I hunt marsh and just switched over 2 years ago from flooded timber. Grew up in flooded timber and knew about 6 to 8 ways to put decoys for different situations.

I run and gun and dont use blinds down there and just get in the mangroves. I have about 3 dozen pintail and 6 dozen redheads and 2 dozen bluebill. Have about 2 dozen mixed with gadwall, wigeon, black ducks.

I usually throw the puddle ducks in a large group and then lay the divers out in a large line away from the puddle ducks. I guess a J type spread. I can get all the divers to lay down in the decoys but often the pintails are not commiting. Anybody have any ideas as to how to throw them that I may be doing wrong. I try to hunt with a wind on my shoulder or side wind and the line parrallel to the shoreline. Should I move to points and throw divers on one side and puddle on the other? mix them all together? I also hunt open water shorelines as well as marsh bays.

Thanks for any suggestions or help

That's pintails for ya. No matter what, they are notorious for circling and checking things out.

Success probably has less to do with decoy placement and more to do with concealment. Don't move a twitch, have everything covered, try not to let them see the whites of your eyes, the glare/color of your calls, etc,etc.

With that many decoys, there better be (realistic) movement in the spread. Take down the mojos if they are out. Make sure the blind isn't bulky.

The best luck I have had with pintails are on the protected side of points when the winds get to 20+. About 4 dozen assorted. On an exposed shoreline lying flat on my back in the mud.

If you hunt an exposed shoreline, put some decoys right next to or on the bank.

Good luck.

Pintail are racist. Kick them out on their own.

Dont hunt from the big open water blinds. Use Full bodies and a few jerk strings. No mojo

Put the pintails all by themselves off to one side or right by the bank. That usually works for me.

"They're not looking for one thing right, they're looking for one thing wrong."
-Don't remember who posted that but its about the best way I've heard it put

One of the guys on drakes tv show says that every episode

Thanks guys - I imagine it is my hunting buddies. I would suspect they have a problem with not looking up. It is usually my 14 and 11 yr old and usually one of their friends. We don't use blinds or mojo decoys.

I will try but putting all the sprigs by themselves. Im getting them into shooting range but I don't let the kids shoot until birds are locked up and in the blocks. Trying to teach them if you let birds work then the hunt is more enjoyable. Like to get one of them a good drake next weekend for the wall.

Pintails are known to circle, circle, leave!
In my option, if the first group does this, they will all do it unless you change something or the wind starts blowing(this only applies to the mornings/afternoons when the wind starts off dead). Most of the time their first pass is the closest they will get and every time they circle they get a little higher. It's very temping to try and work them because they seem SOOOO interested. I commend you for trying to get them in the blocks to teach the youngsters, but if they are circle, circle, leaving you, sometimes their is nothing you can do to make them commit. If they are shootable on the first pass, you might think about giving them a try. If you don't cut a feather, then you know they aren't killable and continue to try and work them. Good luck!

I understand what your talking about saying its more enjoyable when they are completely committed. But I cannot tell you how many times I've said to myself/hunting buddies "just one more pass." trying to get the birds perfect and those birds end up flaring and gone.

Especially with pintail and boys that young, you may find it that for them who are probably still in the shooters stage its more fun for them to get to shoot. So maybe that 30 yd pass over the decoys shot, that's easily in range but they're not completely committed is a better option. just my and mainly because were talking about getting them a bull sprig. Any other birds I'd let finish but as weary as Pinnys are, in my experience it doesn't happen very often before they find something wrong. Not trying to tell you how to raise your kids. And im not saying sky blast, Im just thinking more opportunities on birds that aren't completely committed and still well within range, rather than higher percentage feet down 15yd shots. Again just my

Pintails seem to come in two flavors, 90% of the time they want nothing to do with you and 10% of the time they dump into the decoys as dumb as teal. Wish I knew the formula

Ill take your advice and pull the handcuffs off a little. I guess when I was that age I enjoyed smelling that burnt powder more than watching feet drop.

I get dizzy watching them suckers

And the look on their face when they do drop a nice, big, mature, sprig will be priceless! You'll be on your way to the taxi for sure! Good luck

its all in the corn/milo ratio

^^^
or just take a leak, pick up decoys, are disassembling/unloading your gun, or pouring a cup of coffee. Also directly after playing the Hawaii5-0 theme song with your duck call. Then they always seem to just pour right in!