"If the duck banks, sees the decoys and starts to turn away, hit him again to draw him back in. I mostly use the contented hen on the water at this stage, although I throw in a little feed call now at times … slow and broken up … tick, tick, tick."

When to stop calling also depends on the ducks' reaction. If a duck is kind of shy, Mike eases up. If the bird is eating it up, he'll sometimes keep calling until it's right on the water, just for the fun of it.

Besides recommending that you learn the four major calls, Mike has some strong thoughts on putting out decoys as well. "Set them closer than most people do. First of all, if you light 25 percent of the ducks you work, you're doing well today. That means most of your shooting is not going to be over the decoys. It will be pass-shooting as the ducks swing in close to look."

"Even if the birds do come in and try to land, 90 percent of them are going to do so at the far edge of the decoys out of shooting range. They've learned through the years to do it for survival. They're educated. It's a natural instinct, just like quail and bass have changed their behaviors."

Because of this, Mike likes to set the decoys very close to the blind. "If they swing close, they're going to be in shooting range. If they try to light, they're going to be a little closer, perhaps in shooting range."

If you do this, it's important to camouflage the blind and hunters better than you would with the decoy spread farther out. "You have to sit real still, too, until you're ready to shoot."

Next time you're in the blind, use this legend's calling and hunting tips, and you may get that opportunity to aim at incoming ducks in short order!

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Mike McLemore's instructional audio tapes or videos can be ordered from 244 Quail St., Huntingdon, TN 38344; or call (731) 986-3090.