mixing decoys

[crichbish]

Its my second year on the foreshore and I am after some advice on using decoys. On all my flights to date, usually dusk,I have not used decoys but the thought has crossed my mind that they may help draw in the birds during the flight. I mainly shoot pills off the main estuary and all have water flowing. If I was to try would I be best just using a single type of bird or should I mix say Mallard with Teal or Wigeon?

Hope what I am asking makes sense!

Chris

[Barls2-9-12]

Decoys can really make a difference to your shooting without a doubt.

 

As stated you normally shoot at dusk. So in my opinion I don't think it matters so much mixing your decoys, compared to a tide flight in daylight.

 

If your expecting mainly teal for example you may be better off just using teal. But when conditions are right I have had all kinds of duck come to mallard in mid day. But on another day you will find certain duck will decoy better to there own species.

 

I have found this with pintail mostly and had them avoid a pattern of teal or whatever you have out, they seem to stick to the own more than most. you don't need them to land but just present a good shot.

[kent]

Practically always do it myself. Teal in a little bunch off to one side perhaps, widgeon in prime feeding locations and some Pintail further out say. Teal might draw teal etc. once they are close but bigger ducks (even geese) are so much more visible from a distance to incoming / passing birds

[TIDES EDGE]

I used a mixture of species when I first started wildfowling now I only use Teal because they dont weigh as much and I find that all species will decoy to them

[crichbish]

thanks all, I have wigeon and mallard decoys so will experiment and see what works.