Specklebellies in a duck blind
 

I've always read where they say specks don't like to light around ducks so to keep decoys separated. But I see pics of people with decoys all mixed together killing geese as well. So does it come down to when you're on the X it doesn't matter what you're decoys look like, but if you're gonna pull them out of traffic it makes a difference? Just looking for some insight from some people who are more successful at it than me


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I've been in a blind and got some low "fly by's" by specs and killed them.

We kill plenty of limits of specks over duck spreads. Has more to with blind concealment. Also specks dont like spinners.

Specks hate spinners, I have called specks in on just duck decoys and called ducks in on speck decoys, just where you at and how they felling that day

I use a robo in a remote. I separate my duck and goose decoys. I set my goose decoys way up wind away from the blind as to have them not concentrate on the blind. Kill lots of limits of specks in a 4ft deep marsh on the reg.

Also you have to know how to call. That's helps too.

I will say this though. I have a cousin and a buddy of mine who are so darn good at calling those ba$tards in they call them in with the robos going. Not sure how they do it but they are good at it

Thanks guys. I guess I wasn't clear in my original post. I know that they hate spinners and I know that concealment is key. I have a call and know how to run it well enough and am always practicing and trying to get better.

My question was mostly in reference to speck decoy placement in relation to duck decoys and the blind and the levee and everything


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Some days you will kill em some days you won't, sometimes they will start flaring as soon as they get over the water, the next day they will come right in

The only decoy tip I would give you is to not worry about finishing the specks right in the hole out front like most duck spreads are set. Set them where the specks will have to pass directly over the blind (in theory). I assumed that you always needed some decoys real close to the blind so they could pick out where the calling is coming from and see geese. But that was not the case for the most part. After hunting a spot a few times you'll be able to pick up on where the geese like and don't like to cross a levee or whatever while working. Use that and your wind together to get them over you and take what they give you. And I know some people like to mix pins in with their specks.

not a lot of experience, but have hunted with people who do. the blinds were pure duck blinds, so geese were just a plus. so, they had the typical duck decoy spread front and back, but had 12 - 24 good decoys set out by themselves a little away from the ducks. Also if on a clean levee, had goose decoys standing on levee. Can't beat those flocked goose decoys.

In rice field I put ducks on one side that's flooded opposite side I usually have w 2-3 inches of water and put specks on that side always 60-70 yds upwind forcing the specks to work between the decoys and levee


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I like mixing full body specks with full body pins. Its all about fooling the bird. the levees will only play to your disadvantage if they are really tall, but if they are groomed you can put your decoys as close or as far away.
If hunting a rice field, personally, I like to put specks into family groups 3-4 birds. I'll put all my full bodies on one side of the levee up wind of me and have 3-4 down wind coming straight across the blind. As much as I like decoying birds, Your ideal shot are birds on top of you. Having a spread like I am saying, allows me to get those birds to focus on one flock of birds then focus on another flock of birds. Concealment is huge because of how the birds are working. But it also takes the focus of the birds off the blind and onto the other group once the pass up the first group.

I hope you understand what I am trying to say lol I can try and get a picture drawn up as to what I mean if you don't understand

Very good info sir! Thank you! It is rice but they will be craw fishing it so I'm thinking full bodies will be sketchy unless I can make some adjustments. If you can get that drawn up I would really appreciate the visualization.


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If its going to be crawfished its going to be tough to kill much of anything out of it.

early in the season, water is good... everything is looking for water. if you just flew across country, wouldnt you look for water. so my opinion, early season water is more of an advantage. later in the year i would say water will be tougher to consistently kill over.

obviously we are talking about 2+ feet of water since it a crawfish pond, and not 8-10"

solid strategy..........I set family groups as far as 60 yards up wind.........

Yep I will get a draw up today for you.

Also geese don't know how deep water is until they land, Little cheat i use 1/4 Re-bar or how ever you spell it get the length you need and use full body's all about confusing the bird!

So this is a rough drawing. If there is something you don't understand feel free to let me know. This drawing was assuming birds were coming out the south. Water on the south end of blind dry on the north end. Your ideal shot on these birds are on top of the blind. Generic duck decoy set up. Means nothing. Use the set up you are comfortable with.

Thanks for the drawing! Very helpful!


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How do y'all use snow/blue decoys in relation to specks?


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I body them up. Off to the side of the speck decoys. I only use full bodies though. Red leg on here smacks the snows. But he's also unbelievable on a snow call. I never thought there was any talent of buzzard calling till I heard him. So he will be the guy to ask.

^^X2
Everyone can take advantage of fog and accidentally kill a mess of snows, but that guy has it down to an art.


Aubrey, if you're getting on the blind I'm thinking you are, cut you some 3' or so pieces of small diameter PVC or conduit and "pass some spray paint on dat." Just stick those however deep you need and put your full bod stakes in the PVC so they'll be above the water

I don't plan on killing more than one or two lost snows, but I have a few decoys and figured it couldn't hurt to have em out there?


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And for the record, in no way do i expect to go out and smash limits of specks on a regular basis out of this blind. But i like calling them and i like killing them so I just would like to know how to put myself in the best situation to do so


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Over the last 10 years I have had the pleasure to hunt some great land and I have been very fortunate to have had many great hunts, I guess about 3 years ago I picked up a crawfish pond for what the farmer said was strictly ducks I had a goose pit so i figured if I could get a few ducks down that would be a added bonus. Well opening morning of duck I hunted that blind killed 11 ducks but limited out 4 guys with specks, and it only went up from there. We ended up having a bang up year with specks in a field everyone told me I might shoot 5 specks all year. Now I having said that you must know a lot of factors came into place.

1) location was good we had a good morning and afternoon speck flight
2) blind concealment was key and played a huge roll in our success with the specks
3) calling, now I am by no means a great call, I am average and I am able to kill birds day in day out, but knowing how the calling differed when hunting over water to when I was hunting dry field was huge
4) decoy placement. Like I explained earlier have the battle is tricking the birds. just because you have deep water does not mean the specks no its deep water.

This blind could be better then you expect, Just remember to be ready for anything.

As far as snow decoys thats just one more thing you'll have to do and based upon that is why I never set them out.

In y'all's experiences, are full bodies worth the extra trouble and money if I'm just gonna be hunting over water anyway?


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I live and die by the full body. I will not waste money on shells, rags, silos, etc I only by full bodies. I find they work better. They look better etc

I understand the rags, silos, shells. But over water full bodies still better than floaters?


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I find they work so much better. I'll never by floaters either. I feel like specks prefer to land where they can walk (or at least think they can walk).
Plus full bodies look better stick out more.

[QUOTE=speck-addict;808366]
3) calling, now I am by no means a great call, I am average and I am able to kill birds day in day out, but knowing how the calling differed when hunting over water to when I was hunting dry field was huge
QUOTE]
Please elaborate on this. The best hunts I've been on have been over a dry set aside field last season, but that was with friends who are experienced callers. I had a few good hunts at my blind over water while I was the one calling. I haven't had enough experience yet to really tell a difference in the way the birds react over water vs over dry ground. Keep in mind the dry field was in a heavily pressured area, and my spot over water was in Central LA where the specks don't get called at as much as down south (I think that's why I was able to kill a few). I could barely cluck as of then (last season).

[quote=C-Bass2mouth;808608]So calling over water to specks is Like hunting open water for ducks verse timber.
The sound will stay high and louder If you have water not by much but enough to where If you don't some what adjust those birds will know something is different.

Also look as geese congregate more in dry field rather then flooded fields you calling style (at least in my experiences) changes. Dry field more clucks especially fast exciting double clucks, less 2 or 3 note yodels once you get the birds to start working. In a flooded field I find a lower quieter call only when need to works better. example get there attention with a 2 or 3 note yodel work them down throw in a few clucks more single/soft finishing double clucks but when they swing out work them like a duck 2 or 3 note yodels.

And all this varies caller to caller I have seen other techniques work, but that is what works day in day out for me.

Leave snow/blue dekes at the house....unless you have 1000 of em.

True dat!!! This is the only answer there is. Now, If you got 1000, put em all out!!

floaters are just as good as full bodies.


dont forget, you are trying to trick a bird, not land a space shuttle on the moon.

Sometimes out there though, I feel like a space shuttle would be easier.


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I think I figured it out.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/2016...14a1a3901b.jpg


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just dont use sunflower seeds... they float

LOL so you been told right?

Always use corn upwind want them to work between the corn and blind and molasses works better


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Corn

Ah...yes...the old 'Golden Retriever'.

Yep.

I guess just personally I have had better and more consistent luck using full bodies. To each there own.

Full bodies on spray painted pvc. Don't mess with floaters.

wfastabend---Full bodies on spray painted pvc. Don't mess with floaters.


Elaborate on this please.....

basically he is saying use PVC to get the decoys above the water line so that the whole decoy is present. Using spray paint allows you to cover up the bright, non realistic white stake that you have placed you decoy on.

Gotcha..... Well in that case, I have mine on pvc poles. When they are close enough to see that white pvc, it's time to kill em.

Yessir... all the spray paint does is breaks up the white same ol BS about the white on your eyes and how ducks can see that.

all the birds I get are traffic,no X,same blind day in and out


I like full bodies---depicts shallow water---although floater or 2 mixed in adds movement


I put decoys all around blind regardless of wind in small family groups---in my experience they are coming straight to the call,seems like they don't even pay attention to the decoys,BUT THEY DO,just seems that way


Constantly putting grass on blind,especially over top


no open ponds made around blind or buffaloed just around blind---entire field looks same


no atv tracks to blind unless in flood where tracks completely unseen


clear,good wind----call aggressive,do what you want
clear,no wind---call wayyy soft into grass to kill echo
cloudy ,no wind---screwed,unless fog,then very limited calling and or blue goose murmur or subtle speck scratch
cloudy,hard wind---moderate calling,give them room to work,cant horse them


I do things different and this is just my opinion