National News> April 2008

Successful Hunting Tip

Are Mallards Attracted to Parrie Decoys? (Or Vice Versa?)

A “good keen hunter” from Central South Island recently raised an interesting question regarding the effect of Parrie decoys on passing Mallards.  He asks whether putting Parrie silhouettes on the shore near the mallard floating decoys is OK or a bad idea. He did this last year on a beach side pond and only shot a handful of mallards compared to
50- odd Parries on opening between three hunters.  He had been feeding the pond for a few weeks and had a large amount of mallards feeding there just before opening. But on opening weekend they just circled quite high & left again and,”they simply seemed unkeen to land with Parries around. I have been told by other shooters that Mallards don’t like Parries and that if I leave the Parrie decoys at home, I will shoot many more mallards. But as we like to shoot the Parries as well, will the Parries come into the duck decoys?”

The advice from Graham Hughes of Central South Island Fish & Game may be of interest and value to other hunters who have experienced this situation. 

Graham suggests, “Paradise shelduck are somewhat lacking in manners when feeding with species smaller than themselves, and they will take over a pond and drive off mallards, teal, and shoveler, yet remain feeding  close to Canada geese, which of course are much larger. So there is a pecking order. Shelduck will maintain a safe distance from geese however, avoiding getting within range of the long neck and larger bill.”

“I have shot for many years on a lake where both species are present. I use 60 to 80 mallard decoys in deeper water and use 2 to 6 shelducks, probably 30 metres away from the mallard decoys yet set in such a position that incoming shelduck are still within shotgun range, but that's hunting on a lake with 360 degrees water all round me, so I have the luxury of space. My priority species are mallards and I ensure that I have a spread favouring successful hunting of this species.”

“My advice would be, and I'm at a disadvantage as I don't know the details of your hunting location, (water area, hide in relation to your shelduck decoys), to keep the shelduck well away from your mallard decoys, or, only use a pair or perhaps 2 pair of shelduck , (you don't need many to fool a group of Paradise shelducks) but still set well away from the mallard decoys. You may need to experiment. If you use a Paradise shelduck call then fewer decoys should not be disadvantageous.

“To answer your question regarding shelduck being attracted to mallard decoys, most often no, they mostly just fly by. To bring in Parries, you really need at least a pair of shelduck decoys. Good luck”

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