We've experienced something a little different this year.
Since the ducks are making themselves scarce, you sitll go because you never know what's going to show-up from day to day......and what's going to 'drop-in'.
Today was the third time we've worked honkers into the timber. The first two times, we didn't even have any decoys out. And there was another day that 2 groups ofo 12-15 birds swung by to take a look......the 2nd group made 3 passes over the boat and couldn't see what was 'calling'. I quit working them in hopes that we'd get another chance to work'em in close....over decoys.
This morning, we had 2 groups work about 3/4 mile away and I quit calling for a second, to switch-out to BB's. When I got back on the call, I couldn't pull them to us.......they'd already made up their mind.
The third group ended-up being a pair. I heard them a long way off and started calling and stayed on it 'til I saw them coming over the trees in a 'straight-on' approach toward the boat blind. They were 'bowed-up' and dropping hard, keying on the pair of honker decoys we put-out now. That's what you get-up at 3:30 every day for, right there. About 40 yds out they pitched hard to our right instead of slightly left (where the decoys were) and we had to take the shot at about 28yds before they put some cypress trees between us.
I figured......a pair landing too close to another pair is a confrontational move, even at this time of year.......thus the reason they pitched away from the decoys. So, we'll either put-out a few more honkers or leave well-enough alone and see what happens.
A 'working' dog is a 'Happy' dog.
'Can't wait for tomorrow. If those other 2 groups work the same area a couple of days in a row, we'll try a set-up over there and see if we can keep adding to the 'timber' honker tally. They work a lot better than gadwalls.
Like everybody else though, I'll be anxiously awaiting a flight of big ducks to liven things up a bit. Until then - honkers save the day.
