How many decoys do you need for teal? (2023)

What decoys to use for teal?

Where legal, spinning-wing decoys come highly recommended for all three kinds of teal. "A robo teal is great, but a mallard will work, too," Fahlberg said. "Teal really come to that flash and motion."

Do mallard decoys work for teal?

Mallard decoys work fine for teal. So, too, will a mix of mallards, wigeon, gadwall and shovelers. Again, the little ducks really don't seem to care. Bigger decoys — that is, mallards — are just that: big.

How many decoys is enough?

On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.

How do you attract teal?

Teal love shallow waters, as little as six inches (essentially a mud flat) can be very attractive to them. They also love harvested rice fields that are holding water, shallow backwaters of large lakes, small ponds, and just plain low areas.

What to look for when hunting teal?

Swamps and sloughs with expanses of open water will hold teal, as well as larger lakes and impoundments. Shallow (usually no deeper than a foot) aquatic vegetation is key. I have never had a lot of luck on a water body without a good food source.

How long do teal fly in the morning?

Keep other shells handy. Teal are notorious for flying the first 30-45 minutes of legal shooting time and then almost disappearing. As soon as you are done shooting, IMMEDIATELY reload.

Will mallards land with teal?

Sometimes, ducks mingle as they feed and loaf. Sometimes, they stick with their own species. Watch real ducks and you'll see. Mallards will swim among pintails, and flocks of teal will settle in with big ducks, but there are times when they seem to favor their own kind.

What is the hardest duck to decoy?

Goldeneyes can be somewhat tricky to decoy at times, as they prefer to associate with their own species. Buffleheads also act this way now and then. But again, they'll never approach the wariness of a mallard that has dodged repeated steel volleys along a major flyway.

How do you hunt September teal?

Decoys are important for September teal. Large spreads aren't necessary, because teal usually travel in smallish bunches. Somewhere around a dozen decoys is about right. Your mallard decoys will work fine and are actually probably a better choice than teal-sized decoys because they're more visible at a distance.

Can you hunt teal during duck season?

Teal also would still be legal to take during the regular duck season. So, take your time and identify your ducks before you take a shot. Be aware that woodies fly at the same time of day and in a similar pattern to teal. Take the extra second or two to let the birds get closer or swing the decoys one more time.

Is 6 duck decoys enough?

Six decoys CAN be enough, if you're on a little body of water where the ducks want to be.

How far apart should my duck decoys be?

One of the common mistakes in laying out long lines is placing your decoys too closely together. Set them about 10 yards apart; any closer and you increase the risk that incoming ducks will land in the line, short of where you want them.

What is the best time to use a deer decoy?

Best Time to Use a Decoy

The best time to use decoys for deer hunting is pre-rut and rut. Two to three weeks before the rut or peak breeding hits in an area is a great time. During these weeks, bucks are starting to break up out of their bachelor groups as they begin to establish their home ranges.

What time of day is best for teal hunting?

Time of Day: It is believed that the best time to hunt for waterfowl is during the first hours of the morning after dawn. However that belief has been challenged by hunters who find their most successful hunts happen in the afternoon or early evening.

What shot is best for teal hunting?

For teal, you'll want to use No. 4, 5, or 6 shot. Use only steel or nontoxic shot. Lead shot is illegal for hunting waterfowl.

Where can I find teal ducks?

You'll often find Blue-winged Teal with other species of dabbling ducks. They are often around the edges of ponds under vegetation, choosing a concealed spot to forage or rest. Look for Blue-winged Teal on calm bodies of water from marshes to small lakes.

How far do you lead a teal?

Guns & Loads

Teal are rather easy to decoy, and most shots are within 20 to 30 yards.

Can deer see teal?

They can pick out short (blue) and middle (green) wavelength colors, but they're less sensitive to long wavelength colors such as red and orange. “They're essentially red-green color blind,” said Brian Murphy, a wildlife biologist and the CEO of Quality Deer Management Association.

Where can I hunt teal in Texas?

Texas teal hunting takes place about 2 hours from Houston, in Wharton County, near El Campo. Guests are lodged in the well-appointed Double G Lodge that sleeps up to 21.

Where do teal ducks roost?

Nests are typically built in sedge meadows, grasslands, brush thickets, or in woods near a pond. The female chooses a spot that offers dense cover that may form a complete canopy over the nest.

How fast can a blue winged teal fly?

SPEED RECORD

Blue-winged and green-winged teal, thought by many hunters to be the fastest ducks, are actually among the slowest, having a typical flight speed of only 30 mph.

Are teal ducks fast?

The green-winged teal is the smallest dabbling duck native to America. It is among the fastest fliers of the game birds, capable of flying 97 kph (60 mph) but usually flies 80 kph (50 mph).

Should you mix duck decoys?

But it definitely won't hurt to mix a few other puddle duck decoys into your spread. Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power.

What do teal feed on?

Food habits

Blue-winged teal dabble to feed on the vegetative parts of aquatic plants (algae, duckweeds, pondweeds, etc.), seeds (sedges, pondweeds, grasses, etc.) and large amounts of aquatic invertebrates found in shallowly flooded wetlands.

How do I make my pond water clear blue?

Aqua blue is the most common dye for backyard ponds and it will give your pond a natural looking turquoise color. You can also buy pond enhancer , which is a combination of royal blue pond dye and beneficial bacteria, so it helps to maintain the color and clarity of the pond water and break down debris in the pond.

Can you raise teal ducks?

People raise Blue Winged Teal Ducks for many different reasons. Aviculturists raise them as part of mixed collections, and some people raise them simply for their beauty.

Should I use a hen or jake decoy?

A laydown hen is great to go alongside a jake deke, especially for the first couple weeks of the season. Any longbeard or flock of jakes that sees a loner who looks like he's found a lady is likely to commit. Just make sure the laydown hen is visible to approaching birds and not obscured by grass or brush.

When should I use a tom decoy?

The best time to use this decoy setup is early on in the season when birds are still sorting out dominance. Later in the season it may scare off more birds than bring in because more of them have gotten their butt whooped and they're more focused on finding hens.

What color do you mix to get teal?

To make a basic teal shade, you simply need an equal 50/50 combination of blue and green. For a more complex shade, you can brighten your teal by adding white or yellow or darken it with a touch of black.

What colors make teal pop?

Teal pops with bright white and coral, and works well with cream, navy, browns, and pinks. It also sets off metallic colors, such as silver and gold.

What tone is teal?

Teal is a deep blue-green color, also called a cyan green. However, teal blue is a medium tone that contains more blue.

Are teal hard to shoot?

Guns & Loads

Teal are rather easy to decoy, and most shots are within 20 to 30 yards. Therefore, an open-choke shotgun works better than a tight choke, especially with steel shot, which is required for hunting them.

Are teal the fastest duck?

SPEED RECORD

Blue-winged and green-winged teal, thought by many hunters to be the fastest ducks, are actually among the slowest, having a typical flight speed of only 30 mph.

What is the most hunted duck?

Mallards are the most common North American duck species, and the most commonly hunted. They can be found in most every state and are widely available through Canada and Mexico as well.

When should you not use a turkey decoy?

Don't Hide your Decoy(s)

Use them in open areas such as field edges, logging roads and sparse timber. If I am working a bird in heavy cover, it's probably one of the few times I will not put a decoy out. In these situations, the longbeard is searching for my calls and we are in close quarters.

Which way should a doe decoy face?

So, you always want to face the decoy toward your stand, with the wind blowing directly from your decoy toward your stand. It is equally important to set the decoy 25-30 yards from the stand.

How far away to set up turkey decoys?

Decoys Are Placed Too Far Away

Solution: Place your decoys 15-20 yards from your location. If a gobbler hangs up at 40, you still have a chance. If this problem persists with the same birds on multiple occasions, stake your decoy behind you where it's visible to an approaching tom.

Is it better to use a doe or buck decoy during the rut?

For example, during the rut, estrus doe and young buck decoys are typically the most effective for luring in a buck. Estrus doe decoys attract potential suitors, and young buck decoys pull in mature bucks that want to assert their dominance over their territory.

Why won't turkeys come to my decoys?

If a subordinate gobbler comes in, and he's already been beat up by a dominant gobbler, there's a very good chance that he's won't come in and get his head bloodied again. Many times, a turkey won't come to a decoy, because the hunter has made a mistake in where he's placed the decoy.

Will a doe decoy scare deer away?

Doe decoys generally will not scare off other does or smaller bucks. The doe decoy is much more approachable to all deer and will often scare fewer of deer in your area. When placing the doe decoy, I again place it 15-20 yards in front of my stand but instead broadside or quartering away.