Darren Digby These birds were clearly locked up and coming in, just the way you always want them to. That wing beat begins to slow and the landing gear comes out well before actually touching down. Coming in as if tied to a string and I had the other end, 100 yards and closing. Then in a blink……. nope!
"What could be wrong?" I whispered, "Why aren't they finishing?" The flock had soon set their sights on points elsewhere and were out of view shortly thereafter. It’s easy to place blame on the blind, someone not hiding properly, an overturned decoy, or something left uncovered. But if you’re one of so many duck hunters who routinely puts out a spinning wing decoy (or 5), you’ve got to be prepared to accept that sometimes they just don’t work. And in fact, can even work as a duck repellent!
It can be difficult to accept but the success of your hunt can hinge on whether you’re willing to make a change. So many have seen the spinner mesmerize birds into landing right next to it, seemingly solely responsible for the harvest of so many ducks over the years, especially when initially introduced well over a decade ago.
But the birds have adapted over the years, with many having wised up to the spinning and flashing, so the game really has changed. Has your decoy spread adapted? Are you one of so many in a sort of “Mojo-denial”? As a guide buddy in southwest Louisiana has often said, “the Mojo giveth, and the Mojo taketh away,” acknowledging the two results common to the decoys’ use.
"What could be wrong?" I whispered, "Why aren't they finishing?" The flock had soon set their sights on points elsewhere and were out of view shortly thereafter. It’s easy to place blame on the blind, someone not hiding properly, an overturned decoy, or something left uncovered. But if you’re one of so many duck hunters who routinely puts out a spinning wing decoy (or 5), you’ve got to be prepared to accept that sometimes they just don’t work. And in fact, can even work as a duck repellent!
It can be difficult to accept but the success of your hunt can hinge on whether you’re willing to make a change. So many have seen the spinner mesmerize birds into landing right next to it, seemingly solely responsible for the harvest of so many ducks over the years, especially when initially introduced well over a decade ago.
But the birds have adapted over the years, with many having wised up to the spinning and flashing, so the game really has changed. Has your decoy spread adapted? Are you one of so many in a sort of “Mojo-denial”? As a guide buddy in southwest Louisiana has often said, “the Mojo giveth, and the Mojo taketh away,” acknowledging the two results common to the decoys’ use.
Under the right conditions, the spinner can still be a great tool to attract passing flocks to give your spread a look. The flashing can be seen from a long way and can serve as a flashing billboard advertising the spread you’ve so carefully deployed. The key to success, however, is being able to read the birds and understand when your spinner is doing more harm than good.
Teal are often apt to dive right into the spread, spellbound by the spinners flashing. But the assortment of “big ducks” we commonly work in the area, your grays, wigeon, pintail, mottleds and mallards will often make pass after pass to carefully study your spread. It’s at this point that the details will matter, and you may be better off using a remote to turn the spinner off. If not equipped with a remote, you’d might be better off just putting the decoy away for the day.
On more than a few occasions I’ve witnessed skittish birds refuse to finish with those wings spinning. On recognition of this, the spinner was pulled from the spread and packed away. More often than not, this move can be a game-changer and may be the difference in going home frustrated or making a haul on a hefty strap of birds.
Though I’ve typically erred toward just leaving the decoy at home when in doubt, this year I’ve got a remote installed into my usual unit so will give it a shot by leaving it on for teal, yet switching it off remotely once I’ve got the attention of a passing flock. Stay tuned for an update on this later in the season.
Teal are often apt to dive right into the spread, spellbound by the spinners flashing. But the assortment of “big ducks” we commonly work in the area, your grays, wigeon, pintail, mottleds and mallards will often make pass after pass to carefully study your spread. It’s at this point that the details will matter, and you may be better off using a remote to turn the spinner off. If not equipped with a remote, you’d might be better off just putting the decoy away for the day.
On more than a few occasions I’ve witnessed skittish birds refuse to finish with those wings spinning. On recognition of this, the spinner was pulled from the spread and packed away. More often than not, this move can be a game-changer and may be the difference in going home frustrated or making a haul on a hefty strap of birds.
Though I’ve typically erred toward just leaving the decoy at home when in doubt, this year I’ve got a remote installed into my usual unit so will give it a shot by leaving it on for teal, yet switching it off remotely once I’ve got the attention of a passing flock. Stay tuned for an update on this later in the season.
