texashuntingforum.com logo
Main Menu
Advertisement
Affiliates
Advertisement
Newest Members
nmmuledeerhunter, Dzia-Dzia, TraeMartin, Beatixre, MooseSteed
71989 Registered Users
Top Posters(All Time)
dogcatcher 110,788
bill oxner 91,416
SnakeWrangler 65,416
stxranchman 60,296
Gravytrain 46,950
RKHarm24 44,585
rifleman 44,461
Stub 43,769
Forum Statistics
Forums46
Topics537,022
Posts9,719,506
Members86,989
Most Online25,604
Feb 12th, 2024
Print Thread
Youth season this weekend what would you do #8039713 11/05/20 10:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
T
Troy king Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
My youngest boy (15 year old) is rip roaring and ready for the youth opener this Saturday... And I'm trying to put it all on the line for him... We found a spot that has the potential to have a lots of birds... It's private land and it had about 200 mallards and a bunch of gadwall and teal... There's only about an acre and a half open open spot in the middle with thick button willows all around it the, most of the birds were all in the button Willlows... What I'm trying to decide is how many decoys to use in this situation... If you had a spot where you know birds are going to be like this, how would yall set up on it?

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8039767 11/05/20 11:23 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Guy Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
I would set out my deeks in the open section, the birds probably want to land there and swim into the trees, but who knows, be prepared to move if birds start dropping somewhere else. Best thing to do, and would also be a lot of fun, is get there before legal to scout, and see exactly where they like to land, that would be the X. Hopefully in the open spot.

Also make note of wind, set up in open spot with wind to back, so if wind is coming for SW, set up in SW corner of open spot. If you scout and birds are landing in open spot, you are good, and if wind is different than day you scouted, I would adjust and play the wind. Set deeks out to leave pocket for birds to land.

If you scout and birds are dropping into the trees, I would set up there, and not worry about wind, just scatter deeks about, leaving many pockets to land.

I would go with 20 to 30 deeks, you are really using the deeks to guide the birds where you want them to land.

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8039901 11/06/20 01:10 AM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
Sniper John Online Happy
gumshoe
Online Happy
gumshoe
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 20,903
You have plenty of birds to yourself, it's opening day, and no other hunting pressure. I would not overthink it. Find a comfortable place to hunt from on the edge of the opening with shallow water, the wind to your back, and the sun not rising in your face. Take however many decoys fit in one decoy bag and if you have one, a mojo duck or mojo dove. Know mallards often show up later in the morning than the teal. If there are a lot of teal they are probably going to be trying to commit suicide right at legal shooting time. If they do, y'all might want to wait out filling the limit to give the mallards time to move around for you.

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Sniper John] #8040037 11/06/20 02:40 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
T
Troy king Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
Good advice, thank yall.

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8040977 11/06/20 11:39 PM
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,157
S
Smokey Bear Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
Online Content
THF Trophy Hunter
S
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,157
Knowing you have a lot of birds: I think I would put out a big set in the open area. Like Guy suggested, wind at back and not staring up to the sun. I would use my decoys to block out all the open water except a big fat open pocket for them to land in right in front of you, then make sure you have good cover. Should result in in your face action.


Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8040979 11/06/20 11:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Guy Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Good luck Troy, let us know if you have any more questions, post up some pics, hope you guys have a great hunt. Used to love taking my kid out for youth weekend.

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Guy] #8041281 11/07/20 04:01 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
T
Troy king Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
Originally Posted by Guy
Good luck Troy, let us know if you have any more questions, post up some pics, hope you guys have a great hunt. Used to love taking my kid out for youth weekend.

Thanks i sure will

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Guy] #8043596 11/09/20 04:29 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
T
Troy king Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
Originally Posted by Guy
Good luck Troy, let us know if you have any more questions, post up some pics, hope you guys have a great hunt. Used to love taking my kid out for youth weekend.

Well the Mallards didn't stay to play, only had a couple small groups left that worked to the call and the decoys but we had a great time anyway. He shot two wood ducks and a spoonbill flying bat 40 miles an hour.... But missed a mallard Drake hovering over the decoys like a hummingbird roflmao.. The dog made three great retrieves [Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8044046 11/09/20 09:51 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 86
T
TBS12 Offline
Outdoorsman
Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 86
All smiles in the photos. Can't be a weekend like that

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Troy king] #8044188 11/09/20 11:18 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Guy Online Content
THF Celebrity
Online Content
THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,409
Awesome! Is that a private lake? That is a huge private lake if it is! That boat blind looks pretty good too! Normally they stick out like sore thumb, but that one looks pretty good!

Re: Youth season this weekend what would you do [Re: Guy] #8045501 11/10/20 08:21 PM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
T
Troy king Offline OP
Outdoorsman
OP Offline
Outdoorsman
T
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 80
Originally Posted by Guy
Awesome! Is that a private lake? That is a huge private lake if it is! That boat blind looks pretty good too! Normally they stick out like sore thumb, but that one looks pretty good!

Thanks..the birds we hoped for We're on private land which we hunted the first morning.... Those pictures are from the second morning on public land.... This is our first year to have a mud boat and use a boat blind... I've been working on it for a month... That is actually synthetic grass.. with some switch cane limbs to help it blend in for greenery.

Last edited by Troy king; 11/10/20 08:24 PM.
Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread

© 2004-2024 OUTDOOR SITES NETWORK all rights reserved USA and Worldwide
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.3