Opinion Needed Trouble Decoying Birds

[huskerbowhunter]

Chased geese in fields pretty much all weekend...Birds were very thick...A majority of the geese would setup on us to about 70-80 yards, put on their landing gear, some would be corn shucking, and then just flair big time. Countless flocks did this, and obviously something was wrong. Not sure what it was, we were just doing soft clucks for calling, blinds were concealed pretty dang good, and I thought the spread looked good. Was running around 70 or so dekes. Ive been watching and listening to the birds in fields, and it seems like they are still in family groups, so I setup with a couple families about 100 yards on both side of the blinds downwind to setup somewhat of a U. 50/50 active to feeder in these groups. We loaded the geese up pretty solid around the blinds, with a majority of them being feeders. Had em all feeding into the wind with this stronger wind. I know that not very much information but I don't know what else to tell you guys. Any suggestions or tips you guys had would be appreciated!

[slakline]

Doesn't take much to make 'em flare. ...." blinds were concealed pretty dang good" may not be good enough. Dig 'em down if need be.

Any motion in your dekes ? If you're running any mojos for ducks you gotta make sure they're off for geese.

I'm sure there could other reasons....could just of been one of those days..???

[huskerbowhunter]

Originally Posted by slakline

Doesn't take much to make 'em flare. ...." blinds were concealed pretty dang good" may not be good enough. Dig 'em down if need be.

Any motion in your dekes ? If you're running any mojos for ducks you gotta make sure they're off for geese.

I'm sure there could other reasons....could just of been one of those days..???

Ya thats one of the bad things is the farmer won't let us dig the blinds in, but I thought I made up for that with extra stubble but who knows? Otherwise the blinds would have definitely been dug in. All the dekes were on those motion stakes, and I didn't even mess with ducks tonight...Thanks for all the suggestions

[Vikes forever]

We had a similar problem earlier in the season. We cut back on our calling and that seemed to help.

It's so hard to say, they can be damn finicky some days so you might be better off just chalking it up to one of those days.

[AnglerX]

How many blinds were out?

Is the truck out of view?

Like everyone else it may have been one of those days?

[huskerbowhunter]

We had 3 blinds out, and yes the trucks were out of sight. Do you guys usually have the blinds very tight, or leave some room between them? I guess we might just have to chalk it up to one of those days

[Zach Mayhew]

George Lynch says to put the blinds like 30 yards in front of your decoys. He also says to have about half your decoys on motion stands and make them right behind you so that the geese have something to focus on.

[fishman34]

could be cause I wasn't there to show ya how.......tc and I had the same problem wednesday with a couple flocks of geese, they worked the decoys fairly well, then decided to flare big time and be on there merry way....who knows what they saw that they didnt like....

[sweet papa]

If the wind is blowing, and your blind is above ground you have to have your decoys set up so that the birds don't have to go over your blind once they set up. Also when the geese get closer and are set up--stop calling

[Alex T.]

so I setup with a couple families about 100 yards on both side of the blinds downwind to setup somewhat of a U

How do you cover the edges with it that wide? I never set a spread wider than we can cover shooting.

blinds were concealed pretty dang good

keep stuffing crap in those stubble straps.Pile loose stubble around the blind to break down the edges more.

blinds downwind to setup somewhat of a U

Now,if you have dekes too far downwind and the birds realize they're fake......flare time. I never have decoys so far in front ya can't shoot if they flare over them.

As far as the blinds go....we usually have a few feet(2-6) between them.Just enough room to have some dekes between them. However,I know guys that run them right next to each other;so who knows if either is better.

There is no absolute right way to set dekes.However,there are some wrong ways IMO. Blinds can never be camoed enough IMO. Guys sticking their head out of the blind(aka..prairie doggin' or turkey neckin') is about the biggest pet peeve of mine when using laydowns. If your'e dealing with squeekers...I feel your pain.

Alex

[huskerbowhunter]

Originally Posted by Alex T.

How do you cover the edges with it that wide? I never set a spread wider than we can cover shooting.

keep stuffing crap in those stubble straps.Pile loose stubble around the blind to break down the edges more.

Now,if you have dekes too far downwind and the birds realize they're fake......flare time. I never have decoys so far in front ya can't shoot if they flare over them.

As far as the blinds go....we usually have a few feet(2-6) between them.Just enough room to have some dekes between them. However,I know guys that run them right next to each other;so who knows if either is better.

There is no absolute right way to set dekes.However,there are some wrong ways IMO. Blinds can never be camoed enough IMO. Guys sticking their head out of the blind(aka..prairie doggin' or turkey neckin') is about the biggest pet peeve of mine when using laydowns. If your'e dealing with squeekers...I feel your pain.

Alex

I'm going to have to try to tighten my spread next time I go out. The only reason I really switched it was to mimick birds in the fields. I have some pretty quality dekes so I figured the side groups wouldn't really affected em that much, but maybe it did? I still figured they would come up the middle, but maybe it wasn't defined or tight enough. The birds never really flaired over the dekes, but it did seem that right when they got about even with that first group coming up the middle thats when they started to flair.

[Patrick Olson]

Probably 90% of the time when birds flare it is because they bust you. Decoys are so seldom a cause for flaring birds, that they are about last on my list on things to change. Almost any time birds flare with a sharp wing beat, they saw you.

One hand or nose out of the layout blind and they will catch you. Improper blind placement and it makes the job much harder. Remud all the blinds, we do it about every hunt. We usually stack the blinds right next to one another, but it all depends on how well the fields hide.

If your friends prairie dog all the time, leave them at home. Try hiding outside the decoy spread, setting up with a crosswind is a great way to do it. Canadas will almost always turn towards the calls at the last second regardless of the wind direction, so rarely are the shots difficult.

PO

[Luv2Decoy]

If you are hunting the small birds (squeakers, chickens) we have noticed to keep on the calls hard until you call the shot. Some guys tend to get quieter as they get closer and I think it makes the birds suspicious. My 2 cents.... worth what you paid for it.

[BPbowhunter]

I would guess your hide wasn't good enough. Most of the time birds flare is because the blinds aren't hidden good enough, or someones peekin' out.

[Alex T.]

Probably 90% of the time when birds flare it is because they bust you

One reason I really don't get out of the blinds much. Even flipping the doors closed will give the birds something to notice and something to think about as they take a look at the spread.

but it did seem that right when they got about even with that first group coming up the middle thats when they started to flair.

leave them a good wide area to work up to ya. Usually none of our decoys are more than 10yds. in front of us(and then around and behind),except the little group of sentries I usually put about 15yds. out to give the birds a distinct group to focus on and hopefully land near.Plus,it gives a range for when to call the shot.

Alex

[AnglerX]

the geese would setup on us to about 70-80 yards, put on their landing gear

Of course that's when Foiles would call the shot

AnglerX takes his Zinks call and practices in the corner..