coot decoys in spread

Second, all-coot spreads are extremely natural in appearance. Coots… in Idaho they’re a dime a dozen. But, we weren’t done just yet. Species and sex? When ducks get use to seeing the same over and over and over, making a little different spread makes a world of difference. How many times has your fancy mallard or mallard-mix rig been out-shone by 30 live coots? It's nice, too, to know that if you do encounter these non-mallards, you have those same non-mallards in your spread. No, sir, but with enough consistency as to qualify them as Old Standbys. By placing one or two of these decoys about 50 to 100 yards away from your waterfowl decoys, … A pull of the string sets the whole knot to thrashing as if to say, "Hey! Yet, most people don’t use them as decoys. NEBRASKA GAME AND PARKS COMMISSION It happens just … I look at coot decoys and their role in the waterfowler's arsenal in three ways. Thus, the so-called good ducks don't encounter such rigs often and theoretically won't hesitate to decoy. These polymer decoys add realism to your decoy spread and will help you put more birds in your lap. What Dirty Harry was spotlighting was the importance of noting the situation, evaluating the situation, and only then, reacting to that specific situation in a manner applicable to those unique circumstances. Department . I'll never forget the day Buck Gardner-NOTE: Buck, in case you've lived under a rock for the past 40 years, has made his living and his reputation crafting and blowing duck calls-told me in no uncertain terms, "If I had to choose between a duck call and a jerk cord, I'd choose a jerk cord 100 percent of the time." The Spread-Setter will allow hunters to deploy decoys in water depths from as shallow as 6 inches, to as deep as 15 feet. Coot decoys can assist you in your hunting in a few different ways. Split Groups w/Coot & Bluebill. And, let me know if you have any luck. Bring more ducks and coots: Coots and ducks rarely travel alone, and the decoy is enough to trick more coots to come to the area. A common problem is that the decoy spread is not a spread at all, but more of a knot. "If," he said with a laugh, "a smew happens by, I want to know that I've got at least one smew decoy out there.". Finally, add a couple of clear coats of flat spray. These decoys measure 11-1/2" from breast to tail and because sexes are alike all 1 dozen decoys … Coots, however, are a confidence decoy for many ducks. A weighted keel can be added for stability in rough water. Here’s why… Coots are a confidence builder. They measure approx. Taking a red paint we added color to the center of the eyes and then a small patch at the top of the bill where it meets the front of its head. Coots… in Idaho they’re a dime a dozen. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Ordered 6 Snow Goose Full Body Decoys to check them. Clipping three or four coot decoys to a single jerk cord looks about as natural as any illusion you can create with decoys. It will give your spread a different feel than the all mallard rigs that the birds have been seeing lately (and getting shot at while doing so)! Happy hunting! I'll leave them in the box till I get to my lodge in Saskatchewan so they will pack easy. Avg. 125 likes. Get out there and create some breathing room. Collector ready to move a few to make room for a few more. Carloss used the lesson wisely, but added that he only has a few of the black-pained soft drink bottles in his spread. I know I didn’t think to use them until recently. When I've done it, I've set 20 to 25 coot decoys in a tight-feeding mass, with a minimum of two pair of those tethered to jerk cords. No one rig and its variables of numbers, placement, movement, type, species, sex or any of a dozen other factors, works all the time; however, there are a handful of elemental spreads that will produce under most conditions, coast to coast. Then by leaving a larger, more defined, opening in your spread you will be providing the ducks a clear spot that they can comfortably land. Keep in mind that the longline must remain perfectly straight for the spread to work effectively, and decoys should be spaced just 4 to 5 feet apart to prevent ducks from landing in gaps short of the kill hole. On numerous occasions we’ve had coots move in and sit among our decoys and it never fails, within minutes other ducks feel confident and fly in. When it comes to ducks and decoy spreads, perhaps the best advice is Eastwood's words. Coots are a confidence builder. When I've done it, I've set 20 to 25 coot decoys in a ti… First, there aren't many men brave enough to deploy an all-coot spread, and as such, all-coot spreads are few and far between. Adding coot decoys on the fringe of your spread adds an element of realism and visual mass that can be seen at great distances From the air. TRY COOTS! Under most circumstances, I subscribe to what I call The Random Placement Theory of decoy rigging. ADD THESE COOTS TO YOUR DECOY SPREAD AND MAKE ANY WATERFOWL CONFIDENT ABOUT LANDING IN YOUR SPREAD. When hunters set up in the dark, they often end up with a tight, unnatural look. Think about repositioning the decoys in loose pairs that don’t sit in any specific pattern. Confidence is key for wary waterfowl and by adding some Coot decoys is a great way to entice even the most guarded of waterfowl to commit to your hunting set-up. All customers get FREE Shipping on orders over $25 shipped by Amazon. The lighweight keels make movement as real s it gets. Collector ready to move a few to make room for a few more. How many times has your fancy mallard or mallard-mix rig been out-shone by 30 live coots? I mean, who isn't going to give a wide berth to the man who arrives at the ramp with a bag full of coot blocks over his shoulder? Try mixing your decoy spread up a bit. Here’s why…. How Can You Use Coot Decoys Effectively In Hunting? Free Shipping by Amazon. To get more shots at ducks, try deploying coot decoy spreads that include a few pairs of duck decoys. “Late season, we add lots of coot decoys to our spread, putting them on the outside edges with our decoys within 25 yards of boat, giving the ducks a good landing spot. There's a pile of good eats down here!" To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. And, late in the season most ducks have been shot at so many times they’re leary of the typical mallard spread. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. by M.D. It may take a few coats to make it stick and stay. As for gender, mine's a 50/50 mix of drakes to hens, give or take; however, I will use drake spoonbills and sprig because the white does show at a distance. Six widgeon, sprig, grey ducks, or spoonbills in your blocks separate your rig from the countless all-mallard rigs that birds have encountered throughout the season. I've used a small bunch of coot decoys just insidethe teal and mallards for years. First, use a piece of sand paper or a wire brush to get rid of any dirt or debris. Add more realism and visual mass on the edges of your duck spread with Higdon Outdoors Standard Coot Duck Decoys. And finally, there are coots and the public land waterfowler. Second, all-coot spreads are extremely natural in appearance. 8. Coming from a World Champion and the Champion of Champions"¦well, that says a whole lot about jerk cords. Eastern Washington's Ben Holten, a wonderful young man and talented taxidermist, hunts over self-worked stuffer Canadas. Adding coot decoys on the fringe of your spread adds an element of realism and visual mass that can be seen at great distances from the air. Every time? I know I didn’t think to use them until recently. They are: Use to create a good spread: By using a number of decoys you can create a convincing spread to bring more game in for your hunting. My personal favorite rig for puddlers? It's not, as Mr. Gardner says, rocket science. Whenever possible, set up spreads so incoming birds must look into the rising or setting sun behind the hiding sportsmen. When the time comes to pack up, the line will neatly retract into the enclosed spool almost instantaneously- no more wet hands, no more tangled lines. Skittish ducks will feel safe if they see coots. After that was done we put a small piece of masking tape across the front of the bill so a small section remains black. Your mallards look different, your 'cans look different, and your Canadas, they look different, too. Along with coots I like to use decoys most other hunter never use, such as shovelers, gadwalls, pin tails and so on. Decoys carvers primarily from eastern Carolina (one of the nations carving "hot spots") Widgeon love coots! Well, in most cases, I'm walking into my hunting area, so my rig is small in number - a dozen, perhaps 18 at the most. I'll give them a try there and if they hold up well I'll buy some more for Arkansas. The heads are new original Herters coot heads with custom paint. You have an inexpensive coot spread that doesn’t look like other hunters and will surely give ducks the confidence needed to decoy in. After a few coats on the bill they really started to look like coots. Add some confidence to your spread this upcoming season. So, my husband and I decided to turn our old Final Approach mallards into coots. This way you still create a funneling effect but you will simply not be utilizing the entire width of the river. The sun turns hunters into silhouettes and forces birds to … I run a little bit of everything in terms of species, including widgeon, gadwall, shovelers, ringnecks and three subspecies of teal, as well as the obligatory mallards and pintails. Canvasback drake decoys are often used in greater numbers because the bright pop of their white body is eye-catching from a distance. Select another color to get back on track. Then we painted the bill with a vanilla color. First, there aren’t many men brave enough to gun over an all-coot spread, and as such, all-coot spreads are few and far between. The same Steve Sutton who religiously clips his smew and Labrador duck decoys to the main lines fashions his fakes from wood, cork, and old crab floats. Bluebill and redhead decoys are used to fill in most of the rest of the spread, while some hunters also use other diving duck or mallard decoys … Diving ducks are species that actively dive underwater to feed, which include canvasback, bluebill, redhead, goldeneye, or bufflehead ducks. Sports & Outdoors; Hunting Decoys; Hunting Decoy Accessories; See All 2 Departments. STD 24 Standard Weighted Keel Coot The Sport-Plast Coot is the perfect decoy for those who love to hunt diver ducks. Decoy Spreads for Diving Ducks. Sometimes you may want to place several small groups of decoys closely … Never hunted with Coot Decoys before? How many times has your fancy mallard or mallard-mix rig been out-shone by 30 live coots? It's like Steve Sutton, an avid sea-ducker from Washington State who includes a European smew and an extinct Labrador duck in his scoter spread, told me. I look at coot decoys and their role in three different lights. Coot Spread. Use some puddle ducks in a feeding mass to one side or some widgeons or spoons on the side or up in the bend of your U or J rig. Moulded from original world-class carvings and painted with high detail. Ducks often steal bits of vegetation that coots bring up from the bottom. It's all about realism, and at the risk of repeating myself, it's all about giving the birds something different. Whenever coots are in the area you're hunting, you might want to consider setting at least a dozen coot decoys out to the side of your duck decoys. Try a 6 pack to help pull ducks to your blind or snag a few boxes to really give that added boost over your fellow hunters this season. They just throw them out and hope. GHG Coot duck decoys. Great blue herons are among the wariest bird species in North America. A small knot of bluebills off to one side or a cluster of four or five drake pintails not only accomplishes this air of distinction, but these species' predominantly white coloration makes your spread highly visible. This also makes them rough enough for the paint to stick. Whether … Consequently, confidence decoys representing this species are among those most used by waterfowlers. What you would do is simply eliminate the decoys that are on the shore across from the hunters and have an opening of the “U” be out into the water about 40 yards. Thus, the so-called good ducks don't encounter such rigs often and theoretically won't hesitate to decoy. However, you can still use this duck decoy spread even if the body of water is larger. First, there aren't many men brave enough to deploy an all-coot spread, and as such, all-coot spreads are few and far between. (Illustration by Peter Sucheski) Diving ducks tend to decoy to the head of a rig because of the way they feed. The problem with even today's ultra-realistic decoys is they lack movement. Throw a simple-to-make, inexpensive, and very portable jerk cord into the mix, and you've eliminated this problem entirely. It stands out, and that's what you want it to do. A good share of hunters anymore don't even make a spread. It shows mallards on one side of the landing area and coots and/or bluebills on the other. 125 likes. A common sight on lakes and slow moving waters all over North America, these realistic duck-like Coot decoys will help your spread come to life and give you closer, cleaner shots this season. And now, the arrangement itself. They come packed tight but took there shape back easy. And finally, there are coots and the public land waterfowler. After swimming submerged and feeding on the bottom, birds at the rear … Matt goes over why he likes to run coot decoys in his duck spread while out hunting. Secondly, all-coot spreads can prove the ultimate in naturalism. Freddie Zink carves details and paints mirror images of Canadas so real, you'd have to ask which is wood and which is flesh and blood. Johnson | M & J Outdoor Communications, Migration Alert: Northeast Waterfowlers Hope for Strong Finish, Migration Alert: Late Arrivals Improve Success Rates for California Hunters, There are a handful of elemental spreads that will produce under most conditions. eBay is not affiliated with or endorsed by Coot. But, looking back at past hunts I should’ve realized coots are like black gold. Use coot decoys for ducks. Old Coot Decoys, smyrna. A pull of the string sets the whole knot to thrashing as if to say, "Hey! You can use many species - widgeon, teal, pintails, whatever. Add more realism to your duck spread with this set of true-to-life Coot Decoys from Hard Core Decoys®. After all, I hunt so as to relax. Second, all-coot spreads are extremely natural in appearance. Over-sized for maximum visibility in the water.

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