Duck Decoy Spreads

What is everybody’s favorite pattern for their decoys for mid to late season mallards? Anyone care to share. I’m one of those guys that just places them with convenience for the most part. I figure some is better than none. Do you prefer edges of the “open water” marshy areas or away from the shore so all the dekes are out away from the cover/flooded grass? Also, is it better to keep all the dekes in one area, or do you have a couple pockets of 1-2 or more dozen? Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks.

I usually place mine in a J or U. Sometimes I go with the famous double blob. I put my furthest dekes out about 30 yds. Later in the season I also put a ladder of divers leading into my dekes. I put my robos at the edges of my landing strip.

Lenny Jamison

I usually place mine in a J or U. Sometimes I go with the famous double blob. I put my furthest dekes out about 30 yds. Later in the season I also put a ladder of divers leading into my dekes. I put my robos at the edges of my landing strip.

Lenny Jamison

I like the double blob with mallards too. If I use a spinner, I like to put it in the landing strip between the blobs and upwind, as the ducks seem to like to land behind it and between the blobs.

This is mostly my pothole spread.

In open water, I like a group or two of mallards, and a group of some other ducks (got a dozen new widgeon this year), and maybe a J of divers (only have a dozen bluebills, I’m not much of a diver hunter).

I like the double blob with mallards too. If I use a spinner, I like to put it in the landing strip between the blobs and upwind, as the ducks seem to like to land behind it and between the blobs.

This is mostly my pothole spread.

In open water, I like a group or two of mallards, and a group of some other ducks (got a dozen new widgeon this year), and maybe a J of divers (only have a dozen bluebills, I’m not much of a diver hunter).

Thanks for the input guys. I may have to try the double “blob”. Is that the technical term?

Thanks for the input guys. I may have to try the double “blob”. Is that the technical term?

i guess it all depends on where i am. Later in the season(nov/dec) i put out as many dekes as i can. There aree many times when me and a buddy have put out 10 doz mallards, and 4 doz goose dekes (shells/silos). But, hte more the marier is not always a good route. THey gotta be placed good.

I try to put as many dekes right next to shore as i can….as in a few feet away. Sometimes under fallen trees and even set them on logs. Then string a few doz out in the open water a little further. Dekes dont really have to be in shooting range either. If the wind is coming from the hard left, place your dekes 20+ yard upwind(not infront of you) and the ducks will have to go past you to land in the pocket.

i could show pictures………but they may reveal my prime locatons throuout the midwest…lol

i guess it all depends on where i am. Later in the season(nov/dec) i put out as many dekes as i can. There aree many times when me and a buddy have put out 10 doz mallards, and 4 doz goose dekes (shells/silos). But, hte more the marier is not always a good route. THey gotta be placed good.

I try to put as many dekes right next to shore as i can….as in a few feet away. Sometimes under fallen trees and even set them on logs. Then string a few doz out in the open water a little further. Dekes dont really have to be in shooting range either. If the wind is coming from the hard left, place your dekes 20+ yard upwind(not infront of you) and the ducks will have to go past you to land in the pocket.

i could show pictures………but they may reveal my prime locatons throuout the midwest…lol

I think the shape of the spread is completely irrelevant. You want to have ducks come into range? Go take a leak, or start packing up. Here is a Million dollar idea – create a decoy of a guy taking care of business….

I think the shape of the spread is completely irrelevant. You want to have ducks come into range? Go take a leak, or start packing up. Here is a Million dollar idea – create a decoy of a guy taking care of business….

Been thinking of making one of those myself nubbin’ It never fails, when you do it the birds role in!

Been thinking of making one of those myself nubbin’ It never fails, when you do it the birds role in!

You fellas have the right ideas. I have often thought about just sitting out in my decoys, just throwing them out, and then picking them all back up. It seems like everytime a guy goes to pick up his decoys (even after sitting there for hours without seeing a single duck) a flock will come by. Can you guys invent one of those too. I am not that ambitious, but would love to push a button and make it happen.

You fellas have the right ideas. I have often thought about just sitting out in my decoys, just throwing them out, and then picking them all back up. It seems like everytime a guy goes to pick up his decoys (even after sitting there for hours without seeing a single duck) a flock will come by. Can you guys invent one of those too. I am not that ambitious, but would love to push a button and make it happen.

I prefer field hinting! Much dryer, and being in the presence of a “Duck Tornado” is something that must be experienced!
Tuck

I prefer field hinting! Much dryer, and being in the presence of a “Duck Tornado” is something that must be experienced!
Tuck

Field hinting???

Field hinting???

I have to agree – field hunting (not hinting) has its merits. I did it for the first time last fall in ND. No big tornados of Ducks unfortunately; BIG tornados of the White Devils (Snows).

I have to agree – field hunting (not hinting) has its merits. I did it for the first time last fall in ND. No big tornados of Ducks unfortunately; BIG tornados of the White Devils (Snows).

I’ve been in a duck tornado two years ago in an Iowa cornfield. It was unbelievable. I have moved to Lacrosse and am starting all over so probably won’t get to duck hunt this year, but surely know what you mean. I called it duck heaven.

I’ve been in a duck tornado two years ago in an Iowa cornfield. It was unbelievable. I have moved to Lacrosse and am starting all over so probably won’t get to duck hunt this year, but surely know what you mean. I called it duck heaven.

Yeah, field hunting has it’s benefits. The main one being….when you find the birds in a field, the flocks are more than 3-5, they are more like 35-50. It’s awesome when you get into them like that (tornadoes). I personally think that like goose hunting in fields…there is a lot more scouting involved, but once you find em, you’re set. But they move around so much, it’s finding where they’re going that is the hardest part, the second hardest part, is picking out the biggest greenhead before they land!!!! Good luck to all.

Yeah, field hunting has it’s benefits. The main one being….when you find the birds in a field, the flocks are more than 3-5, they are more like 35-50. It’s awesome when you get into them like that (tornadoes). I personally think that like goose hunting in fields…there is a lot more scouting involved, but once you find em, you’re set. But they move around so much, it’s finding where they’re going that is the hardest part, the second hardest part, is picking out the biggest greenhead before they land!!!! Good luck to all.

i liek fields too………. especially when we get em in like this Water hunting, the spread shape is a little less important as field hunting. PLus, in a feild, you have different decoys (resting, sleeping, feeding, sentry…etc) and placement of each makes a difference…even which direction they are facing.

i liek fields too………. especially when we get em in like this Water hunting, the spread shape is a little less important as field hunting. PLus, in a feild, you have different decoys (resting, sleeping, feeding, sentry…etc) and placement of each makes a difference…even which direction they are facing.

MudCat,
Sweet picture. I see a couple even folding in there. So who did you hire to take the picture?… I ask because in my group it would be tough to get anyone to set their weapon and take the picture and the only way that we could get pictures like that would be to hire someone who doesn’t hunt (then again after seeing something like that how could you not hunt?)! Don’t get me wrong, I like taking pictures but when it comes down to it, I’d rather be shooting geese than shooting photos. Either way awesome picture.

MudCat,
Sweet picture. I see a couple even folding in there. So who did you hire to take the picture?… I ask because in my group it would be tough to get anyone to set their weapon and take the picture and the only way that we could get pictures like that would be to hire someone who doesn’t hunt (then again after seeing something like that how could you not hunt?)! Don’t get me wrong, I like taking pictures but when it comes down to it, I’d rather be shooting geese than shooting photos. Either way awesome picture.

i take more pictures than teh paparitzi (sp?) when i am hunting……….lol…….. i agree, its hard to set the camera down when birds are coming in plus i am the one doin the most calling. but its easy right now…..in WI we can only shoot 1 goose a day..so we take turns on flocks…good photo opp.

So to answer yr question…. nobody was hired…….just ourselves.