So I haven't checked the law, I'm just asking to see if anyone knows off the top of their head before I delve into it.

I know you can't use live decoys, but let's say during the split, could you go out, with no gun, and sit and watch?
I was listening to a podcast the other day and a guy was talking about how his dad used live decoys. He was talking about the placement of them and such. I just think it'd be the quickest way to learn how, why, and when to call, and it'd just be awesome to watch ducks work to a live decoy set up.

As long as you dont have a gun your fine

If we miss one or two, we wont water swat em. We ll let em sit there to bring in other ducks. Sometimes it works, sometimes they ll jump up and leave again. About the closest to using a live decoy wo taking out a pet duck or 3.

I hear and watch many ducks while fishing during the winter. Here them call and watch what they do when on the water. Take Gino's.

I wouldn’t have my gun or ammo in the truck, but that isn’t hunting in my opinion, so you should be good. I don’t see how setting up during the split and observing without a gun would be considered hunting.

AKA bird watching. Depending on circumstances I might give green jeans a text ahead of time just to let him know. Definitely wouldn’t have a gun or shells in or on myself, boat or truck.

Seems like just going and watching ducks without any interference would be the best way to observe their behavior rather than bring a shackled duck to see how wild ducks react to it..not to mention the hassle or am i missing something?

Yeah I kind of wondered the same thing. I don't think a shackled duck would act the same as a duck in the wild as well. The best thing to do would be finding a hole that is holding ducks, and just watch them without putting any decoys out, and hiding really well.

You're basically using a farm duck from what I understand. You put the ducks to where they can't see each other and apparently they'll talk up a storm to each other and anything flying over.
There's a reason live decoys aren't allowed anymore.

I'm pretty sure it has to do with animal cruelty as well as it being an advantage. A swimming duck is going to pull more ducks then decoys, but I still don't understand how this helps you. If the farm duck just quacks his [censored] off for 4 hours straight, are you gonna be the Barney blowing your duck call the entire duck hunt?

Since this seems to be over your head tdogg, read this, jeez.
https://www.wxpr.org/post/once-popular-art-hunting-live-decoys#stream/0