Anyone hunt salt water marsh? Looking to see what I?m doing wrong with my spread. I usually only hunt over 8 decoys or so with no motion. ( the old timers never had motion decoys, right?) so i?ll have birds fly high above me checking it out but keep on going. What am I doing wrong? Where to start? I?m pretty well hidden in my sneakbox (pics attched)View attachment 1F48E029-DB51-4181-94A0-6319528AC869.jpeg
Decoy spread
- Thread starter Joe Teja
- Start date
Hi Joe
I hunted the Tuckerton marshes for several years. You aren't doing anything wrong, you're boat is grassed great, and 8 decoys is plenty for puddle ducks in that area. What we have been experiencing for the last couple of weeks is heavy overcast weather, which are the worst conditions we can get around here. The ducks flying over you can see everything when it is like this. I have had very little luck decoying birds in the last couple of weeks as I have been out in the same conditions. Without some sun, there are no shadows to break your outline and cause a stark contrast from above. The birds are nervous in addition, because everything spooks them. I had a black flare on me the other day after I moved my hand about 6"s when it was still 40 yards out. I was pulled into some tall grass and hidden well. We have also had some warm weather which means they don't have to eat as much, they are not really moving around because they don't have to.
We have a good number of ducks around where my shack is on Delaware Bay. Nobody is killing hardly any. You see them when you motor out, you figure it's going to be OK because you are pushing birds, then you see next to nothing. I've been through 35 seasons around here, and we get some like this. Not much you can do about it if you are tryuing to bring birds in to your spread. Unless you want to shoot buffleheads on the bayfront. They will typically cooperate.
I hunted the Tuckerton marshes for several years. You aren't doing anything wrong, you're boat is grassed great, and 8 decoys is plenty for puddle ducks in that area. What we have been experiencing for the last couple of weeks is heavy overcast weather, which are the worst conditions we can get around here. The ducks flying over you can see everything when it is like this. I have had very little luck decoying birds in the last couple of weeks as I have been out in the same conditions. Without some sun, there are no shadows to break your outline and cause a stark contrast from above. The birds are nervous in addition, because everything spooks them. I had a black flare on me the other day after I moved my hand about 6"s when it was still 40 yards out. I was pulled into some tall grass and hidden well. We have also had some warm weather which means they don't have to eat as much, they are not really moving around because they don't have to.
We have a good number of ducks around where my shack is on Delaware Bay. Nobody is killing hardly any. You see them when you motor out, you figure it's going to be OK because you are pushing birds, then you see next to nothing. I've been through 35 seasons around here, and we get some like this. Not much you can do about it if you are tryuing to bring birds in to your spread. Unless you want to shoot buffleheads on the bayfront. They will typically cooperate.
Capt Rich Geminski
Well-known member
I also hunt 6-8 decoys in the salt marsh. I carry a field motion decoy and place on the marsh. If you have geese in the area, I put a field goose decoy on the marsh about 25 yds out. I( also use a face mask when they fly high.
roy brewington
Well-known member
With Black Ducks and know real weather or ice it helps to be exactly where they want to go.
Craig F
Well-known member
Greg basically said it all. When it's mild like it's been you are going to have a tough time decoying birds unless you are doing everything perfect and are where they want to be. When it gets mild like this I go to my areas that the birds are always going to for food, water or rest. You need to be where they want to be.
Also my magic equalizer for these conditions are two 'shaker' decoys for making ripples. The birds lock right up on them.
Also my magic equalizer for these conditions are two 'shaker' decoys for making ripples. The birds lock right up on them.
Charles H.
Active member
Lots of really good info above. You have plenty of decoys, and your concealment is good, Definitely grass the motor.
As for motion, the old timers didn't have electric motion decoys, but they sure had jerk strings. If you use a jerk string, make sure the motion of your arm is concealed.
I'd also avoid calling but if you do keep it really simple, a couple of quacks, or a drake call which a lot of people ignore. Without cold weather and storms to move birds into the area, you are hunting birds that have seen and heard it all. In the last few weeks I've watched lots of black ducks land 75-100 yards off the marsh in open water. They sit and look the spread over and decide to fly or swim in. This tells me the've been shot at and have learned the game.
Just about everyone uses 6-12 decoys. It doesn't hurt to be different. Try 3 black duck decoys and a couple of goose or brant decoys or a confidence decoy like a blue heron.
Don't trouble yourself with hearing shots in the distance. They may be blasting away at buffleheads, or sky busting black ducks at 60 yards out.
As for motion, the old timers didn't have electric motion decoys, but they sure had jerk strings. If you use a jerk string, make sure the motion of your arm is concealed.
I'd also avoid calling but if you do keep it really simple, a couple of quacks, or a drake call which a lot of people ignore. Without cold weather and storms to move birds into the area, you are hunting birds that have seen and heard it all. In the last few weeks I've watched lots of black ducks land 75-100 yards off the marsh in open water. They sit and look the spread over and decide to fly or swim in. This tells me the've been shot at and have learned the game.
Just about everyone uses 6-12 decoys. It doesn't hurt to be different. Try 3 black duck decoys and a couple of goose or brant decoys or a confidence decoy like a blue heron.
Don't trouble yourself with hearing shots in the distance. They may be blasting away at buffleheads, or sky busting black ducks at 60 yards out.
Derek Thompson
Active member
as previously stated, grass the motor. also, you might try a couple of canvas back decoys for some "color". and I am a believer in big spreads. out here everyone runs 3 to 4 dozen duck blocks. I run 6 to 8 doz. if everyone out there is running 8 to 12 decoys either go to 4 or 20. also, later in the season I go to fully flocked decoys, especially the black duck decoys. they really "pop" and show up
Your hunting Black ducks, lol, it's what they do...The've played this game before. All that "blasting" just confirms their fears.
7 or 11 decoys is what the old timers said, in the right spot, 3 is fine. Throw some grass over the tiller and motor, it won't help but will make you feel better. [
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When the conditions are right you won't be able to keep them out wearing a pink Tutu.
7 or 11 decoys is what the old timers said, in the right spot, 3 is fine. Throw some grass over the tiller and motor, it won't help but will make you feel better. [
]When the conditions are right you won't be able to keep them out wearing a pink Tutu.
Josh Schwenger
Active member
My great grand pop used live decoys he had two ducks he brought out long after it was against the law. He said he would let them go and they would fly home. He died over 20 years ago he would tell me stories like that often. He said if you hobbled one and put the one in the reeds they would quack back and forth.
Vince Pagliaroli
Well-known member
gcs said:Your hunting Black ducks, lol, it's what they do...The've played this game before. All that "blasting" just confirms their fears.
7 or 11 decoys is what the old timers said, in the right spot, 3 is fine. Throw some grass over the tiller and motor, it won't help but will make you feel better. [
When the conditions are right you won't be able to keep them out wearing a pink Tutu.
BINGO!
Give that man the top prize.
Great tips. I?m mainly targeting anything BUT buffleheads. I?d love a wood duck canvas back red hed black duck hen/drake mallards. Pretty much anything. I shot a pair of hooded mergs a few weeks back and i?d rather not shoot them again. I?m trying to decoy anything in I haven?t shot yet or in a while. I?ve since added to my spread 6 more mallards of different sizes, a couple of home made black ducks and a butt up feeder, and also a couple of cheap wood ducks. Hoping to get out saturday. I know where the birds like to hang out but can?t get the boat in usually cuz of the tides.
Appreciate the comments, i?m working on trying to grass the outboad now.
Appreciate the comments, i?m working on trying to grass the outboad now.
roy brewington
Well-known member
Old nasty ,muddy burlap bag split up one side will work great as a motor cover for small outboard in marsh setting. The more weathered the better. You never mentioned whether you were calling to those Blk Ducks or not but most i,ve seen don,t really respond to high balling , feed calls etc. Unlike your standard mallard just a simple guttural quack seems to work best. And doing it mouth calling works for me if they,re looking on the corners.
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