Duck/Goose? Field/Water?
Or just anything?
Or just anything?
decoy placement
how do you guys like to set up your spread? and how many? and what kind?
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ducks on water looking to by more decoys but need to no what to buy first.
Theres another thread similar to this right now, also you might want to search the forum, im sure someone has asked this before :25:
the other one had to do wit just what kind of decoy should i get im asking more then just that
For years and years I ran carrylite mallards(the poor mans spread, I wish GHG Hot Buys were around back then) and did just as good as I do now with GHG lifesize mallards. I think 3 dozen is a good number to throw out. And to me its not how many its a combanation of location, calling, playing the wind, and motion(jerk string or spinning wing).
Smaller water like ponds and backwaters use less...bigger waters use alot of decoys and towards the end of the year use every decoy you got.
Also want to take in to account how many is hunting with you, 5 dozen is alot to put out and pick up by yourself(I know all to well).
Smaller water like ponds and backwaters use less...bigger waters use alot of decoys and towards the end of the year use every decoy you got.
Also want to take in to account how many is hunting with you, 5 dozen is alot to put out and pick up by yourself(I know all to well).
Id take a spinner over 12 extra decoys anyday! I have two and might get two more this summer!
As to how to put them out a opened up U shape downwind of the blind always works for me. With the end of your U being your max shot range.
Cross winds use a L shape with the bottom of the L going straight out from you blind to act as a road block.
If your hunting vegetation put them where ever downwind in the open pockets.
Cross winds use a L shape with the bottom of the L going straight out from you blind to act as a road block.
If your hunting vegetation put them where ever downwind in the open pockets.
X2As to how to put them out a opened up U shape downwind of the blind always works for me. With the end of your U being your max shot range.
Cross winds use a L shape with the bottom of the L going straight out from you blind to act as a road block.
If your hunting vegetation put them where ever downwind in the open pockets.
I only hunt big water and when we start to see the migrators coming here in full force we will put out somewhere between 18 to 24 dozen decoys, yes the majority are Mallards but we will run Gadwalls, Widgeon and Pintails, if the water conditions are what we like we will also have 3-4 dozen full bodies along the shore.
We are not to far from the refuge and we want to pick up the feeders from the return trip.
Sometimes we have Canada floaters out but we are in a closed goose zone.
I have Flambeaus, G and H Dakota's etc, the brand is not important it is what you can afford and keeping your decoys looking the best.
Dean
We are not to far from the refuge and we want to pick up the feeders from the return trip.
Sometimes we have Canada floaters out but we are in a closed goose zone.
I have Flambeaus, G and H Dakota's etc, the brand is not important it is what you can afford and keeping your decoys looking the best.
Dean
Normally I use 18 to 3 dozen. I don't like using spinners on the water. I will use a dozen GHG harvester pack mallards, 6 pintails, 6 black duck, 6 widgeon, and 6 green wing teal. If I'm hunting a big area I have plenty more to choose from, but thats what I normally use around here. Also been throwing in full bodies, mallards and pintail, if water depth is right.
Dozen to 4 Dozen depending on time of the year and the size of place I am hunting. J hooks, U Hooks, Family groups with a big hole, and Right angles all work just need to play the wind. Also does not hurt to have 1 or 2 motion decoys whether it mojos, swimmers or jerk string.
Run mallards (old herter photo reals) with some carrylite butts, blue and green wing teal, and pintails.
Run mallards (old herter photo reals) with some carrylite butts, blue and green wing teal, and pintails.
If you're walking in, don't worry about any more than you can stuff into a decoy bag (or two depending on your ambition). Have a little variety in colors/positions/sizes and put them out where the ducks can see the spread. That sounds obvious but I've thrown em out, walked 100yds away, and realized I could only see a couple of the few dozen decoys. Be different than the other guys. Set up to shoot em going into the wind, you don't have to have it right at your back every time.
I think the old timers had it right with the solid flat black dekes. I'm not trading in my ghg's since I like to be able to sit there and say "well the decoys look good" while I watch the refuge ducks. But the black has to show up better than a spread that's half light brown hens. ...maybe a drake and blacks only spread in the future???
I think the old timers had it right with the solid flat black dekes. I'm not trading in my ghg's since I like to be able to sit there and say "well the decoys look good" while I watch the refuge ducks. But the black has to show up better than a spread that's half light brown hens. ...maybe a drake and blacks only spread in the future???
I was on a guided hunt in Maine once. We were hunting a tidal river called the Passagassawakea...The goldeneyes were decoying like nothing I have ever witnessed. We were set up in a rock pile on a point that jutted out into the river. We had 6 GHG OS buffleheads on the upsteam side of the point and 6 GHG OS Goldeneyes on the downstream side of us. These decoy were equally spaced about 10 feet apart. The guide was meticulous about maintaining an equal distance between them. There was a landing hole about 10 yards wide right in front of the point. The guide placed a very well used carrylite hen goldeneye decoy in that hole. All the birds landed right on top of her. It was the best diver hunt that I have ever been on and we weren't using many dekes.how do you guys like to set up your spread? and how many? and what kind?
I usually only have 8-10 dekes on the water and it seems to work well if the ducks are in the area. I use all mallards, but may vary my species some next season, to hone in on the small ducks.
Thanks for the info guys!!!!! I'm thinking some black duck dekes will negetting added to the spread maybe some cans or redheads
There are way to many variables to answer. What size and shape is the area, Marsh, Woods, field, flyway, water depth, wind direction, bird population, species hunting, am or pm, weather, ect, ect.
I bet I didn't hunt over the same spread maybe twice last year. If your not changing your not successful. We run rigs from 7 decoys to 20 dozen. Sometimes we run all geese while hunting mallards, spiners really depend on the size of the area and the weather. Decoy placement depends on size and shape of the area
I bet I didn't hunt over the same spread maybe twice last year. If your not changing your not successful. We run rigs from 7 decoys to 20 dozen. Sometimes we run all geese while hunting mallards, spiners really depend on the size of the area and the weather. Decoy placement depends on size and shape of the area
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