mediocre

So I've done my scouting and found the ducks. I've got just the place to set up once the Southern opener begins, but I have a newbie question.

Everywhere I've hunted this year has been shooting at flybys. Nothing working the dekes and nothing landing in the water I'm on. But here the ducks/geese seem to be on that pond more less all day and night. They're there when I do an afternoon hunt (minus the geese) and there there before sunrise and throughout the morning.

If I plan on a morning hunt on opening day and get there early how do I setup without scaring off all the ducks and/or educating the entire pond? Do I just put out the dekes as normal knowing some will take off hoping to get shots at those that circle and come back in? Will they sit tight if I drop decoys in the dark, well before shooting time? Do I skip decoys and quickly get to my spot, setup a blind (public land) and drop dekes later in the morning after a few shots and the ducks have left? I've seen a few ducks come into the pond early morning while scouting but most all of them are already there hours before sunrise.

Thanks in advance for the beginner help.

TheDuckSlayer

Just get in there and scare em all up..set your dekes..they will come back later..unless your able to sit there till the morning without scaring them..and then just jump shoot em..but you only have 3 shells

Glansberg

I would just get there early and set up. The ones you bump off will likely be back since they weren't shot at. just be as quiet as you can. If you are set up early you will likely have ducks sitting in your decoys when its time to shoot.

Skipping the decoys and jumping them right away will get you a couple maybe but then you'll screw yourself over trying to set up when ducks are wanting back in.

Dirty Frank

shooting the roost will most likely be a one and done hunt. if they are roosting there and are there all day...you will get one hunt and that's about it

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Jake5

I agree. It's one thing if they are showing up throughout the day to loaf there for a bit. But if they are there all night like you say...that's says roost to me.
Watch them get up in the morning and find out where they go to feed and hunt there.

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kboock

Agree, hunted private ground from about 15+ years and you just go out throw out your decoys and then wait. You'll get shooting if you just throw out your decoys and then wait until shooting time...the early you get there the better. If you scare them off with natural noise, it's not really going to get them as spooky. You just don't want to be talking abunch or driving your car up to the hole.

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iowasteve64

I agree with both the last posts it sounds like a roost and if ya disturb it theyll be gone. try and find where their feedin set up in between if you cant hunt it.
But it must have some good habitat other ducks may come to it .

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mediocre

Thank you.

Obviously I don't know as much as you guys but I'd assumed it was a roost as well, but the ducks seem to be feeding there (not sure if they feed at roost or not). Lots of snails and underwater plants. I know the geese are only there mornings so not a roost for them. Waited several days for geese to come back in the afternoon to no avail.

Either way, since it's public land if I don't hunt it Sat. somebody else likely will. Might as well be me.

I've avoided openers so far this year... I have a young dog and don't want to ruin somebody else's hunt, what can I expect on opening day on public land? What are the chances of having a 1 acre (pry smaller) pond to myself? Hope 2 am will be early enough to claim my spot.

Gude

Within 30 miles of Cedar Rapids?


Not good.

But good luck. Don't leave any survivors.

jwcarlson

Pretty good until the joggers, dog walkers, and drug sellers show up to Ellis. :lol:

If it's any help my brother and I showed up at 1 AM and someone had already got to the spot we were going to hunt. No clue how they got there, no cars in the lot. It was like they helicoptered in.

No way you can make sure someone doesn't hunt the same hole on public land no matter how early you're there. And if you've seen the ducks someone else has. Best of luck!

kblhdad

Good luck on that early show up time if I was still as mad at he ducks as I used to be I would be there alot earlyier than 2am esp.on public ground popular area or not

Quacker

While I agree with this for the most part, you have to realize where it is at. He is near CR/IC on public ground. There will be others there wether he is there or not. I say, get there early and bump em. Set up and wait it out. 2 am should be early enough, but I do know some smaller areas around CR that people will walk in @ midnight to get their spots.