Sometimes ducks will fly into my decoy spread prior to legal shooting time. If all is well and they remain, my buddy and I will stand up at the appropriate time, thus startleing the birds into flight and then attempt to take them in what we deem sportsmanship fashion. More often than not they will wheel around and return, again attempting to enter the spread even after having been fired upon! The best time to nail 'em in my opinion is when they're straight on their downward path in with wings cupped and ready to land. If you need to finish one off in the water then that's most appropriate but better make due time because I've had plenty get a full head of steam up and head for deep water. Not to get off the subject; but my son and I recently were able to hunt on Long Island during the special January firearms season. These deer were so ridiculously tame that one came within 5 yards of my son and we thought for sure he would have licked his outstretched hand. You can best be sure we DID NOT take a shot at that. Deer in the Adirondacks and local suburban deer are two different animals! As role models for our sport, we should all "raise the bar" and maintain a high sense of ethics and sportmanship!