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Species question around Abilene.
#5415871
11/12/14 06:35 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733
ArkansasTraveler
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I do all my hunting east of DFW. Going out to the deer lease around Abilene this weekend and want to do a little duck slamming one morning on one of the ponds. I know it holds ducks at times, but haven't duck hunted it in abt 12 yrs or so, back when I was new to the game. What type of decoy spread would y'all pack in the truck. Gaddies, teal, pinnies, widgeon, mallards are what I got to work with. And plenty of each. The pond is maybe 2 acres. What ya think?
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5415882
11/12/14 06:42 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 4,636
Gdogg
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I wouldn't go overboard. Try and scout the day before and setup a similar spread as to what you see. There has got to be ducks in that area now.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5415889
11/12/14 06:46 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 686
MoBettaHuntR
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Abilene is west of DFW I would shoot some clays first if its been 12 years. Scout it one day if you can.. Then if you were to decoy I would put out gads and widgeon possibly mix in teal but on 2 acres I wouldn't take a lot. I would guess there isn't as much cover on 2 acre stock tank near Abilene as you are used to either. Take some sort of portable blind.
-Those who say money can't buy happiness never bought a dog.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5416417
11/12/14 10:53 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733
ArkansasTraveler
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I definitely worded my question wrong. Let's try it again
East Tx duck hunter here headed out around Abilene to do some deer hunting. Place I hunt has a couple acre stock tank that holds birds. Hoping to get a duck hunt in one morning, but don't want to go overboard on carrying all kinds of gear and dekes with me since it's mainly a deer hunt. What would be the spread y'all would carry with ya.
For instance, my pond or slough spread for east tx is 6 gaddies, 6 woodies, 4 teal, and 6 mallards. What would y'all go with for out there?
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5416486
11/12/14 11:29 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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Id throw out your teal and Gaddie decoys. No woodies and very few mallards especially south of Abilene. Before the front most of the small tanks weren't holding ducks but it may be different now.
Last edited by BradyBuck; 11/12/14 11:30 PM.
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5416592
11/13/14 12:27 AM
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,228
Jeff Elder
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Sprigs and widgeon if its close to Albany, a few mallards wont hurt. Gray ducks could care less what's floating
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5416892
11/13/14 02:33 AM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,425
Ramball36
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5417254
11/13/14 05:05 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 645
drakedoctor
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I'd go with 18 or less dekes. Teal and Gaddies are pretty versatile dekes. Just pile up under a mesquite, be still and bust em when they come in. Good luck, should be easy hunt if you have birds. Also hunting with wind at your back on small tanks can be crucial to success.
Live to hunt, hunt to live.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: Ramball36]
#5417408
11/13/14 12:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277
BradyBuck
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit We shot a 5 man limit Saturday near Abilene of wigeon, pintail, redhead, mallard, and teal. It was odd we didn't get a gadwall or spoonie in that mix. We shoot all 7 of those species regularly except for mallards.
Last edited by BradyBuck; 11/13/14 12:10 PM.
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5417714
11/13/14 03:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 701
Capt.JVH
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Ducks showed up at my lease North west of Cross Plains. Lots of widgeon, redheads, ringers, gadwalls and a few teal. Should be a good weekend.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5420577
11/14/14 05:35 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 342
jmscalf
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Looked good this morning when I was out scouting some places. I'd use some teals, gaddies, and mallards if you have them.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: Ramball36]
#5420687
11/14/14 06:42 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277
BradyBuck
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit I've hunted ducks mainly around Abilene and just once up north of DFW. We shot teal, gadwall, mallard and hooded mergansers north of DFW. My question is what ducks do we have here that hunters further east or north would not? I've seen 12 species and shot 10 different species all around Abilene. Shot Redheads Spoonies Mallards Gadwalls BWT GWT Pintail wigeon Hooded mergansers Ring necks Seen buffleheads and canvasbacks but never shot one.
Last edited by BradyBuck; 11/14/14 06:52 PM.
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5420700
11/14/14 06:46 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,075
aerangis
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I wouldn't worry too much about which decoys to use. I've seen puddle ducks drop in spreads of just about every decoy specie imaginable as well as painted plastic soda bottles, foam blocks, rough shaped wood blocks, etc. I have some grey foam dekes that pulled birds for years that have zero resemblance to any particular duck. They're roughly shaped like a duck, that's about it.
The fancy, highly detailed dekes work best decoying credit cards out of wallets.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5420713
11/14/14 06:57 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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0 women for you?
Sorry man..guess your to busy being a dick as well
Last edited by BradyBuck; 11/14/14 07:00 PM.
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: BradyBuck]
#5420723
11/14/14 07:06 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 10,425
Ramball36
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit I've hunted ducks mainly around Abilene and just once up north of DFW. We shot teal, gadwall, mallard and hooded mergansers north of DFW. My question is what ducks do we have here that hunters further east or north would not? I've seen 12 species and shot 10 different species all around Abilene. Shot Redheads Spoonies Mallards Gadwalls BWT GWT Pintail wigeon Hooded mergansers Ring necks Seen buffleheads and canvasbacks but never shot one. Cinnamon teal used to show up every now and then out there. We also had a client shoot a goldeneye.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: BradyBuck]
#5420729
11/14/14 07:10 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 4,075
aerangis
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit I've hunted ducks mainly around Abilene and just once up north of DFW. We shot teal, gadwall, mallard and hooded mergansers north of DFW. My question is what ducks do we have here that hunters further east or north would not?
I've seen 12 species and shot 10 different species all around Abilene.Shot Redheads Spoonies Mallards Gadwalls BWT GWT Pintail wigeon Hooded mergansers Ring necks Seen buffleheads and canvasbacks but never shot one. Asking a question. And answering your own question. In the same post. A duck huntin Einstein. I'm impressed...
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: aerangis]
#5420741
11/14/14 07:14 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,277 |
The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit I've hunted ducks mainly around Abilene and just once up north of DFW. We shot teal, gadwall, mallard and hooded mergansers north of DFW. My question is what ducks do we have here that hunters further east or north would not?
I've seen 12 species and shot 10 different species all around Abilene.Shot Redheads Spoonies Mallards Gadwalls BWT GWT Pintail wigeon Hooded mergansers Ring necks Seen buffleheads and canvasbacks but never shot one. Asking questions. And answering the questions. In the same post. A duck huntin Eistein. I'm impressed... Obviously I was asking what else anyone has seen and if those species are not seen around DFW because I've only hunted there one time. Didn't think it took a "duck huntin Einstein" to figure that out. I am just interested and one of the things I love most about waterfowl is the variety of species.
Last edited by BradyBuck; 11/14/14 07:27 PM.
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: BradyBuck]
#5420759
11/14/14 07:23 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 263
cdoz35
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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The fun part about hunting that far west is you'll probably shoot 5 different species of bird. One time we hunted out there and shot either 7 or 8 in a 4 man limit I've hunted ducks mainly around Abilene and just once up north of DFW. We shot teal, gadwall, mallard and hooded mergansers north of DFW. My question is what ducks do we have here that hunters further east or north would not?
I've seen 12 species and shot 10 different species all around Abilene.Shot Redheads Spoonies Mallards Gadwalls BWT GWT Pintail wigeon Hooded mergansers Ring necks Seen buffleheads and canvasbacks but never shot one. Asking questions. And answering the questions. In the same post. A duck huntin Eistein. I'm impressed... Obviously I was asking what else anyone has seen and if those species are not seen around DFW because I've only hunted there one time. Didn't think it took a "duck huntin Einstein" to figure that out. I am just interested and one the things I love most about waterfowl is the variety of species. Obviously he's not einstein! Haha buddy just had to pull your leg. But I agree it is interesting to know what type of ducks are in areas other than where we hunt.
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Re: Species question around Abilene.
[Re: ArkansasTraveler]
#5425464
11/17/14 05:37 AM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 733
ArkansasTraveler
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Where I hunt we typically see gadwall, woodies, teal, mallards, spoonies and some pintail....in roughly that order give or take what type of scenario your hunting. Also do have some widgeon, and divers at times.
First day i checked the pond, it was frozen over with no ducks. Second day had 7 gaddies on it. Pond was way lower than it usually is, didn't see enough birds to make me want to hunt it. Thanks for the advice tho
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