Try Hunting “Small” with Flashbacks

Most duck hunters cope with hunting during stretches of bluebird days when the weather isn’t pushing new ducks into the general area they are hunting. I’ve found that making an unconventional change to your decoy spread can help you put a few extra ducks on the strap during times when ducks are “stale”. If you hunt over Flashbacks, you know how realistic the feeding movement is and how effective it can be at attracting and finishing ducks. Hunting with two Flashbacks and two traditional decoys is a favorite tactic of mine that has paid dividends when the few traffic ducks around your location are tough to work.

The tactic seems particularly effective on smaller wetlands and protected areas of big water, during the doldrums of the waterfowl season. Going small can provide some surprising success early in the season, before any weather events have pushed migrating ducks in and local ducks have left the area. I see this tactic become even more effective late in the season when the weather has been consistently mild, hunting is stale and ducks are beginning to pair up.

This is typically the time when frustrated hunters throw more decoys in their rig as a desperate tactic to attract any traffic ducks. Creating a mega rig is a duck hunter’s version of pulling the goalie or putting in the backup quarterback when their team is getting beat soundly. It becomes a predictable tactic in an effort to create more success.

I personally believe that large spreads can sometimes spook educated and stale ducks. Large rigs are more common in the area where I hunt, and they grow during stretches between weather events. In my opinion many hunters believe that throwing out more decoys makes their rig more visible to the fewer number of ducks that are in their area. It is also the only change they have in their play book on days that are likely to be slow.

Let the Flashback’s motion catch the eye of weary ducks. I like to zig when other hunters are zagging. When ducks are well patterned and know where they can go to feed or loaf safely, try putting out just a couple of Flashbacks and a traditional decoy or two on the edge of a small wetland. Let the realistic action of the Flashbacks work for you. It will be different than anything else ducks are seeing and have been shot at over in areas with hunting pressure. You may turn the few larger flocks or trick more of the singles and doubles you see on those quiet days.