Swan decoy debate/ Opinions wanted:

M

Mark Scott

Member
My hunting partner and I have a long standing debate on the use of swan decoys on the outer fringe of our diver spread. I'm convinced that a pair of swans are great attractors because they are so visible. My partner believes they tend to scare the birds away. I was wondering what everyone else thought.
 
I'm with your partner. I use a pair of JUMBO canvasbacks and found that they don’t flare as many birds.

Todd
 
Swans, particulary Mute swans, chase off Canada geese. Ducks however play clean up to the swans sloppy, wastful eating habits.

Chuck
 
We hunted a place this fall with hundreds of Tundra swans mixed in with the ducks and geese, there were so many on the way in I thought they were Pelicans till they all started to fly as we approached. They where all together when we flushed them out.

I would like to make 3-6 Swans if I can get the wood and time. Then I would need a bigger boat, its just a vicious circle!
 
A week after the Wisconsin season closed, I was still scouting and spent an enjoyable morning watching 20 swans with flock after flock of mallards dropping into this feeding frenzy, and also watched three flocks of cans land next to the swans, as well as single buffs and goldeneyes.

After mid October we usually place a few swans in the rig. We use to keep them off a ways to the side, but ducks kept landing in them so now we keep them tight and in gunning range.

I'm planning on hunting with at least a dozen swans this year as an experiment, in attempt to both use them as attractors and to further hide the boat.
 
On open water especially I think a pair or two of swans can work well. I like to set them off to the side where I don't want the birds to go but it seems that most of the time birds will come towards them and then adjust accordingly to when they see the ducks. I wouldn't put them to close to the spread personally...I never have. I have set them as far as 150 yards away in the past.

The mute thing is sad but I've noticed them becoming increasingly gregarious the past two winters. Certain times of year mutes will tolerate or even congregate with other waterfowl. This time of year you will see them mixed right amongst the others. In late winter and spring it's a different story. Of course birds that are exposed to native swan species regularly would probably be far less inclined to spook from swan decoys. That's my take anyway.
 
One of the hottest rigs I ever hunted over was a pair of swans set with a dozen widgeon decoy...
......Ducks however play clean up to the swans sloppy, wastful eating habits.

Chuck
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I'm planning on hunting with at least a dozen swans this year as an experiment, in attempt to both use them as attractors and to further hide the boat.
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So Mike, did you get yet another, yet bigger, boat?...Or are you going to tow them out?

On the placement thing, I've seen ducks try to land right next to swans and swan decoys...I keep them in shooting range myself. Though if I'm in a spot the geese have been using, I tend to keep some distance from the geese to the swan, peppering some duck deeks in between. (Disclaimer: I'm no scientist when it comes to setting deeks, more of a hap-hazard artist type. The one thing I'm sure of: What worked yesterday may not work today, and just because a set up didn't work yesterday is no guarantee it won't work today...change it up, and especially when the migration is on, having a spread that doesn't look like every other one out there is a good thing. )

Chuck
 
I plan on carving a fullsize swan this year. Full block of pine hollowed. No it won't be for sale, I doubt anyone would want to pay what I would need to sell it for anyways.
 
I plan on carving a fullsize swan this year. Full block of pine hollowed. No it won't be for sale, I doubt anyone would want to pay what I would need to sell it for anyways.
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It isn't the selling price that is the problem...it's the shipping. UPS ground is $250 and up depending on how far you are going. Shipped one from Michigan to the Eastern Shore for about $80 via Greyhound. Was able to get one on the tail of a Miami bound LTL load with our broker at work for free...kicker was Hitch had to meet the driver at the off ramp and pick it up.
 
Did you looking into just buying a plane ticket? No kidding about shipping. It is getting tougher and tougher for everything.
 
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