RE: Picking Decoys
 

Shooting doves off the light line is not only unsportsmanlike conduct and a bad idea in general, but I think it is actually illegal in some places... I know that if by some odd chance you disrupt service to customers then you can be fined, pretty heavily too. No different than cutting an undergroundline with a trencher without calling Miss Utility. It is generally looked down upon to shoot birds out of trees, on the water, or on the ground. Wingshooting should involve wings so to speak.... its a social faux pas... and you'll catch hell for it around here and in most places for that matter.

Here is the way to do it without running around a field all day... get you a right stiff fishing rod with some 20# Monofiliament line. Take a few hard body dove decoys that have the loop ring on their back. Tie the dove onto the line the throw it over the top wire, then pull it snug to the bottom of the top wire (doves cannot tell the difference between a dove on the wire and one just under it). But it must be snug... it cannot be spinning in the breeze, and consequently just like ducks and geese, doves have to land into the wind... but they will come from downwind like lightning and cut back at the last second and light.. so be ready.

I like to hang up two or three. After you have the first one up and tight... pay out a little line and cut the line... I tie it off to a mushroom decoy anchor, and that will hold it in place. Tie on another decoy andrepeat. At the end of the hunt, just cut the line at the mushroom anchor and your decoy will fall to the ground. Mono is not a conductor... so don't worry about getting killed... its 100% safe.... I've been doing it my entire life. Back up againest a phone pole about 25-30 yards from thedecoys and put in the Improved Cylinder choke.... shoot them before they land... you can shoot them as they back peddle if you prefer... I treat it just like duck hunting sometimes... I'll only shoot them if they are decoying... great way to work a young dog because the birds tend to fall in the same general area each time.

Its really the best method for killing doves consistantly if you don't have a lot of people to cover a field.

RE: Picking Decoys
 

Just got back from the first hunt of my career.....it was moderately dissapointing. Didn't see a single duck...we gave that up about 9 and tried for some dove. We only saw one and we both missed it. But on the way home we saw 60 of them on the power lines...so my new plan is to shoot them off the power lines. Any advice? We were at a place in St. Louis for the duck and Bush wildlife for the doves. If you are from around Missouri and know of anything better, I would appreciate the tips. Thanks guys. I didnt get to test the grunting strategy, but I will give it a try as soon as i get the chance. Thanks!

RE: Picking Decoys
 

I would stick with the mallard decoys. I like the hen decoys for this time of year when they don't have winter plumage yet. Teal will decoy to mallards better than teal decoys, or at the very least just as good.

RE: Picking Decoys
 

if you're like the rest of the state the unseasonably low temps have pushed most our teal out of here. we managed to scratch a few but nothing like we seen the few weeks leading to the trigger day. heard most the east side got hit the hardest with the flood and just not a lot of food to hold birds this year.

i know it's late but we just use hen mallards for teal season, they don't seem to mind and just can't bring myself to spend the cash for a decoy on a bird like teal that will buzz a twig in the water. keep after them, big ducks are right around the corner.