wood ducks - both species looking for company in their aquatic playground. With decoys set, I impatiently waited for legal shooting time.
My companions on this hunt were a pair of sportsmen from central Pennsylvania. We settled down along the bank of the wetland, using the overhanging tree tops as cover. Our decoys were set exactly where we had seen birds dabbling the day before. The wind and the sun were at our backs - everything was perfect! A pair of mallards traded left to right as we hit them with a five-note pleading call that caused the duo to bank hard and descend toward our dekes. A quick shot from each smoothbore and the first two ducks of the day floated chest up in the blocks. Steady opportunities presented themselves through 7:30 in the morning and we found ourselves needing just two more dabblers for the daily limit. While the morning progressed, the ducks seemed to turn a deaf ear to our calling and it became increasingly difficult to lure them into our rig. It was important on this day to shoot quickly and get out of the wetland so that it could settle down and be used at another time. I had one of the original Robo Duk (spinning wing decoys) sitting next to me on the ground. I unsacked the decoy and placed it on a high stake in the middle of our rig. When I had returned to cover, I hit the remote and the decoy's wings began rotating. Three mallards and a black duck rose from the grass 300 yards away. It was obvious that they were getting up to go feed in some unknown destination. I'm quite sure that the last place they intended to be was in our decoys. I hit them with the call, expecting little results but was surprised when they turned in our direction. These four birds came as though they were on a string, never changing their focus. They were locked on the Robo Duk and when I called the shot, the hunters cut a drake mallard and the black duck as they hovered over that spinning wing. I had just successfully managed a puddle duck hunt with a spinning wing decoy. It was the first time I had ever used a spinner for one of my hunts and I was looking forward to testing it again!
Waterfowl hunters have long known the importance of motion in the decoys and now it seemed that the spinning wing could be added to our bag of tricks. Here's a breakdown of four ways to help you take more ducks and geese this season through the use of motion in your decoys.

Flagging for Geese
The T-Flag is made by Randy Bartz in Oronoco, MN and is one of the greatest tools ever developed for the goose hunter. There have been many variations of the goose flag over the years but most gunners still prefer Randy's basic black T-Flag. The color black stands out against the background of any grain field and when the flag is raised in the air, geese can spot it from great distances. When a T-Flag is held upright and waved in the air, it gives the appearance of a goose pitching into a field. When several hunters do this, it looks like a flock landing.
When geese begin their approach, flags are raised and the gunners wave them vigorously. As the geese get closer, gunners lower the angle of their flags and point them directly at the geese. This provides a more natural landing appearance to the flag. When the geese get inside 100 yards, the flags are usually set down slowly as though the geese have landed. When this is done the Canadas should finish to the pocket in the decoys or to the spot where motion was last seen. There are days, especially under windy conditions, when geese must be flagged until the shot is called. Most novice goose hunters are afraid to flag continuously but there are plenty of pro's who believe that if your hand is not on a call, it should be on a flag! Twitching is also one of the deadliest ways to employ a goose flag. This technique is especially effective when winds begin to shift. Obviously, hunters would like the wind at their back when working geese in the field. Sometimes, the wind shifts at first light and the geese skirt the edges of the rig instead of coming directly up the center. If geese are skirting downwind and to the left, hunters on the right side of the rig raise their flags slightly and twitch the flags to attract the attention of the geese. Usually the flock will spot this motion and bank towards the flags. This helps to draw the Canadas across the guns so that everyone in the group gets ample gunning. While this brief discussion has focused on field hunting, don't be afraid to take your flags to water when hunting Canada Geese. Most hunters don't employ this tactic but it can be just as effective on water as it is on land.

The Dunking Decoy
We call the Dunking Decoy "Deadly Dudley." When hunting marshes and backwaters, we like this technique whenever it's prudent to carry the extra weight. When performing this technique, the gunner will need a duck decoy, 75 feet of parachute cord, a large snap swivel and a 15-pound mushroom anchor.
Before any decoys are set, "Deadly Dudley" is placed in the middle of what is determined to be the kill hole. I like the center of the kill hole to be right at 20 yards. The snap swivel is tied onto one end of the parachute cord. The snap and cord are run through the eyelet on top of the mushroom anchor and then the anchor is rested on bottom sitting on its base. The decoy is attached via the snap and floated directly above the anchor (this is best done in 2 to 4 feet of water). The parachute cord is now strung back to wherever the hunter will be hiding. If we are hunting old beaver flows, we like to run the string under logs in front of our hide so that when dogs are making their retrieves, they can swim freely over the cord. When the hunter pulls on the cord, the decoy will dip downward over the anchor as though feeding. This movement and splashing on the water's surface is a deal sealer on incoming dabblers. We like to leave a 5-yard hole all around Dudley so that the puddle ducks have an easy place to land.
While all puddle ducks will fall prey to this rig, it is especially good on wood ducks during the first 30 minutes of a hunt. wood ducks' twisting, banking approach can lead to challenging gunning for any sportsman. Deadly Dudley seems to straighten out their flight path and lead to more consistent harvesting shots. Woodies also seem to be attracted to the concentric circles the decoy makes while dunking. During the grey dawn most of the wood ducks will land within 5 yards of Dudley. If they fly in below the skyline, they're usually on the water before hunters can raise their guns. When this happens, sportsmen can jump them up and take them as they are flying a straight line out of the rig.

The Spinning Wing
The spinning wing is perhaps the deadliest motion technique to hit duck hunting in 50 years. When elevated above the water or field surface, the wing provides (through contrast) the strobing action of landing ducks. Ducks will lock on this from incredible distances and home in on the motion whether a call is used or not. The spinning wing has been outlawed in several states because it has been determined to be too effective. While the spinning wing is an effective tool, it hardly takes the place of good waterfowl know-how.
When employing the wing, adjust its position in the rig to provide appropriate gunning for the group. When winds are from the back, run the spinning wing directly in front of the group and close to the blind. Ducks will work in downwind of the wing and depending on hunting pressure sometimes flare at the last second. You want these incoming birds to be within range, so run the wing at 12 to 15 yards. This will ensure that most of your shots are within 30 yards. When hunting in crosswinds, move the wing upwind and to the side of your hunting party. This will help drag the birds across the front of the guns and provide better flock management. When birds have been consistently pressured with spinning wings, they won't approach the constant strobing of the wing. This is the best time to use the remote control function that comes with better quality spinning wing decoys. I like to use the wing in pressure situations, the same way that I use the comeback call when working ducks. I will turn on the wing when I first spot birds but then shut it off as they approach. If they circle the rig or are uneasy, I will turn on the wing when they are banking on the corners and then shut it off. This makes it appear as though other ducks are sneaking in to the rig while they are circling. Coupling this with lonesome hen quacks will usually seal the deal on even the wariest birds.
While the spinning wing decoy has taken many duck gunners from Zero to Hero, its misuse is running rampant in duck hunting. When spinners first hit the market, everyone was shooting more ducks. This is the main catalyst for legislation against their use. If we had waited just a bit longer, we would have seen that Mother Nature is a great equalizer. Today the ducks are educated to the use of the wing and sometimes running them can be a detriment to sportsmen. The spinning wing is still one of the greatest duck hunting inventions ever created but as more birds become educated only the savvy sportsmen will know how and when to make the wing work its magic.

The Floating Wing
The floating wing provides the hunter with the flexibility needed to pursue ducks in any situation. Unlike elevated spinning wing decoys, the floating wing does not need to be elevated on a stake. There are several styles of floating wing decoys on the market but the one that has attracted our attention is made by Real Duck. The spinner consists of a battery-operated bar mounted by Velcro to an oversized decoy's back. The bar is made of lightweight foam and is brown on one side and white on the other. When the bar spins, a strobing effect is created. Portability is the key with this particular model as it packs just like an ordinary decoy and can be deployed in any depth of water, making it a clear choice for those hunting lakes or rivers. The wing attachment is carried in a supplied PVC tube and hunters will get many shoots out of the two AA batteries that drive the wing. The Real Duck is available in both puddle duck and diving duck models. The presentation of this spinning wing is definitely more subtle than that of an elevated wing. This is a look that ducks don't see everyday and its position in the decoys keeps the incomers focused on it and not on the hunters.
A great way to use the floating wing is in conjunction with some other type of motion decoy. The floating wing is our favorite device to run with "Deadly Dudley." The combination of water movement and wing action is hard to beat.
There are many ways to attract migratory waterfowl through the use of motion. These four techniques are among the easiest and most effective methods. Motion can tip the odds in the hunter's favor but remember, there is no substitute for good calling, location, camouflage and above all, the art of being still. Motion in the decoys is just the icing on the cake.
For more information on motion products for duck and goose hunting, contact the following: www.realduck.com; www.flagmanproducts.com; www.roboduk.com
Capt. Bill Saiff III is the host of the nationally televised hunting series "Cabin Country." He also operates "Seaway Waterfowl Professional," a duck and goose guiding service in upstate New York. He can be contacted at (315) 782-4665 or online at www.BillSaiffOutdoors.com.