I have always wondered where to set up for mallards. I hunt in the central Texas area mostly public land. My question is which is a better area to set up for mallards, out on the open lake or back in the river that is flowing into the lake. I have heard people setting up in both areas but am just trying to get a little more info about it. The river would be shallow enough to wade across and not too hard to find for the ducks and out on the lake it would be a set up from the bank.

I would find a spot where I had seen the birds on the river, or as a backup plan I would set up close to where the river flows into lake.

I always set up where I kick them out the evening before.

In the Central Texas area I find the thickest, narliest area with vegetation and find exactly where they want to be. Taking the wind into consideration, set-up in that area and you will smack some mallards.

As with all a lot of other centex public guys i would set up next to another hunter that set up there 3 hours earlier and shoot at them as they pass by. That would be your best choice. No need to get up early and they already put out decoys. So really you just have to get close enough to them with out tipping them off until you start blasting away.

On a serious note last year I shot my mallards on the open water. Believe it or not i passed up sprigs just to shoot two mallard drakes.

there are no ducks in central Texas... move along

farvafire I know exactly what you mean. I walk/boat in as far as I can and even go the the extent of having all the guys walking 100 yards from the spot we set up and flash everyone else off that decide to stroll in just before shooting time. At this point I would have absolutely no problem passing up sprigs for a few green heads.
FowlDreams there are plenty of ducks in central Texas if you go to the right spots just not that many mallards in the spots where Im hunting, plenty of woodies, pintail, gadwall, teal, widgeon, redheads, and even a few spoones for the slow days

It's been my experience when you mix the words greenhead, and central Texas you get these guys...

keep movin

The wonderful greater billed Central Texas Mallard. You sir have some nice trophies on that tailgate!

Brett,

That freaking tailgate from hell makes me laugh my azz off everytime. Listening to that shooting, hearing the updates and then seeing that picture makes me look forward to duck hunting every year. It don't take a limit of mallards to leave a lasting memory.

But just think, if not for the lowly rated spoone there would have been nothing shot that day. don't get me wrong I would much rather have just about any other bird out there but it always seem like when nothing else is flying there is always a few flocks of the now called "Central Texas Greenheads" buzzing you.

Spoon Platoon application coming your way.......

OMG, I haven't seen a tailgate that full of Spoonies since 2008 in west texas. Brings back some memories! Our dog wouldn't even retrieve them, lol!

Simplest answer I can advise to you.. ride around on the lake until you see birds, then set up there the next morning. But I would not rely on 1 spot, make sure you have 2 or 3. I got burned many times on public land so now I try to stay away from it unless I am desperate.

Same here Gary! That has by far been one of the most memorable hunts/weekends altogether for all of us I think.

I agree...that is hilarious!

and to think they actually said they passed on some spoonies...I call BS On that one

After that season, the spoonie numbers dropped 6%. Coincidence, I think not.


Numbers are back up this year and I predict full tailgates....

What I want to know is did they pass on any good ducks to be able to layout a tailgate like that.

[quote=Judd]What I want to know is did they pass on any good ducks to be able to layout a tailgate like that. [/0quote]

I am guessing the answer to that is going to the grave with those boys