Thread: Mai mai prep and feeding

I will have the finishing touches on the opening weekend ponds over the next few weeks. Photos to follow. Have just brought 1 tonne of barley to put through the feeders. Getting amped already.

I reckon it's best to be prepared to have minimal disturbance to the ducks leading into opening. I even top up feeders in the dark now. Most importantly it leaves the rest of the summer and autum free to hunt deer.

What are the other keen duck hunters up to?

So that's the secret to getting all the ducks!

I don't do much at all besides maybe clean the gun before opening morning.

Feeders been out for a while now. One day working bee mid Jan then that's it. Good spring means everything has grown wickedly.
Willows 4 foot taller, tea tree 1 foot taller and flaxes twice my height at least.
Its starting to get very private with heaps of cover.. Looks awesome.

Originally Posted by Happy

Feeders been out for a while now. One day working bee mid Jan then that's it. Good spring means everything has grown wickedly.
Willows 4 foot taller, tea tree 1 foot taller and flaxes twice my height at least.
Its starting to get very private with heaps of cover.. Looks awesome.

Yep , Its been pretty awesome alright. We have a heap of ducklings at residents at present. Looking forward to a massive opening four days.

Originally Posted by Nathan F

Yep , Its been pretty awesome alright. We have a heap of ducklings at residents at present. Looking forward to a massive opening four days.

barleys good to cos it floats and spreads round the pond
what are you setting your feeders to throw ??
morning and night??
do you up the throw closer to the opening ??
if so how far out from opening day

Originally Posted by gsp follower

barleys good to cos it floats and spreads round the pond
what are you setting your feeders to throw ??
morning and night??
do you up the throw closer to the opening ??
if so how far out from opening day

The feeders are on just 5 seconds a burst at 7 am at the moment. We only feed mornings. It seems to keep ducks coming all day. I think if you feed in the evening it just encourages ducks to show up after duck when they know they are safe.About the end of March it will be ramped up to three morning bursts. It worked well last season so we will see. There is certainly way more ducks around than last year.

Nice going guys, a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel....(thanks blackadder)

Originally Posted by Nathan F

The feeders are on just 5 seconds a burst at 7 am at the moment. We only feed mornings. It seems to keep ducks coming all day. I think if you feed in the evening it just encourages ducks to show up after duck when they know they are safe.About the end of March it will be ramped up to three morning bursts. It worked well last season so we will see. There is certainly way more ducks around than last year.

I need to make sure I have the same pond to shoot this year and may do a bit of feeding will evaluate in the new year. Certainly creeping up on me tho

pest control and waiting for the acorns then the fat flyers can't lift off in a hurry

Barley/wheat this early encourages pests......rodents sparrows just my opinion

Originally Posted by Dundee

pest control and waiting for the acorns then the fat flyers can't lift off in a hurry

Barley/wheat this early encourages pests......rodents sparrows just my opinion

How does feeding out over water encourage rodents? I could be wrong but have never to date seen sparrows or rodents out in the middle of my pond. The most important thing I reckon is just stay the fuck away. Don't disturb the ducks. Top up the feeder at night and did I say STAY AWAY.

Originally Posted by Toby

So that's the secret to getting all the ducks!

I don't do much at all besides maybe clean the gun before opening morning.

The 6 P's mate. Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance!

What sort of plants are good to have around your pond @Fluff has a large pond here on the farm but its a blank canvas and in need of planting.

Oak trees for natural feeding

Do you think feeding makes much difference?
I only started duck shooting a few years ago, the guy I shoot with doesn't believe in feeding his pond and we seem to have a lot better luck than some people how do feed their ponds.

I reckon feeding helps. Also having ducks around helps too