POT SHOTS!!!!!!!!

[02mini stockr]

I consider myself an avid duck hunter, not the best and nothing special. Ive been duck hunting for about 3 years now, and I admit I still have alot of learning to do, I learn somthing new every time I go out. When I think of the golden rule of duck hunting I think safety and consideration.... Which to me means that you should always wait for the best time to shoot, for the consideration of the other hunters and for the well being of your duck in sight I've noticed every where I go there are always one or two or more groups of hunter's who obviously dont get that consept. Think about it!!! why do you put decoys out? why are you blowing on your call? why are you wearing camo?......so you can lure those ducks into your decoys, so you can wait for that picture perfect moment, where the ducks have made there loops, checked you out and are finally ready to land right in front of you, wings cupped, slow and vulnerable, a very easy shot. It makes things so much easier. Easier for you, the ducks and the other hunters, and if I might add its quite gratifying knowing that all the effort you put into your decoys your calling and your cover paid off for that picture perfect moment. My point is that theres alot of guys out there who make these damn pot shots a mile high in the sky  and it drives me nuts and it prevents me from getting the chance at my picture perfect moment when theres some a** hole shooting at the ducks who are checking out my decoys. Does anyone else out there see the same crap that I see or just as frustrated as I am?

[Cody Gruchow]

i know EXACTLY what you mean. happened to me this morning. i even got hit by falling BB's. guys were set-up to my right at about 80 yards from me and even with me. had 3 ducks circle my decoys and then come about half way inbetween us i jumped up and swung but remembered those guys were there so i pulled down and then here BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM and no duck for them and i get hit with BB's. was pretty frusterated. then had a big group of  ducks on the way other side of the marsh and we were both calling to them and they fly over them and were coming to my decoys and they started to sky bust them and scared them all off. then i finally had a single hen mallard come into my decoys and jumped up and BAM BAM BAM and hit her on my last shot and watched her glide with a broken wing and glided right to them and they unloaded on her and missed then she finally hit the water they shot her twice on the water also. i would of moved but its my favorite spot and i shouldnt have to move because of some holes

[1duckcrazy]

I so understand that same frustration. I consider these people not the true hunter, they get out for a couple weekends a year and brag about how good of a hunter they are and have never put the time into that perfect set.
They honk away on there calls sounding like someone steped on a rabbit and they can't get enough of screwing up others hard work.
I figure no one will ever get thru to them so I try and find a spot where I can do my own thing knowing that when it gets cold they will be tucked in their bed while I will be out enjoying the hunt.
Try not to let them ruin what you know is right and it will pay off.
I have been lucky to learn from my dad that if you put in the work it will all pay off and I watched him many times call in the ducks like he was the pied piper.
It is too bad these people will not ever get it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just remain true to what you believe in.

[HUNTER2]

Hen Mallard, I would have let her go. They do the reproducing. I have seen this for years and it will never change. Best thing to do is try and find a private slough to hunt.

[Cody Gruchow]

a duck is a duck, no offense if its legal to shoot im going to shoot it. plenty of mallards around

[Outdoors Junkie]

I have helped a few sky busters learn to have more patience.  My cousin always was blasting at anything flying a mile high.  I decided to sit with him one season.  Everytime a flock/group would be circling the lake, I had to hold him back...saying no too far out let them circle again.  Then they would come around and try landing in the decoys and I would tell him...okay, take em now.  He has a lot more patience and has been teaching his buddies to give the group time to circle around and shoot at more realistic distance.  Their results duck harvest has improved greatly.

There are always people out there without a lot of experience and need to be taken under the wing.  There are also times when it is people you don't know and can only shake your head and hope that they won't be back next weekend because they used so much ammo and had no results. 

[Cody Gruchow]

this is my 2nd season and my 1st by myself. i know what to shoot at and what not to shoot at. i did skyblast at some geese during early goose season. but im the only one out there so i can do that.

[stevejedlenski]

as far as HEN MALLARDS Do the reproducing!!!! it takes two to tango and ducks are monigamous which means they mate with one female, therefore you need equal amounts of hens and drakes!

[ChrisWallace]

Always seems like in the spring the hen is chased by 3 or more drakes around...

[jd mn/nd]

I will tell you for one thing as far as hunting in MN what you described is usually the norm from what I have seen. I will not hunt on public land in MN for waterfowl for that very reason! My second suggestion to you is to save up your money and go hunting in ND or SD the quality of your hunt and the numbers you will see will be well worth the time, effort, money, and every thing else you put into it. Usually as it has been my experience out there you may some other NR's sky busting but they are no were near where you are since you have so much more room to do your own set up. I for one say that the quality of MN waterfowl hunting truely leaves a lot to be desired. I have many other choice words that would have to blanked out if I used them to describe feelings on hunting in MN.

As for the fella that said ducks are monogamous, that statement is not accurate, ducks are anything but monogamous, they are extremly prolific breeders and will do anything with feathers. Heck they(mallards) will even try to breed outside of their own species, I have seen drake mallards mounted on wood ducks, and gadwalds. Now Canadian Honkers on the other hand will stay monogamous to one partner until that partner is no longer living, and then they will find another mate. Even snow geese are not monogamous they will breed as many times as they can with other females.

Later JD

[GRIZ]

I thought a pot shot was when you shot the ducks while sitting on the water.

I can understand the idea of trying to get them into your decs. I have hunted that way and have a bunch of decs but prefer to "jump shoot". To me sitting over decs is so boring, I'd rather walk and find them. I don't take a pot shot while on the water but let them get 3-4 feet up with thier wings spread before shooting.

I also don't care to hunt on W/E's as too many hunters are chasing the ducks around. Bad weather is a big plus. High winds with some rain and/or snow makes them sit good and tight and makes the sneak easier.

Guess were on the same page just different styles of hunting. I like to go after them and you like to bring them into you.

[02mini stockr]

ya some people call it pot shots some call it sky busting, whatever, if you read what I wrote you get the picture

[DrunkenSconny]

Growing up in Wisconsin waterfowl hunting, this was an every Saturday and Sunday occurrence at the once Pine Island Refuge near Portage, or on Mirror Lake in Lake Delton. There were always a few numskulls who thought it best to get their licks in on high-flying ducks. They had the "if we can't have them you can't either" attitude. My brother and I "weathered" these years, and weren't too afraid to give a shout out to those knuckleheads in the blind or when we met at the boat landing at the end of the day. Always made for some interesting exchanges. In the end, though, I've gravitated private ponds or out-of-the-way spots along the WI River. It has lessened the opportunities to hunt earlier in the season because we have a tendency to educate the local birds, and then have to wait for Mother Nature to do her job to bring new birds down. I'm hoping to find good waterfowl places to hunt now that I'm a new MN resident.

[dj]

In 40 plus years of hunting, I've found the skybusters are always going to be out opening weekend.  As the season goes on, these guys just don't hunt anymore. 

For me, the biggest thrills are getting the ducks to decoy.  The placement of the decoys, and the calling are the greatest challenge.  Note what the first group does, and if they stray outside the decoys in iffy distance, move the dec's quick, as most other ducks will do the same.  Moving only 4 or 5 decoys will do the trick sometimes. 

Every now and then, it's a crap shoot as to when to shoot.  Flocks will circle 3, 4 and 5 times, getting closer every time.  And then, there are those that will give you one look and not come back.  So, I've had those times when I did shoot and then wish I'd of given them another chance, and also those times when I didn't shoot, not to get another chance.  But as a general rule, feet down in your face is best, and less cripples that way. 

[tracr]

a duck is a duck, no offense if its legal to shoot im going to shoot it. plenty of mallards around

No offence

Ducks are limited Drakes only.

[guythathunts]

I'll leave that up to the DNR