Just thought i'd pose a question for yall.


All theoretical: Say you've scouted a few spots, and picked one. Hunted opener and a few days on it and did well, then got completely skunked.


How many days in a one week span will you allow yourself to get skunked in the same spot before giving in and finding a new hole / going to a different hole?

If you worked that spot once a week.. how many times would you allow yourself to get skunked before moving on

If you continued to get skunked and stayed in that spot, What all (decoys, blind placment, lucky underware) would you change before giving up?



Really, I got skunked on my last trip. It was the same as my first trip which I almost limited. I realize the migration has barely started yet and things are just now starting to get cold, but I thought i'd throw this question out there and see who's got what for opinions and tactics

I don't just hunt one spot. You need to let your spot rest a minnimum of 3 days between hunts and try to go a week on some. And how many other people are hunting this spot when you are not?

Interesting question and one that you will get different views on. While I generally agree with R.G.C's response, there are variables to consider for your particular case. First and foremost is whether your spot is primarily used by local ducks verses migrators. Next is whether it's a roost, feed pond or rest/loafing station.

Years back when I hunted the Misssssippi River regularly, I had a small backwater pond virtually to myself and often hunted it 4-5 days in a row with only work or lack of money keeping me from hunting it every day of the short 60 day season. It was a stop-over and rest pond for migrators and we saw "fresh" birds almost every day. I should add that was during the very restrictive bag limits in the early 70s so I rarely had a hunt last more than 60 minutes and the pond wasn't hunted the rest of the day. BTW, kill a hen mallard back then and you were done for the day ... alas, the point system was the pits.

I moved to western WA State from WI in 1973 and for the next four years hunted smaller farm ponds and flooded corn. The ducks there tended to hang in the area for several days, sometimes weeks ... and that set the stage for the need to rest a spot for a few days so as not to burn it out. I might add that over 50 plus waterfowl seasons I've found it more a matter of LONG hunts rather than their frequency that applies excessive pressure and keeps birds away. Of course, unless you control the property so that others aren't hunting it when you're not, the discussion is academic.

We own a wetlands about 5 miles from our house that somewhat parallels your original question. We hunt it 2-3 times a week and usually not more than the first 90 minutes of the day. It produces in early season for the first few hunts and then will seemingly "dry up". But the lack of audible gun fire in the general surrounding area tells me that those hunters are experiencing the same thing ... locals burned out and a steady supply of northern birds hasn't yet begun.

If your pond has water and groceries, has produced well in the past, and you (and/or others) don't hunt it all day and more than every 3rd day or so, you should be fine. On the other hand, if you are seeing birds at distance and they are avoiding your spot, or others in the nearby area are scoring and you're not, then something is defintely wrong. Hope it turns around for you.

hmmm... so many variables, so little answers....

If i get skunked in a spot i leave and go find somewhere else to hunt. On scouting missions i always check the old spots to see if the birds are using it again yet. Like everyone else said, you cant hunt the same spot over and over and expect the birds to just decide to go back where you were banging them. they are smarter than that.

There's also the theory of " shoot 'em while they're there". Since they are are migratory and there will be new birds depending on the weather, sometimes its OK to hammer a spot until the birds are no longer there. But IMO, it depends on the location. If you're hunting big open water on public land, those birds are going to get hit by someone, so why not you? If you're hunting a small backwater or slough, limiting the hunting pressure will definitely extend the bird's stay.

You nailed it with the "Lucky Underwear" comment... Don't leave home without them

public land... take no prisoners!
private who cares its your place do what you want...