Does anyone have advice on what decoy spread would work best?

W

Werner

Active member
The type of waterfowl I see often are Canadian Geese and Mallards. I think some of these have taken up residence. I see Black Ducks from time to time. Also, I see a few Merganser.

Pintails, Green Wing Teal, and Ruddy Duck can be seen in the Fall. Scaup, Merganser, and Bufflehead can show in the winter.

These birds are located near a marsh. I cannot hunt in the marsh but I can hunt just beyond the marsh. The birds swim beyond the marsh looking for food (I guess) during low tied.

In laying out a decoy spread, are there certain ducks that won't decoy to other ducks? Should I have a spread of 28 Mallards and be happy with that? (I saw 28 feeding yesterday.)

There are so many Mallards and Geese living near where I want to be that they make natural decoys -it would seem. I can't get close enough to them on shore but maybe they could help me by decoying migrating birds.

I don't know that I could trick the residents into swimming or flying my way -somehow I don't think they are that stupid. But please tell me if I am wrong.

Also, is it a good idea to throw clumps of marsh on the water near one's boat to create the impression of a low waterline within easy reach of food for some birds? (I will be in 2 to 8 feet of water- depending on the tied and where I am parked.)

Thank You for your input on the Browning Shotguns! That was a big help. I will have to ask some questions of the guys on that thread now that I have learned from their helpful insights.

Thanks Again Guys.
 
If I had to choose one spread that would decoy the widest variety of ducks it would be all black ducks. We hunt layout in Sandusky Bay with 84 Black Duck decoys and kill the same birds that we do using mallards. A few divers decoys with white I do think helps, but not as important. I use all dark decoys in the marsh during early season, and a lot of times later when the birds get wary. Have shot every species of duck that frequents our geographic location with just black. In reality, beautiful detailed decoys are for the hunter not the hunted. I say that loving detailed decoys.

How UV light plays into this I'm not convinced, but am trying to figure out.
 
I like variety in my spread and to also "match the hatch".
Most of what you are seeing are mallards, so let them make up the bulk of the spread. Then throw in a smattering of others you see, couple of pintails, 1/2 dzn teal, etc..
And a small group of Canada geese (unless you know they are from Canada, then try to find some Canadian Canada Goose decoys).
When the divers show up, a small number of bluebill or buffies off to one side can be a magnet. Just make sure its an odd number.

Not sure what you mean by "throwing clumps of marsh in the water"???
 
I do not hunt over mallard decoys exclusively.. The ducks are too smart, and when you're hunting land shared by everyone you need to think outside of the box. I tend to use a mixing bag of decoys and use a total of anywhere from 6-18 decoys made up of the following species.. 3-6 mallards, 3-6 gadwall, 6-12 teal, 12-18 black ducks, and may throw out a hand full of divers. I've thought about putting a swan or blue heron on the outside of the spread to enforce security. Also, during late season I usually throw out 6-12 Canadian floaters to add some attraction for a small (1-3) pack of geese.

Biggest thing I focus on is movement, and not from mojos but jerk strings, quivering feeder butts, and bubblers/pumper decoys.. You have to have movement or you're going to stand out. Also, feeder/rester decoys give further confidence to weary ducks.
 
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Ditto on all black ducks, at least in my area. Other puddle ducks we see will all decoy to blacks just fine.

I do think some black and white decoys help when pursuing divers (which for me means whistlers and buffleheads). I do not believe species or even size matters much for them, but the mix of black and white does. The old timers would slap some black on a white bleach bottle, and I bet those work as well as either my plastic or cork whistler decoys do.

Correction though--it is not an odd number that matters, but a PRIME number of decoys. Two is ok; nine is not.
 
I have been killing mallards and Canadas over a spread of 5 Canada decoys and 5 mallards. That is about all I can carry to the spot I am hunting. In my area I have had better luck killing mallards with goose decoys than with duck decoys. Black ducks are a non factor in my area. I would take a goose spread and throw a few duck decoys on the side. My goose decoys are the best duck decoys I own for mallards.
 
Hello Carl,

"Not sure what you mean by "throwing clumps of marsh in the water"???"

I would cut up some camouflage netting or burlap and place marsh grass and mud upon the netting or burlap. I would then place these "clumps" over some type of flotation device such as bubble pack.

Where I am at requires me to anchor my boat out beyond the shore-line.

The idea would be to create the "appearance" of marsh around an islet in an outgoing tide -the islet being my grassed up boat.

If I can't bring myself to the marsh, instead I will bring the marsh to me -so to speak.

Of course I would "not" place food on the floating mounds of marsh.
 
Thanks on the advice about black ducks.

How might UV light play a role?

Would I be better off buying cork decoys (they are pricey) or burlap decoys to mitigate any UV light issue?

I am not made of money but if I am going to buy a couple of dozen decoys I might as well start in the right direction.
 
Hello MLogan 89,

That was my concern about the mallards. That they are too smart.

In Zack Taylor's "Successful Waterfowling" he refers to the mallards as one of the "Wary Three." Of course the other 2 are Black Ducks and Pintails. He claims that these three are only exceeded by Canadian Geese.

It figures that all four frequent the area that interest me. They think they are safe -and they are as long as they don't stray too far off the shore-line.

Thanks for the tips on the movement. I will have to incorporate that idea into my spread.
 
Jeff,

Thanks for replying. Good to know another person seconds the black ducks. Thanks for the tip on the PRIME number of decoys.
 
Mike,

Thanks for the tip on the Canada decoys. I have read that some hunters use Goose decoys to attract ducks.
 
I think that would be a lot of effort for not much impact.
We hunt open water and stick phragmites or leafy bamboo around the boat blinds to break up the outline.
if you have a sneakboat covered in grass, I don't think that is even needed. Just get low.
 
Don't overthink it.....I use a small spread of mallards and Canadas (BTW, it is "Canada" geese, not "Canadian" geese) with a few GEs and bluebills off to one side. If hunting small water like a beaver pond I will use 4-5 mallards. Sometimes late in the season I will just put out coots and maybe a couple of mallards. The key is to be where the ducks want to be.....put in the time scouting beforehand, and set up in the places where you see ducks.
 
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