The Biggest MYTH in Duck Hunting that YOU believe | Is it holding you back? | Duck Hunting Tips

There's a HUGE MYTH in duck hunt that most hunters believe. It's probably holding you back from success. Watch this video and find out Duck Hunting's biggest myth. Get Surviving Duck Season MERCH!! survivingduckseason.com/mercha...
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Joel Strickland (@mrproducersir) is a lifelong waterfowler, duck hunting guide and producer/director in the film and television industry.
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Surviving Duck Season is a first of its kind waterfowling KZbin Channel. Our team is comprised of individuals from across the country who hunt every day of duck season. The waterfowler's lifestyle is more than just duck hunting, and on our channel we have lots of different types of content: Duck and goose hunting videos, cooking, DIY projects, reviews and suggestions on products and gear, and of course lots of tips and tactics. Every week of the year we drop at least one piece of content, so you will always have great waterfowling content to watch, at any time of the year!
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The Biggest MYTH in Duck Hunting that YOU believe | Is it holding you back?
#DuckHuntTips #DuckHunting #SurvivingDuckSeason

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Have you used any of the UNREALISTIC looking products I showed? Let me know!

[@Goosemaster1810]

Yes I have, the oversized Canada goose decoys. Some larger then then one you showed in the video. For the hunting I do black an white goose silhouettes work best. For both geese an ducks. I have hundreds an hundreds of them.

[@Goosemaster1810]

Another good one Joel. Keep em coming brother. As usual GOD BLESS.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thank you David... Blessings.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Right on! I actually have 6 of those giant decoys... G&H had sent them to me years ago for a video we made for them. They haven't gotten much use since we don't really have many Canadas in Arkansas. I was thinking about repainting them for Specklebellies and use them in a layout spread.

[@teekay1785]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason I also have 4 of the Canada decoys bigger than the one you showed as a chair blind

[@nathansmith9244]

When you broke out the super monster magnum honker shell 😂😂😂😂 motion, motion, motion is what I live by!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

😂I thought that might get a laugh!

[@4wheeltom]

Git a few of those flambeau hen mallards cheap from a yard sale. Repainted as coots and work pretty darn good

[@aimkhan83]

I bought a couple of goose floaters from an old fellow, and he offered me 2 dz of old duck floaters for an extra 10 bucks. They're all faded charcoal color with dirty pale bills. All the colorful plumage is gone. I mix them up with other decoys and last season was okay. This season I want to spray paint them and see if it improves my success rate.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Yep, that will probably help!

[@hankandrews9051]

Always a great video every single time! I loved seeing the old stuff. The coke bottle decoys cracked me up!!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thank bro! Yeah I can't believe I found that in my storage shed, after all these years lol!

[@toddlarson883]

Lol you nailed it!! thx for telling it like it is. So many young people feel they can't be a waterfowl hunter because they can't afford $400 a half doz decoys

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Lol thanks Todd. Just calling it like I see it!

[@jonathanmelanson3257]

Best homemade decoys I've seen is made with dead eelgrass. lay it on the back of the duck secure it with a bait bag they use for lobster fishing in Maine or nova Scotia Canada . And if you get on the mud flats and you have a clam hoe or something to turn over the flats Put the eelgrass on top of the individual humps you made with the hoe early morning works best But you still want to be where the ducks want to be

[@jeremybreeden77]

Another great video Joel! I know some guys that kill a lot of divers over milk jugs they've painted white and black.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks Jeremy! Yeah, I've heard of guys doing that.

[@TheDecoyDude]

Mojo’s almost always work great for teal and early in the morning. For divers and late season big ducks I find that they often flair birds in my area (Deep South East Louisiana). Calling works great for the first 2 weeks of the season here but after that use sparingly. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen birds flair from calling on these public marshes. Decoys are a preference thing but for geese, realism is hard to beat. Ducks don’t seem to care as much from my experience. I’ve noticed that the best hunters use more coots decoys than duck. They feel safe to land with coots because they don’t shoot back as often lol Good advice in the video! That’s just my shortlist of things that have worked for ME down here.

[@tercelfish00]

I compleyely agree, I've noticed the same thing in WI on public land over the years.

[@RetrieverTrainingAlone]

Excellent! I live and hunt in interior Alaska. Motion (especially ripples on the water) seems to be the most important...on calm days. I think visibility in flooded grass is also important, so I paint half my decoys flat black and that seems to help, even though our ducks in September are "brown ducks". I also like visible white and black goldeneye dekes in open water...painted some Walmart mallard dekes for this.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Right on! Good stuff.

[@fsbirdhouse]

Taking your advice on going all out. Been gathering the things to do this because I love to tinker with my decoys. The Lucky Duck goose flappers are falling out of favor locally. I've had two given to me. Bought two before that, and see the Canadas veer off from them invariably. So I'm pulling off the wings and making my own spinning wings to slide on the drive shaft that is basically like a Mojo anyway........Really, really big wings. Flocking those white and grey for contrast and kill shine, and mounting them on a dry field inches off the ground in a group of goose decoys. I'll turn them off when geese are coming, but as I have the duck decoys hard against them, the additional movement should be the ticket along with perhaps 8-10 Mojo ducks to leave running as ducks approach or turn off, depending on the ducks behavior that day.

[@jimkeithley7910]

Look forward every week to your videos!!! Thanks Joel.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Awesome, thank you!

[@cfoutdoors243]

Great vid as always. Some people sure go overboard at times with their dekes. Some laugh at some of the beater decoys I run but still work great. Thanks for the great vid and keep them coming 👍👍👍

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Very true! Thanks!

[@machinegreen1911]

Love your videos. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge. My daughter and I are geared up for our first duck hunt in two weeks. Your videos have been my go to for the last few weeks. We're on the north shore of Lake Erie in the marsh lands. I hope she enjoys herself.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

That is awesome! Glad you're enjoying, and I hope y'all have a great hunting season!

[@machinegreen1911]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason Keep the video's coming. I can tell you we've learned so much. Our father/daughter quality time revolves around hunting and shooting sports. You've helped learn and grow. God bless. Stay safe. Big shout out from Leamington Ontario Canada !!

[@teekay1785]

I tried the plastic pieces that you put over a duck decoys head that have wing prints on them and tips move in stronger wind they actually seemed to help a bit at times . I also have some screen printed decoy covers you put over decoys that have worn paint. I love the outlaw silhouettes for geese now many other realistic ones but still like the old outlaws. Many other toys like the robot ball that ran on batteries put in a decoy to act like the newer flutter duck type decoys. Remote control boats with decoy shell on them back in the 70 s when there were no remote decoys etc.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Yeah I had some of those wing print things... They were called flapperz. They made them for canada goose and mallard.

[@joshwachsnicht5884]

Love the video keep up the tips I’m still a beginner and learn a bunch of stuff from you

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Glad to hear it!

[@matthewlee5540]

Our duck season just ended hear in New Zealand I had some great success jump shooting along the lake edges and tributaries in my kayak also got a black swan and Canadian goose. Unfortunately I injured my hamstring draging the kayak up a hill the day befor closing weekend pretty sad to have missed it. I'm going to try one of your recipes out on two gray ducks tonight for dinner Thanks😀

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Sounds great! Sorry bout your leg.

[@alexmont221]

Second season duck hunter going into my third hopefully this year with my boy. Just started watching ur channel and have enjoyed every episode, I need some more to get past the off season lol

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Welcome aboard! I appreciate it!

[@BuckeyeHuntingAndFishing]

I have started changing to better looking decoys and it has seemed to help get more ducks to decoy. Like you said it can be expensive especially when you are field hunting.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Yep, better looking decoys can certainly help... especially on spooky or stale birds.

[@teekay1785]

I would wager the duck but you made was from an ARROW duck made in St Louis MO. They also later made hard plastic ones that looked similar.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I don't know. I have 2 other ones that are in really bad shape that I didn't cut up. They were painted over so I can see no company name or anything.

[@aaronsnatic2446]

Always looking to get better as a hunter! Those coke bottle decoys was pretty cool, had never seen those before. Know people that painted them black and used them directly.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I can vaguely remember buying them.. thinking it was an awesome idea! Then I got a job and bought some real decoys lol

[@pastp3805]

Very good and informative video! One other difference you left out are different places in the country have different laws. For instance in Minnesota where I live I can’t use a spinner anytime of the year in a WMA and only after a certain date outside WMAs. As for realism I have listened to old timers talk about using blocks of wood for decoys and it worked...

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Great point! We have the same deal in Arkansas on WMAs. I've also heard old timers talk about using painted plastic jugs too... pretty crazy!

[@morganyoder4277]

I called a mallard onto a water bottle at my local river a couple months ago, I think it was more the calling but I like to say it was the bottle, either way great content I appreciate what you’re doing.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Good one! and thanks for the comment!

[@alansmith4618]

I used to goose hunt with an older fella that cut blue plastic barrels in half and painted them like a Canada goose, using Styrofoam tubes he painted as a neck and head. He killed a LOT of geese and I had many successful hunts with him.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

That’s cool. Thanks for sharing!

[@4wheeltom]

We have hunted snow geese with plastic grocery backs tied to stakes. Worked way better than I ever expected it to.

[@mightyjoeyoung1390]

Black and white silhouettes have killed more birds (geese) than most guys will ever kill with $350/6 full-bodies. About half of my diver duck blocks are rattle can painted with just the major colors on the birds they represent, some being just B&Was.

[@teekay1785]

YES and I try almost everything new at least once. Most just painted the coke bottles black and many like on REELFOOT LAKE they use gallon jugs painted black for cheap decoys etc. I do think oversized decoys ( not ridiculously oversized) help since they can be seen better and mixing in some with a lot of white on them or some goose decoys even though you are hunting ducks only. We used to make waves with a paddle attached to a stump and a spring to attract ducks it moved a lot of water and worked very well.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Cool stuff!

[@johnemrey9877]

It's illegal to hunt over plastic or metal jugs at Reelfoot. Has been since late 90s. Now, those big ole Filler Killers are okay. I've hunted and killed ducks at Reelfoot over a spread of sandbags with styrofoam in them. So much for high dollar decoys

[@teekay1785]

@@johnemrey9877 yep at least in particular conditions and where the ducts want to be. Of course what is a filler killer but a big plastic jug just made as a decoy. I haven't hunted on Reelfoot lake since early 80 s . I have hunted on private land mainly for geese west of it and North of it just into Kentucky and did well there but from what I know Reelfoot isn't near what it used to be , One thing I have learned in my 60 years of hunting is things change even the "natural" duck holes. Trees grow up and Pin oak flats get cut and refuges get opened. Harvesting of crops gets more efficient machinery leaving less food in the fields . First Geese and now Ducks are short stopping more and more north of Tennessee and Arkansas. Most of these changes happen slowly over time and a given 10 year period change is not as evident but every 20 year period has had definite changes in my lifetime. So now I have seen major changes of at least 3 waves and though I am sad about it I am not totally Discouraged but then I probably have less than one more wave of change to endure,

[@shanefranklin9471]

Only 2 rules I'm locked into. #1- never ever hunt with the wind wrong. #2- If what I'm doing isn't working immediately try something different immediately! Never wait to see what the next bunch does. Can't tell you how many times I've moved decoys SEVERAL times in one hunt and then start killing ducks.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I choose my hunting location based on wind, but very often the wind changes in the middle of the hunt. It's not feasible to relocate. In those situations I just make it work. It's important to me to learn how to deal with unfavorable circumstances since we rarely hunt in ideal situations.

[@joshaudet]

Do you have a video that shows how you manage the decoy Tx rigs? Wrapping the coated line around the keel of the decoy vs dragging them with a caribiner and storage and transport? Seems like everytime I get home it ends up being a mess to untangle so it would be great to see how an experienced person does it!

[@G31mR]

That's why Texas-rigging isn't the universal answer to decoy transportation and storage. It just doesn't work for many of us.

[@frankmaggard7123]

Have you tried the Lifetime rigs? It is a cable with a plastic coating and they don't tangle the lines like the monofilament or other cords. You can just hook them on the caribiner and carry them.

[@mattmcnicholas3735]

Holy hell, look at the size of that goose decoy..

[@mylesboggs7723]

Love the video

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Great, thanks!

[@meghan7547]

I personally have only had 23yrs of hunting water fowl but my family has generations of it. #1 is location, being where the birds want to be. #2 Decoys that provide movement, plastic decoys don't do it, my family hunts over hand made duck decoys that swim on the slightest of breeze. #3 being able to disappear in open areas. #4 would be calling, which may vary from morning to afternoon. Soft calling may be the best and aggressive calling may be the best, call to see what the birds want. If you are able to accomplish the first 3, the calling aspect is just finishing most of the time. We rarely hunt in an actual blind. Your videos are very good along with your thoughts, thank you so much for providing them, God Bless.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Right on. Do y’all make your own decoys?

[@meghan7547]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason We do... out of carved styrofoam . Glued together, 2@ 2' x 8' sheets, 1 1/2" thick. Will make 12 standard size mallards. The center of the bottom sheet needs to be removed to create a sucking action to the water, without that, they will flip over in heavy winds. They weigh virtually nothing. SE , Missouri, normally hunt in water less than 4' deep, I don't think they would work for deep water. 2 feet of water is more normal for us. If in field situation we set 12 dozen, 8 mallard and 4 green wing teal. Honestly, the movement is insane compared to plastic. Should something happen, usually remedied at home with some hot glue and good as new... never have a leaker.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

@@meghan7547 Cool stuff! Thanks for sharing!

[@gunguru7020]

I hunted a week over hand carved white cedar black duck decoys and was very impressed with the light breeze motion. Only one dozen in brackish Massachusetts tide water. Crushed em. I am a believer.

[@mattbugg4568]

The trick is near enough, give them just enough to get them interested. Ducks on the water to a bird moving 40 mph in the air is like looking at the grass on the side of the road when you are in your car at 40 you can make out what it is like a road gator but as for the make and model of the tire you can read that stuff going that fast. Calls are the same give them just enough to make them turn or get interested blowing your head off isn't natural. However if ducks aren't circling blow alot of chatter and calls because hearing ducks in the distance will draw ducks more callers more ducks. Geese are similar but have a few different things going on the paint on your decoys is way more important than the quality of looks geese hate two things glare and shadows if either of those is off they will not come so the best thing to do is paint the under side of goose decoys brown for feild decoys and red for water decoys. Because when they see them in the sunlight if there is light permeating through the decoy the shadow will be off. And calling geese honks and clicks and murmurs, honk till they are about 100 yards out cluck murmurs greeting call, murmurs with little clicks landing chatter. Do little rainbow 🌈 segments low hi low with each blowing out geese is the most common problem they like a direction and time to respond. Don't expect immediate responses.

[@gooseflatwaterfowlers]

I kinda think realism is important in areas where there just ain’t a lot of ducks. One thing I think is important is have a realistic spread mix up the species put some gadwalls wood ducks teal pintails and some shovelers. I’ve also found that honker decoys are a good confidence decoy to for some reason. One thing that I think ducks are getting accustomed to is mallard only spreads and that’s why I say mix up the species. When it comes to hunting areas with large numbers of ducks around I think you’ve got to put out numbers ducks think safety in numbers. I think a great myth is spacing decoys out I’ve noticed from game camera pictures that ducks kinda stay wadded up more in small groups 8 or less. Something I also have noticed is the amount of splashing and water movement they make. This is just personal preference I think water motion is very critical and at times spinning wings work to. I’ve always heard old timers say let the decoys to the majority of the work for you and reassure them with calling.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I could write a book back to you in response. Truthfully the majority of what you have written, I had in my notes to say for this video. It was just getting long and I didn't want to overwhelm everyone. And yes to the wadded up decoys... I cluster mine closer than I see most people do. Thanks for your comments, other guys can learn from them.

[@Drblood6721]

The duck master strikes again! Definitely a trap I feel the industry uses to sell more decoys to new people "be realistic with these decoys or you won't kill ducks" but also "check out this squirty thing!" I hope we get to see some of your techniques across the country as it gets closer to the season! Thanks again

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Thanks buddy!

[@johnnymacbaker6408]

Freon tanks painted black the biggest thing I've seen is black and white on open water here in nwtn

[@C_Tutt]

The only problem I have with big decoys is , they are heavy and fully flocked are hard to upkeep and I’d just rather buy some mallard decoys that aren’t too realistic and it seems to work fine

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Yep, sure have to baby the flocked decoys.

[@jwrees57]

The problem with those magnum decoys is who wants to carry them ? I like to use About half teal and half mallard .

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

right on!

[@davidmiller741]

Realistic decoys doesn't matter. Location location location! If you're not where the ducks want to be the type of decoys you use are meaningless. 40 years of duck hunting and 49 bands to show for on public hunting only.

[@mjuberian]

Yes I have. We killed lots of geese over the big super magnum decoys however there is a limit to a Canada goose's stupidity.. we actually tried the huge huge decoys that you sit in and they absolutely do not work..haha. It is all about marketing, Joel. I marvel at guys buying immature mallard decoys as if the ducks are smart enough to know what the plumage should look like.. insanity but guess what guys buy them. Also the decoys by the big companies claiming to be the most realistic decoy on the market still show the speculum coloring on the wing and this never really shows on an actual resting mallard.. Good video keep it up

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Many of the things that are marketed to the outdoors enthusiast (of all types of hunting and fishing) claims to be necessary... but really just appeals to the potential buyer. Thanks for commenting!

[@sscb1999]

The only reason I buy the expensive decoys is because they hold up better to the abuse I put them through. I throw my decoys around. I don't treat them like an egg shell. I buy ones that will last me longer than the cheap decoys. I will buy Avians because of the soft plastic they use so that if I throw one and it hits a rock or a log in the water, a head or crack won't form. Plus their paint is kind of rubberized so it doesn't chip as easily.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

yep, I use quality decoys for the same reason.

[@ethanmathias7974]

I like the video Joel pretty cool! Helped my buddy make a video recently similar to this subject @DiyOutdoorsman - How to Flock Duck Decoys, would love to get your thoughts and share any tips of tricks you might have. Thanks Joel and hope all is well!

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I will check it out

[@albertapeet]

Used to kill a lot of geese when all we had was home made dekes made with truck inner tube body’s and plywood heads

[@jordancollar7116]

What kind of calls do you prefer?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I use single reed calls. I have been blowing an RNT Mondo for about 5 years.

[@cayman588]

I still use those old ass decoys. They’re bomb proof

[@samhaskins7889]

We hunted ducks for years and never had a duck call and we always got just as many ducks as the other guys. What's up with that?

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

That does work. Not everywhere or every day. But Most people never find that out because they are blowing their call lol. Be in the right spot and well hidden is the key to THAT strategy!

[@Blue_Collar_Hunter]

Spoonzilla is the realest decoy on the market.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

It definitely the most interesting!

[@muddymallard2832]

Not trying to knock your video brother but the only thing I will disagree with is that size does matter "At times". I live on the edge of the Mississippi Flyway soonly reason I say this is from a Faraway ducks point of view they can see them better and make them come and investigate. Especially when Ducks become far and few between. Not saying this works all the time but for me more so than others. I have a mix of Magnums and regular size decoys. And that's why I use them season round rather I'm on small pond, Open Water, or on the big Rivers. Before I started using the magnums I found it harder to get a duck's attention just by calling. But my chances improved after having bigger oversized decoys. I like you said yourself I really beleave it matters just on the fact of the location you are hunting in. Don't get me wrong I don't use decoys as big as that goose lol. Btw I love the way the coke bottle decoys look. They look awesome and pretty cheap and easy.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

I never said any tactic didn’t work. I said we should be open to trying other things. And NOT always make things “realistic “ All of the decoys I use are larger than life sized.

[@muddymallard2832]

@@SurvivingDuckSeason Sorry wasn't trying to criticize you just giving my opinion.

[@C_Tutt]

Decoys don’t have to be pretty my luck doesn’t seem to change with decoys and with my experience it’s more of if they want to be there or not

[@patrickgjorven7832]

"Eyes bigger than their brains" is true in the case for birds.

[@mightyjoeyoung1390]

And democrats. Lol

[@C_Tutt]

Hey I have those little duck floaties

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

haha, they are little bathtub toys for kids... I think they're called "little hunter". Hadley loves them!

[@C_Tutt]

Surviving Duck Season yeah my parents got them for me when I was tiny

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Crankin’ With Carter cool stuff!

[@mathiasweber2735]

dis man a fnnn genuis

[@joshwachsnicht5884]

First

[@markmitchell9408]

What about location? Where did you hunt before 10 years ago compared till recently? Looks like you’re on private land with planted fields. If you have private land and it manages well then you will kill ducks no matter decoy or calling. If I’m public fighting crowds size motion and realism matters. Understand are that are birds in small groups are they scattered. If ya call at them what’s their reaction are they call shy or maybe they want to be called at and worked in. I’ve watch group kill birds and never make a call.

[@SurvivingDuckSeason]

Like I said in the video, different things work in different places. Don't be afraid to try different things. Based on your comments I'm guessing you have very little experience hunting private land. I wish it was as easy as you think it is. Private land and public land both have positives and negatives... you still have to be a good duck hunter to constantly get your birds.

[@mikeries8549]

Last time I went to Rainey Brake there was this group. They had a freak show circus thing going on. Opening day. Three cyclones with mojos and every kind of motorized duck imaginable. They had to have had 20 minimum. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen. The next year motorized decoys...gone. 😅