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Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
#7660279
11/13/19 03:00 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85
smirly22
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85 |
Ive been trying to come up with an idea and was wondering if anyone could help.
We are hunting out of a flat bottom surface drive with a boat blind on it. Some of the spots we really like setting up arent far at all from deeper water. (Too deep for waders) we dont have a dog and thats not a possibility as of now. Opening day we shot a good amount of birds and had to let the majority drift with the wind till we were finished hunting. Almost lost some, but we found them bc we were near a creek mouth. Question...
Does anyone have an idea for retrieving ducks in deeper water without a dog? I have a 16' decoy retriever pole which helps, but when you shoot several at 30yds and its 8' deep, that aint gonna work fellas! Haha. Considering an inflatable kayak, ir float fishing tube. Any thoughts?
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660308
11/13/19 03:24 AM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,526 |
Rod and reel....a few treble hooks and a small weight so it doesn't sink too fast if you miss....
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660315
11/13/19 03:30 AM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922
TrackQuack
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 922 |
Fishing pole with a big topwater plug. Someone on here used to make a throwable retreiver, DWADR or something like that.
IMO as a hunter it is your primary responsibility to retreive downed game as quickly as possible, especically when hunting public/big water. I wouldn't be surprised if a warden give you a ticket if they witnessed what you described.
You are in a boat....most likely on Ray Bob.... if you down birds that are in too deep of water stop your hunt and go retreive the ducks and get set back up compared to inflatable boats/tubes/etc..
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660321
11/13/19 03:33 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428
cannon88
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428 |
I’ve used a fishing rod as suggested before, and even a remote control duck decoy that I put a wire coat hanger on the front in a v shape to push them back to me. Whatever works. Good thing about the rc duck was it didn’t spook incoming birds. Stay safe in the deep water!
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660329
11/13/19 03:42 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510
tophorsecop
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510 |
I use a short kids fishing rod...about 3 feet long with a micro spinning reel...8 lb test line and then I made a retriever...it's a piece of wire hanger that looks like a "W" that is twice as long in the center of the "W".each side is about 5 inches long and bent out at about 45 degrees from the center "bar"...I pushed the bar through a piece of closed cell foam like they use as packing around a computer but I bet a piece about 4 inches long from a kids "funoodle"...pool play toy, would also work...clip on the end of the wire loop above the foam and cast out past the downed bird, then retrieve slowly as you get the floating part to one side or the other of the bird, and voila...slowly reel in your bird...seems like there was a commercial product "duk-treiver" maybe...looked like it might work...best ever though was a battery powered RC boat,,,rigged with a "V" out of circular foam and wire on the bow of the boat...add a decoy shell over the boat and you have something to occupy the time on even the slowest of hunts...
"Guns don't kill people, Guns kill dinner!"
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: TrackQuack]
#7660336
11/13/19 03:52 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85
smirly22
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85 |
Fishing pole with a big topwater plug. Someone on here used to make a throwable retreiver, DWADR or something like that.
IMO as a hunter it is your primary responsibility to retreive downed game as quickly as possible, especically when hunting public/big water. I wouldn't be surprised if a warden give you a ticket if they witnessed what you described.
You are in a boat....most likely on Ray Bob.... if you down birds that are in too deep of water stop your hunt and go retreive the ducks and get set back up compared to inflatable boats/tubes/etc.. Noted. And not Ray Bob. Though there's probably several places like that there im sure. I like the fishing pole ideas. I have a retriever i made of pvc for decoys in a swamp pond a while back. Just can't throw it 90ft. Not trying to ruffle feathers on here...
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660343
11/13/19 03:58 AM
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 309
oldrancher
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 309 |
As kids being raised in the Hill Country, we would chunk rocks on the other side of the duck until the ripples carried them in. We had a lot of rocks so we could chunk a lot of rocks. We also used top water plugs on a rod and reel to snag snakes swimming across a pond or creek. It worked pretty good also. The RC boat would be good also. The grandsons had several of those on one our tanks and it amazed how good they were able to maneuver them. (ramming each other of course) I can see that working pretty good.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660346
11/13/19 03:59 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,555
ducknbass
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 18,555 |
Ive been trying to come up with an idea and was wondering if anyone could help.
We are hunting out of a flat bottom surface drive with a boat blind on it. Some of the spots we really like setting up arent far at all from deeper water. (Too deep for waders) we dont have a dog and thats not a possibility as of now. Opening day we shot a good amount of birds and had to let the majority drift with the wind till we were finished hunting. Almost lost some, but we found them bc we were near a creek mouth. Question...
Does anyone have an idea for retrieving ducks in deeper water without a dog? I have a 16' decoy retriever pole which helps, but when you shoot several at 30yds and its 8' deep, that aint gonna work fellas! Haha. Considering an inflatable kayak, ir float fishing tube. Any thoughts? An inflatable tube in the winter is as bad of idea as they come. You can get a cheap kayak much safer.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660351
11/13/19 04:05 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85
smirly22
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85 |
Rc boat is a good thought. Ive done the rock throwing at private tanks before and it worked well. We honestly thought the scrub brush would hold the dead birds but they kepy snaking out. Thats why im here asking. I dont ever want to lose a bird. If im lucky enough to have 1 decoy, i owe it to the bird to retrieve it and eat it. Everything ive ever shot in a duck blind has been eaten with the exception of a mallard last year that got pulled under by 2 other ducks somehow, and the rare occasional one that dives and drowns itself.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660360
11/13/19 04:24 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281 |
When the time is right and you realize there's nothing better than hunting with a well trained dog shoot me a PM...
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: BradyBuck]
#7660363
11/13/19 04:28 AM
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85
smirly22
OP
Outdoorsman
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OP
Outdoorsman
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 85 |
When the time is right and you realize there's nothing better than hunting with a well trained dog shoot me a PM... Oh i have hunted with amazing dogs before, and for sure realize their worth. Only issue is we have 3 dogs now and a 2yr old kiddo. But... one day, i will have my duck dog i want. Always dream about having my own dog in the blind. Nothing better than watching ducks decoy and watching a well trained, trustworthy dog retrieve em!
Last edited by smirly22; 11/13/19 04:36 AM.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660370
11/13/19 04:42 AM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,281 |
When the time is right and you realize there's nothing better than hunting with a well trained dog shoot me a PM... Oh i have hunted with amazing dogs before, and for sure realize their worth. Only issue is we have 3 dogs now and a 2yr old kiddo. But... one day, i will have my duck dog i want. Always dream about having my own dog in the blind. Nothing better than watching ducks decoy and watching a well trained, trustworthy dog retrieve em! No doubt!
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7660536
11/13/19 01:39 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510
tophorsecop
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510 |
Watching your hunting partner strip down to his jockey shorts and then swim out to get them....now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are, that's funny!
"Guns don't kill people, Guns kill dinner!"
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: tophorsecop]
#7660625
11/13/19 02:51 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 879
WalkSoftly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 879 |
Watching your hunting partner strip down to his jockey shorts and then swim out to get them....now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are, that's funny! Tophorsecop, have we hunted together before??
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: tophorsecop]
#7660662
11/13/19 03:17 PM
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,024
huck18
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 3,024 |
Watching your hunting partner strip down to his jockey shorts and then swim out to get them....now that's funny right there, I don't care who you are, that's funny! I've done it for an expensive decoy.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: cannon88]
#7660716
11/13/19 03:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 172
noname124398
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 172 |
I’ve used a fishing rod as suggested before, and even a remote control duck decoy that I put a wire coat hanger on the front in a v shape to push them back to me. Whatever works. Good thing about the rc duck was it didn’t spook incoming birds. Stay safe in the deep water! Lol that's genius.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7661180
11/13/19 11:05 PM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510
tophorsecop
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,510 |
Figured I would post a picture of my prototype DUKSNAGR...been using it for about 10 years now...I rarely have to get it out...I hunt with a black dog, but every once in a while I jump shoot a tank or 2 on the way home from work...so it rides in the truck with me...still have had to go home and get Raelette a time or 2 when the wind or a snag kept me from getting a down duck. I can add a lead weight at the back end if I need more distance but this will cast 100 ft or so on a calm day.
Last edited by tophorsecop; 11/13/19 11:09 PM. Reason: spelling
"Guns don't kill people, Guns kill dinner!"
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7661303
11/14/19 01:04 AM
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 324
Charlie817
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 324 |
Thinking about a cheap bowfishiing bow with modified arrow.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7661337
11/14/19 01:37 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 267
AZ_Hunter_2000
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 267 |
Fishing pole, top water lure, and a valid fishing license.
My wife and MIL turned my lab into a baby who now despises cold water. Too bad duck season is not when it's hot.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7661811
11/14/19 04:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,841
Adchunts
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,841 |
I have successfully used a 7' spinning rod with a Zara Spook to retrieve ducks in deep water.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7662196
11/14/19 10:53 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 786
BassBuster1
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 786 |
Whopper Plopper works great! Might also catch a giant bass on the way to the duck...bonus!!
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7667343
11/20/19 10:13 AM
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 61
Derrick
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 61 |
Before I had a dog I bought a rc boat and stuck it in a small block of styrofoam. I then bent coat hangers to hooks to stick in the sides of the styrofoam it worked unless the wind was to high. I saw a rc duck retriever at a hobby shop about 6 years ago. It actually was a decoy with ducklings on a string that grab them when you circled the down duck.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7668161
11/20/19 11:18 PM
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466
ndhunter
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 6,466 |
What happened to dwader
use to be a member that had some sort of contraption he sold for retrieving birds.
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: smirly22]
#7668244
11/21/19 12:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,427
RayB
red bone Bob
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red bone Bob
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 5,427 |
There is time, and you must take it, to lay your hand on your dog's head as you walk past him lying on the floor or on his settle, time to talk with him, to remember with him, time to please him, time you can't buy back once he's gone" GBE
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Re: Help...Retrieving ducks in deep water
[Re: ndhunter]
#7669258
11/22/19 12:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 911
samsamthemex
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 911 |
What happened to dwader
use to be a member that had some sort of contraption he sold for retrieving birds. I have one of his contraptions and it has worked great for me quite a few times.
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