FourCurlNation.com
101 Duck Hunting Tips & Tricks Vol. I, II & III
Dan Mikals
1. When utilizing Texas rigged decoys with varying length of line (I prefer 400 lb mono), I color code my TX Rig loops with Brown, Black or Green spray paint. (Can also leave one depth clear) That way when I am picking them up I can easily group them by color/length on my carabineer. Dan - Colleyville, TX
2. If you are using a hunting retriever by all means get them a dog vest. Not only does it look cool but more importantly it keeps them dry and warm as well as protects them from unseen limbs below the surface and also when they go under, over or through barbed wire. They will even serve as a hand warmer in a pinch. Try it. Slide your hands in and you won’t believe how dry and warm it is under that vest. Caution: When on a retrieve keep your eyes on your dog in case he gets snagged on a limb or something. You never know. Dan - Colleyville, TX
3. Place goose decoys in family groups of from 5-12 decoys. Separate the decoys by 2 to 3 feet and separate the family groups by 2 to 3 yards. Families of geese usually like their own space. Duck decoys can be placed in twos and threes. Duck decoys can be randomly placed in 2's, 3's or 4's. Bruce - Kerrville, TX
4. If you need to keep matches or something small like that dry take two spent shells (3.5” 12ga works best), crimp one end and slide it down inside the other. Tight fit, right fit. Keeps matches dry. Dan - Colleyville, TX
5. Making your own jerk string and don’t feel like spending $25.00 for a fancy weight? Bricks work fine and are priced right. Edit: 1 gallon milk jugs filled with sand & gravel work great also. String ties direct to handle OR run string thru handle and turn the decoy into a feeder. Dan - Colleyville, TX
6. Figure out and communicate with all your buddies about the time change in the Fall prior to the hunt. Nothing worse than being “that” guy running late and holding everyone else up. Dan - Colleyville, TX
7. If your hunting partner is left handed have him sit on your right side. He will be able to swing his gun to the right easier. Brandon – Frisco, TX
2. If you are using a hunting retriever by all means get them a dog vest. Not only does it look cool but more importantly it keeps them dry and warm as well as protects them from unseen limbs below the surface and also when they go under, over or through barbed wire. They will even serve as a hand warmer in a pinch. Try it. Slide your hands in and you won’t believe how dry and warm it is under that vest. Caution: When on a retrieve keep your eyes on your dog in case he gets snagged on a limb or something. You never know. Dan - Colleyville, TX
3. Place goose decoys in family groups of from 5-12 decoys. Separate the decoys by 2 to 3 feet and separate the family groups by 2 to 3 yards. Families of geese usually like their own space. Duck decoys can be placed in twos and threes. Duck decoys can be randomly placed in 2's, 3's or 4's. Bruce - Kerrville, TX
4. If you need to keep matches or something small like that dry take two spent shells (3.5” 12ga works best), crimp one end and slide it down inside the other. Tight fit, right fit. Keeps matches dry. Dan - Colleyville, TX
5. Making your own jerk string and don’t feel like spending $25.00 for a fancy weight? Bricks work fine and are priced right. Edit: 1 gallon milk jugs filled with sand & gravel work great also. String ties direct to handle OR run string thru handle and turn the decoy into a feeder. Dan - Colleyville, TX
6. Figure out and communicate with all your buddies about the time change in the Fall prior to the hunt. Nothing worse than being “that” guy running late and holding everyone else up. Dan - Colleyville, TX
7. If your hunting partner is left handed have him sit on your right side. He will be able to swing his gun to the right easier. Brandon – Frisco, TX
8. Have wet boots and no dryer? Stuff some balled up newspaper down in there. The paper will draw out the moisture. Boy that takes me back. Growing up in Cleveland OH I spent many mornings and afternoons walking the 3 miles to and from the bus stop in the snow and sleet, uphill both ways of course. Dan - Colleyville, TX
9. As geese get closer call more excitedly (faster). Feeding flocks of geese often get excited as flying flocks approach. Matt – College Station, TX
10. In a pinch, you can always use a Nickel as a choke wrench. Donald – Fort Wayne, IN
11. When cleaning birds at home, clean them on the side of the sink without the garbage disposal. Steel shot will ruin a disposal eventually. Yes. I learned the hard way… Dan - Colleyville, TX
12. Train your dog to shake off water on command that way you and your buddies can stay dry in the blind. Tip: train him by raising his ear and lightly blowing in it. Head will shake and body will follow. Eventually he will try to beat the annoyance and shake on command. Justin – Boyd, TX
13. Use the lowest profile layout blind you can. The lower the profile of the blind, the less conspicuous it is. What you sacrifice in comfort you gain in more birds coming within gunning range. You want extreme comfort; stay at home on the BARCO lounger. Dan - Colleyville, TX
14. Place your most realistic decoys (full bodies, shells or floaters) on the downwind side of your decoy spread near the "landing zone" where the birds will see them as they approach. Place the least realistic decoys (silhouettes, windsocks and rags) farthest from the view of the approaching birds. Jason – Azle, TX
15. If you take a thermos out with you fill it with boiling water BEFORE you fill it with coffee. This will heat the metal up and keep the coffee piping hot all day. I can hunt from dawn till dusk and have a warm cup on the ride home. Oh and it helps to have a thermos that doesn’t fully open up, but instead opens a little slit for pouring when you press the top. Dan - Colleyville, TX
16. Like the idea of face paint but hate the cleanup after the hunt? Having experienced the anxious clerk nervously reaching below the counter when I walk in the store with full on face paint, well, it’s a bit unnerving for all involved. Better to take a wine cork, light it on fire, blow it out or run it under water, then wipe the burnt end on your face (make sure it’s not still hot), for a cheap easy to clean face mask. Dan - Colleyville, TX
17. If you ever need a quick patch on your waders but don’t have a patch kit, guerrilla glue will do wonders. Dan - Colleyville, TX
18. Pee break with waders: Take the time to pull your waders to your ANKLES not to your waist as the loss of bladder pressure will result in much "dribbling" on your waders which you then have to roll back up on your chest. Edit: When you pee, fold your waders inside in the front so the aforementioned dribbling doesn’t occur inside your waders. Dan - Colleyville, TX
19. Keep extra cloths in your car. Moms – Everywhere, World
20. Tired of your gun sling slipping off your shoulder? Sew a large button on your jacket shoulder. Sling will catch it and hold there while you are walking in and carrying half of creation. Jeff – Denton, TX
21. Many times after a hunt when picking up decoys you inadvertently drag them through the mud, throw em in the back of your truck and fo-ged-a-boud-it. As a result the next time out they are all muddy and dull. Not the looking your working for. Take the extra time “before” putting them in the truck and dunk them at the water’s edge and clean em up. Dan - Colleyville, TX
9. As geese get closer call more excitedly (faster). Feeding flocks of geese often get excited as flying flocks approach. Matt – College Station, TX
10. In a pinch, you can always use a Nickel as a choke wrench. Donald – Fort Wayne, IN
11. When cleaning birds at home, clean them on the side of the sink without the garbage disposal. Steel shot will ruin a disposal eventually. Yes. I learned the hard way… Dan - Colleyville, TX
12. Train your dog to shake off water on command that way you and your buddies can stay dry in the blind. Tip: train him by raising his ear and lightly blowing in it. Head will shake and body will follow. Eventually he will try to beat the annoyance and shake on command. Justin – Boyd, TX
13. Use the lowest profile layout blind you can. The lower the profile of the blind, the less conspicuous it is. What you sacrifice in comfort you gain in more birds coming within gunning range. You want extreme comfort; stay at home on the BARCO lounger. Dan - Colleyville, TX
14. Place your most realistic decoys (full bodies, shells or floaters) on the downwind side of your decoy spread near the "landing zone" where the birds will see them as they approach. Place the least realistic decoys (silhouettes, windsocks and rags) farthest from the view of the approaching birds. Jason – Azle, TX
15. If you take a thermos out with you fill it with boiling water BEFORE you fill it with coffee. This will heat the metal up and keep the coffee piping hot all day. I can hunt from dawn till dusk and have a warm cup on the ride home. Oh and it helps to have a thermos that doesn’t fully open up, but instead opens a little slit for pouring when you press the top. Dan - Colleyville, TX
16. Like the idea of face paint but hate the cleanup after the hunt? Having experienced the anxious clerk nervously reaching below the counter when I walk in the store with full on face paint, well, it’s a bit unnerving for all involved. Better to take a wine cork, light it on fire, blow it out or run it under water, then wipe the burnt end on your face (make sure it’s not still hot), for a cheap easy to clean face mask. Dan - Colleyville, TX
17. If you ever need a quick patch on your waders but don’t have a patch kit, guerrilla glue will do wonders. Dan - Colleyville, TX
18. Pee break with waders: Take the time to pull your waders to your ANKLES not to your waist as the loss of bladder pressure will result in much "dribbling" on your waders which you then have to roll back up on your chest. Edit: When you pee, fold your waders inside in the front so the aforementioned dribbling doesn’t occur inside your waders. Dan - Colleyville, TX
19. Keep extra cloths in your car. Moms – Everywhere, World
20. Tired of your gun sling slipping off your shoulder? Sew a large button on your jacket shoulder. Sling will catch it and hold there while you are walking in and carrying half of creation. Jeff – Denton, TX
21. Many times after a hunt when picking up decoys you inadvertently drag them through the mud, throw em in the back of your truck and fo-ged-a-boud-it. As a result the next time out they are all muddy and dull. Not the looking your working for. Take the extra time “before” putting them in the truck and dunk them at the water’s edge and clean em up. Dan - Colleyville, TX
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