"WATERFOWL NOTES"

DUCKS – DUCKS – DUCKS

Ducks as opposed to geese are hunted over water. Most hunts are from blinds with floating decoy spreads. Movement is equally important in duck decoy spreads, especially on those bright still days – pond, river or flooded woods.

There are a multitude of specialty decoys that add movement and can with out calling drop ducks into the spread.

The oldest movement system, if kicking water isn’t included - the Jerk String. Today there is a system “Jerk Machine” remote controlled automated battery operated system that controls 3 decoys for close to $ 200.00.

However, if you have three floating decoys, a roll of decoy string and obtain a 3-foot bungee cord (if a long string is required) a rope, a 2-foot stake (a broken broom handle or similar stake). Attach one end of the bungee cord to the stake. Hammer the stake in the mud just under the water a few inches. Run the string back to the blind. Pull three loops in the line about 3 feet apart. Tie a decoy to each loop. At the blind, tie the string to kite handle, a 12-inch piece of wood limb or even around a spent 12 gauge shell. Pulling on the cord will cut your fingers. When duck are spotted, pull then release, the decoys move in then back. Repeat this action until the ducks are 10 yards above the Landing Zone. Drop the cord handle, grab your shotgun and harvest the ducks.

If you plan on tying the line to a concrete block or a tree, use stout cord to tie around the tree or block. Also it will work better if you crimp a metal screen door spring to the attached stout cord, and then attach the bungee cord to the spring.

Spinning Wing Decoy  (battery operated): Outlawed in some states attests to the value of the decoy. Place in the center of the Landing Zone on it’s 36 to 42 inch stake. Or on a Floater/Shaker Stand (especially in deep water) and turn it on. Remote control is available, but the idea is to have the decoy working “all” the time. It will attract ducks you don’t see and it doesn’t flair incoming ducks. Available with a soft case that carries decoy, wings, stand, battery and battery charger.

Spinning Wing Decoy (Air Driven): The same decoy and stand of the battery operated decoy but with hard cupped wings to catch any breeze over 4 mph and spin the wings. Several can be carried in a hard plastic tool box approximately 22”Lx10”Wx7-1/2” deep. Tool boxes can be found at most Ace hardware stores, Fry’s, Mack’s and Cabela’s plus quite a few sporting goods stores.

Floater/Shaker Stand: Designed to support a battery operated spinning wing decoy in deep or shallow water. Arms off a pole attach to 4  floating decoys. As the motion decoy spins the arms shake and the floating decoys make waves to add movement to a 48 decoy floating spread.

Swimming Decoy: A mallard decoy swims by a small propeller driven by a battery powered motor. When attached to a 6 foot fishing line that is attached to a stake and swivel, the decoy appears to be swimming around in circles. Suggest that all battery operated decoys be carried in separate decoy bags, try our Head Bag.

Shaker (Quiver) Decoy: A mallard decoy vibrates by a off center battery powered motor. The decoy set among a dozen floaters will move the water to make the spread appear to be alive. Suggest that all battery operated decoys be carried in separate decoy bags, try our Head Bag.

Feeder Decoy: A mallard decoy, battery operated, dips occasionally to imitate a feeding decoy. Suggest that all battery operated decoys be carried in separate decoy bags, try our Head Bag.

Bilge Pump Duck Butt: Run off a 12 volt battery, ATV or motorcycle, and attached to a 50 foot electrical cord with the off and on control switch in the blind. The decoy throws pluses and intermittently spews a stream of water from the pump at the rear of the decoy butt, while moving the decoy side-to-side resembling a feeding duck. Place the decoy, battery, cord and control switch in a 5-gallon bucket. Even in shallow water a shovel can dig a hole in the mud, place the bucket in the hole with rim just under water. Place the decoy in the bucket. The pump will spray water to move a 48 decoy spread.

H2O Quiver Magnet: A dark gray hocky puck size floater vibrator. Battery powered  vibrator is a very inexpensive method of making waves. One Quiver Magnet will move 6 to 8 floating standard duck decoys. Ideal for a dozen teal decoys. Carry a couple in your hunting coat pocket. After putting out the decoys, turn on a couple and oplace among the spread to add movement.

Hot Wings: A quiver Magnet with a white and a black small wings. It flashes and attracts ducks like a nail to a magnet. Activate the unit and place among the floating decoys and watch the ducks give the spread a close “look-see.”

There are several other types of systems but the above are economical and will satisfy your need for movement and Specialty Decoys. Like the Flapping Mallard Duck Decoy, Paddle Wheel Wonderduck, Mallard Machine and Jerk-A-Decoy to name a few.

NOTE: Most of these decoys can be found on Duckngoose.com web site. If you have questions on any of the decoys, call  (281) 914-3179 or email – bfiedler@airmail.net

COOKING WATERFOWL

To prevent the patties from falling apart and make cooking waterfowl burgers easier use the Grilling Basket or use the Extra Large Spatula.

Depending on the heat of the grill (charcoal or gas) first cook one side 5-minutes to get the patties done and grill lines in place, this will be the presentation side. Flip and cook the opposite side until patty is medium rare.

One of the two best methods to marinade waterfowl is with an injector. The Life Time Marinate Injector allows for a thicker marinade than most injectors.

The best method is to tenderize the meat with a Jaccard Meat Tenderizer

RECIPE

TEX-MEX DUCK MEATLOAF

4 ea large ducks, cleaned, skinned
Water
Crab & shrimp Boil
2 ea large eggs
1 cup corn flakes
3/4 cup salsa
1 can (4-oz) mushroom bits & pieces, drained
2/3 pkg dry Lipton onion soup
1 Tbls Chipolte Season All
1 Tbls DNG Waterfowl spice
1 Tbls Serendipity
1 tsp Accent

In a pot place ducks, cover with water plus 2-inch. Add bag of crab & shrimp boil. Bring water to a boil; reduce heat to light rolling boil and cover. Cook for 1 hour or until meat starts to fall off the breast bone. Remove meat from pot to a flat working surface covered with a couple layers of paper towels. Drain water, while retaining 1/3 cup of water. Discard bag of spices. Shred meat from bones; discard bones and place meat in a large glass mixing bowl. Pour meat from bowl into a Weston Deluxe EM-2 electric meat grind and chili grind. Return ground meat to bowl and add remaining g ingredients with 1/3 cup of retained water. Mix with your hands or potato masher. Cover a Pyrex loaf pan with aluminum foil, spray with non-stick spray. Make a loaf, place in lined dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 1 hour.

RECIPE

BBQ GOOSE BURGERS

2 ea snow goose, cleaned, deboned, cut into bite size pieces
2 Tbls Canola oil
1 cup purple onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Tbls tomato paste
2 Tbls Dave’s Peppa Royale
1 Tbls Season All
2 tsp DNG Barbecue Spice
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp Cajun Chef’s Green hot sauce
4 ea Egg rolls (hamburger size) cut in half
Cold Slaw
Mayonnaise
Potato chips
Budweiser beer

In a grinder place goose bites in a Weston Deluxe EM-2 electric meat grind and hamburger grind. In a skillet heat oil over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic. Add tomato paste, stir to mix. Remove from heat and bring to warm. In a separate bowl combine place meat, with your hands mix in Peppa Royale, Season All Bar B Que spice, sugar and hot sauce. Mix in skillet mixture, when cool enough to work with your hands. Form into four patties about ½-inch thick. Place patties on a dish, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 2 to 4 hours. Grill patties over a gray hot charcoal fire (or equivalent on a gas grill), about 5 minutes. Flip and cook until medium rare, about 4 to 6 minutes. Place buns, cut side down on grill – DO NOT BURN – and toast. Spread mayonnaise on both toasted sides. Place cooked patty on bottom bun and cover with slaw. Top with top bun. Serve with potato chips and cold Budweiser.

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