I hunted the Missouri Central Zone waterfowl opener last weekend through the luck of drawing pill #2 at Columbia Bottom Conservation Area on Saturday and because my buddy Andy had a reservation at the same place on Sunday.
The weather was warmer than desired for a good duck hunt. The ducks weren’t interested in moving much and we had only a few groups work our decoys. The area is nice, with increasing water levels in the pools and plenty of food around with recently harvested crops, but we still need ducks to come south.
The lack of ducks was mildly disappointing, but my chief complaint was the weight of my decoy pack.
I had found a sale on decoys in Hanibal — $20 a dozen — and built a walk-in set-up: 3 dozen decoys, a Baby Mojo and a portable blind, all carried in a great pack. I figured that the whole rig, including my gun and a bucket to sit on, pushed 75 pounds. Even for a short hike that’s a lot of weight to hump.
I had been searching for water-keel decoys for over a year but they’re hard to find. I could get them from a few online sites but the shipping was as much as the decoys. So I settled for the inexpensive weighted keel mallards.
After suffering two hunts slogging through fields and mud with the behemoth pack, I decided I’d convert my decoys by cutting the ends off the keels and pitching the sand.
But would my make-shift water keel decoys float?
I tested my new rig in our bathtub:
The converted keels seem to float the ducks just right
“You’ve crossed the line,” my wife complained. “This is an obsession.”
Yeah, but my obsession shaved 20 pounds from my walk-in load.
Hunting just got more comfortable.
Teak,
Try hunting over a dozen decoys instead of the 3 dozen!! When I used to hunt walk in areas in Arkansas, all it would take to get ducks was 6-8 decoys and a mojo!
Try it next time! Much easier walk!!
Quinn
I would think the true test for the sandless decoys will be wind. Will the decoys stay upright in the wind without a weighted keel?
Indeed, just few decoys will do just fine in many cases. But having 3 dozen adds versatility for bigger pools where a larger spread mght be more attractive.
As for the wind, I guess we’ll have to see how they handle when the witch of November comes stealin’.
I would think the true test for the sandless decoys will be wind. Will the decoys stay upright in the wind without a weighted keel?
They probably won’t stay up in a strong wind. But neither can I.