Jer I hope someday I can meet up with you for a session of idea sharing. I think I may have been out of line on the rotating wing decoys. I bought two of the flambeau skyscrapers the first year they were out. A hen and a drake. My hunting buddy at the time also had a drake. We hunted tremp mud lake in those days and yes we killed them with those things and I agree. Some days one,some days all three;it’s always different.

Since those days as I’m sure you have seen everyone has at least one in their spread at all times. I guess it sort of chapped me and I just saw more birds flinch from them than come in. I kind of gave up on them and resorted to what I know. In pool 4 and 5 which I hunt most often I rely on good sets and some mediocre calling at best to bring them in ( I am worthless on a duck call) As I said a jerk line occasionally and using shakers almost always with a few feeders when it’s right. I’m not too proud I’d love to learn how to use the rotaters effectively. I just don’t know how and that’s likely the cause for the flinches I’ve experienced. I’m not making a living at this just enjoying life and it always seems more enjoyable to me when I fool birds that have brains smaller than the bb’s I shoot at them. My philosophy is the best place to shoot a duck is in the face!

Jer,I have to say you answered this question very well and with good advice based on puddlers. I am not a fancy educated waterfowler but I seem to shoot many more birds than most of the folks I talk to at the boat landing. My advice would be very similar.

I would add just because one day you shot a bunch of birds in the place you plan on going means that you will shoot a bunch everytime you go there. I rarely if ever hunt the same place twice. Watch the birds. If you see the area they appear to be landing in go to it. Sitting all day in a dead spot never gets any better, the time it takes to move will add up in birds. Second I never- ever- use mojo’s or any rotating wing decoys. Occasionally a jerk line if the water is calm, definitely a shaker decoy butt or two just to get some ripples on the water. The rotating decoys are not an advantage, they will bring in a hen or two but never have I seen them work well on flocks (my experience). Good calling and a great decoy set works the best. As far as decoy sets, again look at the birds. I frequently stop at the refuges around my area to see how birds are currently reacting. I look at them and note the conditions, IE calm winds out of the south I observe the birds all spread out and no real assembly to the flock, if that’s the weather I have, that’s how I set my deeks. If I go to the refuge say on a real windy day look at the birds and see they are in tight bunches with little room inbetween, that’s how I set my decoys on a windy day. You can learn more from observing birds in the area you hunt than you will ever learn from a book or TV show.

I promise if you choose a spot based on its looks, prepare for a long day. I was not taught how to hunt, I learned and I was self taught. I spent many days of frustration in 30+ years of hunting because I was in a great looking spot. Study your game and you will be so much more successful. Sunday I hunted a new place I’ve never tried, Saturday I watched 100’s of Mallards land there throughout the day. Me and My partner took 8 Mallards in less than 10 minutes of opening. Never called never did anything special. Put about 24 decoys out just like I saw the birds on Saturday. Every bird we shot was decoying less than 15 feet from the blind and every bird dropped right in our set. At day break we had over 200 birds trying to land in our tiny little set.

Nothing is fool proof but I believe strongly that your experience and future hunts success will improve if you just take some time to watch whatever it is you are after. I’m going out tomorrow morning. I’m going where I saw some birds land and I know its not iced over yet. I’ve never hunted it but I’ve seen birds there. I’m going to use about 18 decoys. I have a good feeling about it. Its going to be a cold one but I have feeling I won’t be out long.

Simple fix: had two with the same issue. Call Glock USA and they will send you a brand new recoil spring assembly. They need to know your model number and the serial number from the gun. You will get your new spring assembly in a matter of days. Ammo has nothing to do with it. Glocks eat up anything you put through them. One of the tell tale signs of the bad batch of springs that were used in the Gen 4 is the rounds occasionally hit you in the face. I have a co-worker that got one too. It’s a really common problem with a broad range of serial numbers.

Any gun purchase shouldn’t be taken lightly. You can’t take them back for a refund after you find out you don’t like them. A couple of things: I personally own several AR and M4 platform guns in several calibers. If you are looking at a black rifle ask yourself why is it that you want this,and right after that ask yourself what is the ideal caliber for the game you plan to shoot. 223 or 5.56 ammo is very expensive. Cheap ammo is about .45 per round. That’s not quality hunting ammo. Hornady or good Federal can be .50 per round or more. Next think about what else you can use the gun for outside of what you plan for. Varmint and plinking is best served by a .22 LR. Several manufacturers make quality guns that are reasonably priced. I personally would really think over the idea of the black rifle. They are over priced and not as great as they may seem. A Ruger 10/22 is a great gun if you are dead set on 223 you might want to look at the Ruger ranch rifle or a good savage bolt action. Sacrificing to a carbon rifle because you are trying to fit your budget sounds like a desperate move. They are cheaper in cost because they are cheaply constructed. I suggest doing some research and soul searching to make sure you know what you want and what best fits your needs.