Teal Tactics

[lkink001]

I've read that when decoying teal you can use hen mallard decoys. Will it be ok to mix in teal with the hen mallards? Also, can I include drake mallards to make the spread bigger?

[kberggren]

We've used the old hot buy hens for decoys and its works fine! When it comes to teal you do not need a big spread! 12-24 decoys is plenty! Just do your homework when it comes to scouting! Thats the biggest factor by far, find exactly where the birds are and want to be and you'll be set! Less decoys to carry in that way too!

[Jexx]

I've always mixed in both drake and hen mallard decoys with my teal setup, and I can't tell that its ever been a problem.

kberggren is correct though, the biggest factor is being in a good spot the teal want to use, and if you find that then you don't need many decoys and it doesn't seem to matter what kind of decoys either. At least from my experience that's how its been.

[John Gordon]

Location is the key to early season teal, I have hunted them hard in the past on the Texas coast and the decoy selection did not matter at all. We ran a mixture of mallards, pintails, and teal, but I really don't think it matters what you use. Scouting is the key, go where they are feeding and limits should come in a matter of minutes.

[Mooch]

Along the same topic, how about calling tactics?

[kberggren]

You can get a cheap teal whistle that can be effected. Not a lot of calling is needed if any! I would recommend a cheap whistle call, they are anywhere from $8-$15. I have had a primos and it works great. Make sure and get one that you can do drake mallard grunt, wigeon, and pintail as well because this is a cheap call that is effected and works throughout the season on multiple species.

[drewdunc]

most early season teal are blue wing. Haydels makes a good blue wing/cinnamon teal call. It is not that expensive and it really turns the birds back once they fly over and make a pass. Great investment. Make sure you read the suggested calling tips on the package, because the call sounds completly different than anything else.

[Gitcha Some]

If you are hunting big water definantly put out as many goose floaters as you can...helps a lot

[EdCamenzind]

Teal seem to come to anything, but I would agree that goose decoys help to draw them in.

[tornadochaser]

high pitched nasally fast quacks on a mallard call usually work for me when decoying teal. they arent to smart up here though....:cool:

[FrogMan]

With all the tips that everyone just posted...one last thing is be alert! Fast little buggers buzz the tower quick! Maybe you know this...but FYI, pay attention.

[Dallas W Branch]

There's some good advice here.

Calling is good

Decoys, doesn't matter that much but I use 6-7 dz teal

mojos work great

Scouting is the most important

shallow water...they love the 12-18" of water

lot's of bug spray or a thermacell

keep your dog hydrated

After the first shot is fired, be ready to swing in the upward motion, that's one of teals flying tactics to get the heck out of Dodge!

Focus on one bird at a time...most people think these birds fly extremely fast, they really don't. They are just small, other ducks you shoot fly faster.

get up early and beat the crowd!

Most of all just get out and have fun. It's hunting, it's supposed to be fun!

[mlrdklr]

Yeah lots of good tips. A teal call will help alot. Also Decoys don't really matter. Where we hunt teal alot of times the marsh still has alot of tall grass so we use around 4 doz decoys just for added visability, thus consisting of 3 doz teal decoys and 1 doz mallards 10 hens and 2 drakes.

[Lybeck]

We don't have an early teal season here but I did see a ton of Cinnamon teal and blue wing teal during the early goose season. I was hunting a small farm pond for geese I got there really early and there was already a dozen or so teal there with 4 mallards. I watched them for about an hour from my ground force. the Mallards sat in the shallow water near the shore while they teal patrolled the shore line feeding after about 20 minutes they started to bathe/splash and preen then wen't back to feeding. I would try to sneak up on a flock in your area and watch them for a while and match your spread to what you see them doing.

[Stephen Pitt]

Dallas, you pretty much nailed it spot on.

[lkink001]

What would be the best place to focus scouting? I hunt public land exclusively, and it is right off the Des Moines River near Saylorville Lake in Iowa. Would it be better to focus on a Creek bed that is 18" to 3' deep, or a few large potholes that are right off the river that are about the same depth? I know it is better to scout immediately before the opener and I am putting a plan together.

[Brandon Dougan]

Dallas, you pretty much nailed it spot on.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Mark Brendemuehl]

I would use a handful of goose floaters and a handful of teal decoys. Teal love geese. Even in our regular season when teal come in and we le them land, they almost always land right on top of our goose floaters.
Mark

[legband]

if your by slough throw out a couple decoys u dont even have to sit down just stand out in the middle of them and teal will come in ..doesnt take much technique or strategy for teal..