When you're getting your gear ready intended for the early period, picking up some blue winged teal decoys is basically a requirement if you want to see any kind of action before the huge mallard push. These types of little ducks are usually the early parrots of the waterfowl world, often heading south while most hunters are still perspiring in short masturbator sleeves. Because they behave differently than the big ducks that will show up within November, your technique needs to change a little bit too.
Early season teal hunting is the frantic, fast-paced video game. You're usually coping with high dampness, mosquitoes, and chickens that fly like they've had way too much caffeine. Having the solid set of decoys that actually look like what the particular birds see within the wild makes a massive difference when they're screaming across the marsh at dawn.
Why teal-specific decoys actually matter
A lot of guys believe they could just throw out some mallard hen decoys plus call it each day. While teal aren't the brightest geese in the atmosphere, they are quite social and tend to stick with their own kind throughout the early immigration. Using blue winged teal decoys provides that particular silhouette and size profile that shows incoming flocks that this "cool kids' table" is open for business.
Teal are noticeably smaller than your average duck. When the flock of blue wings is circling, they're looking for that tight, clustered look that's feature of their species. If you've just got giant magnum mallard blocks out there, the scale looks wrong. It might not at all times flare them, but it definitely doesn't help convince all of them to land. Teal decoys will also be course of action easier to carry. You can match two dozen associated with these in the area it takes in order to pack six or even eight big mallards, which is the lifesaver if you're hiking in to a concealed pothole.
Realistic look and the over shadow plumage factor
One thing people often overlook is what teal actually look like in September. If you buy a pack of blue winged teal decoys that are painted in full, vibrant breeding plumage—bright whitened crescents on the face and daring blue wing patches—they might actually appear a bit "off" to the real wild birds.
Throughout the early period, most drakes are still in their particular eclipse plumage. These people look a great deal more like hens—brown, mottled, and fairly drab. While having a little little bit of that trademark blue for the side is great intended for visibility, you don't necessarily need the flashy spring shades. Many hunters really prefer decoys with a more moderate, "hen-heavy" look for the particular early weeks. It just feels more natural to the birds that possess been hanging out there within the northern marshes all summer.
Setting the spread for fast motion
When this comes to placing your blue winged teal decoys in the water, you don't need in order to be a skyrocket scientist, but you do need to understand how these birds move. Teal love shallow water. We're talking "barely enough to float a boat" short. They like to tip up plus prey on mudflats and in thick plant life.
Don't get worried about perfect "U" or "V" designs like you see within the old looking magazines. Teal are erratic. I such as to throw my decoys out within small, tight bundles. Maybe four or even five over right here, and another 6 or seven a few yards apart. Leave an apparent opening right within front of your blind, because these types of birds don't glide in gracefully—they tend to drop out associated with the sky and zig-zag until these people hit the drinking water.
Pro tip: If you're searching a spot that has both blue wings and green wings, don't hesitate in order to mix the decoys. They hang out there together all the time. However, I usually keep my teal spread a little bit separate from any larger sweet decoys I might be using, just to make that "teal zone" really obvious through the air.
The power of movement
If generally there is one thing that blue wings love more than a shallow mudflat, it's motion. These birds are twitchy. They're constantly shifting, splashing, and hanging before they get. If your blue winged teal decoys are just sitting there such as statues on the glass-calm morning, you're heading to get viewed and passed more than.
This will be where spinning side decoys are available in clutch system. A small, teal-sized motorized decoy with fast-spinning wings is much like a neon sign for passing flocks. The flash mimics the way teal stretch their wings or hover-land. Mainly because teal fly therefore fast, you need that flash to grab their attention from a length.
In case you aren't a fan of electronics, or if they will aren't legal within your area, the jerk rig is your closest friend. The simple string mounted on a few of your decoys enables you to produce ripples and splashes having a flick of your wrist. It's old school, yet it's incredibly effective at bringing a stationary spread to living.
Where to hunt along with your teal blocks
A person can have the best-looking blue winged teal decoys on the planet, but when you're within the wrong spot, it won't matter. Blue wings are suckers regarding "the slop. " Think flooded smartweed, rice fields, or even the very sides of cattail marshes. They aren't huge fans of strong, open water where the wind whips upward big waves.
Look for areas where water is just a few inches deep. If a person can find a spot where the mud is just barely submerged, you've found teal heaven. They will like to sift through the muck intended for seeds and invertebrates. Setting your decoys up during these "tight" spots makes the chickens feel secure. They think they've found a private cafeteria, and they'll generally drop right in without much hesitation.
Keeping your own gear in good shape
Since you're likely using these decoys in muddy, shallow environments, they're going to obtain dirty. It seems simple, but keeping your blue winged teal decoys clean is incredibly essential. If they get caked in dried mud, they drop their flat surface finish and start in order to shine in the particular sun. Ducks hate shine. It's a total reddish colored flag that something isn't right.
After a search, give them the quick rinse. A person don't need to wax them or anything crazy, but simply making sure the colors are visible and the plastic material isn't glowing with dried silt can help them remain effective for a long time. Furthermore, because they're little, the weights you use don't have to be huge. A 2-ounce or 3-ounce fat is usually plenty to maintain a teal decoy in place, which again, can make your whole handbag much lighter.
Don't overthink the particular calling
Whilst you're watching your own blue winged teal decoys plus waiting for the flight, you may be tempted in order to call like you're in a world class mallard competition. Don't do it. Teal don't "quack" the method mallards do. They will make a high-pitched, rapid "peep" or a very fast, raspy series of quacks that will sound more such as a laugh.
Most of the particular time, the decoys do 90% of the work. If you do work with a call, keep it brief and sweet. Several well-timed whistles or even some fast "pips" can help lead a swinging flock in to the landing opening, but silence is definitely often much better than poor calling when it comes to blue wings. They're currently looking for the decoys; you simply need to allow the spread perform its job.
Wrapping it up
At the end of the day, hunting more than blue winged teal decoys is one of the most fun ways to kick off the waterfowl season. It's a terrific way to shake off the rust, work the dog, and luxuriate in the marsh before the bitter cold sets in.
There's something uniquely satisfying about seeing the flock of 20 blue wings lock up and commit to a little, well-placed spread. It's fast, it's loud, and it's over in a heartbeat. If you concentrate on realism, put your decoys within the shallow stuff, and add a small bit of motion to the blend, you're going in order to have a blast. Just make certain you've got a lot of shells, because these birds don't alllow for easy targets!