Learning how to duck hunt can be great fun.
The easiest way to prepare a dog to ignore a floating decoy is to condition the dog before the hunt to leave decoys alone. For starters, take the dog out after you have set out a small spread of decoys – let’s say five to seven – on the lawn and walk the dog through them. Let the dog know you don’t want him to pick up these decoys. They are taboo.
After we make the dog comfortable around the decoys to the point that he’s not picking them up, we can start throwing the training dummy into the decoys and have him retrieve the dummy out of the decoys until he’s very comfortable with the concept. You must also be careful that you don’t make the dog afraid of the decoys (for example, by applying collar stimulation when you shouldn’t). You want to make sure the dog is comfortable moving around amid the decoys and not trying to retrieve them for you.
If you know you’re hunting out of a particular boat, be sure to load the dog in and out of the boat a few times so he’s comfortable with it. If you can work it out, take the boat to a lake or pond and let the dog make some short retrieves so he knows where he’s supposed to sit and his entry and exit points. After you have done some of that initial work, it’s time to take the dog out to a pond. Spread out six or seven floating decoys and make sure the dog will retrieve through the decoys.
Always make sure when you put your decoys out that you keep the anchor strings as short as possible or the dog will get tangled in your decoy spread and start dragging them around. A young dog can become afraid of a floating decoy if he has become tangled in the anchor string and the decoys bumps him a few times. We don’t want that.
Many dogs don’t hear a duck or goose call until the first time they hunt. When they do, they can’t identify the noise and it causes excitement and confusion. You need to condition your dogs to the call. Use the call while you’re training them.
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Deer hunting action from the ground! Join Dave Skinner from Lost River Game Calls and camera man Seth Mannion as they bow hunt a monster whitetail in Southern Ohio. This buck is a true mature whitetail, a result of quality deer manangement. Stick around for this hunt as Dave grunts this rutting bruiser in to a decoy during the Ohio rut and sets his sights on getting a shot with his bow out of a double bull blind.
Santa Comes To San Jacinto Wildlife Area 22 Dec 2007, JHO Waterfowl, Hunting, Guns, Christmas, Xmas
Jun 14
Santa showed up at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area for the waterfowl shoot. Everyone walked away with a gift from the decoy bag of goodies. More info on San Jacinto WA at www.sjwa.us Info on waterfowl hunting on our Waterfowl forum at www.jesseshunting.com
Spring turkey hunting is considered by most seasoned hunters as the prime turkey hunting season. Several hunters both beginners and veterans scout and prepare fastidiously with information about turkey behavior before setting forth in the woods to bag the trophy turkey at the end of a spring turkey hunting journey.
As early as February when the ice melts and the season brings coldness in the air, humans need warmth either from blankets or from people to provide the needed heat. Same goes for these turkeys. Yes, spring season is official turkey mating season.
How turkeys behave during mating season provides an advantage for a hunter during spring turkey hunting. For example, a mature male turkey or a tom gobbles or creates sounds that attract a female turkey or a hen. Gobbling is a sign of dominance while it waits for ********** hens to be mated by them. Sometimes, the tom scouts the hen’s nesting or roosting area to mate with as many hens as it could.
With that in mind, a good hunter can scout where to set up. Before the hunt or early in the morning, the hunter can observe for places where the hens frequent or nest. A set up can be built near the hens’ nest or roosting area.
A good set up is tantamount, but a strategic turkey call will seal the deal. A turkey call that imitates the hen’s chuckle or yelp is usually performed to attract a tom. Also, coupled with a hen decoy to back up the luring noise, a tom should be approaching a hunter’s set up in no time.
There are other turkey behaviors to be considered during spring turkey hunting. For example, a tom can be extremely territorial that a tom wouldn’t hesitate to attack another tom for a contest at male turkey dominance. When a tom sees another tom near a hen or an area it frequents, it will quickly sprint towards it.
Of course during spring turkey hunting, like fall turkey hunting, it is essential to bring the right gear, and the right attitude. That’s why the best spring turkey hunting tip is for a hunter to maintain a healthy outlook. Too much obsessing or competitiveness may bring more harm than good. So before getting absorbed in the hunt, always observe safety precautions for a hassle-free and enjoyable hunt.
Spring guided snow goose hunting near Missouri’s Squaw Creek NWR in March of 2008 with www.showmesnowgeese.com. Hunting clients and Tanglefree decoy sales reps took 86 geese on this day.
Inside www.takeem.com you will find an extensive resource of duck hunting tips, strategies, and techniques, plus decoy setups, duck calling instruction, boats and blinds, do it yourself plans, and more. Hope you have a great duck hunting season this year and remember to Hunt Safe. Jeff Matura
Inside www.takeem.com you will find an extensive resource of duck hunting tips, strategies, and techniques, plus decoy setups, duck calling instruction, boats and blinds, do it yourself plans, and more. Hope you have a great duck hunting season this year and remember to Hunt Safe. Jeff Matura
Watch Tammy D. Take a Record Book Turkey over the Big Boss Decoy from Ureaduck Decoys.
Tad Brown of Flambeau Outdoors shares secrets for decoy set up. More info: www.turkeyandturkeyhunting.com