Decoy Patterns

So I have hunted ducks and geese pretty hard for the last couple of years. Switching it up from bow hunting.

I was wondering if you guys have a certain way that you set your decoys?

I have a way that a set them Mallards mixed up with the Greenheads out fornt. Throw a couple a landing pockets. I put my Woodies behind them closer to shore. And put ROBO out in the middle of the main group.

I was wondering if there is any different ways to set your decoys that could possibly make more come down and lock?

I set the bills out later in the year and sometimes just run my “J” and thats it.

Interested in hearing what other folks do.

I’ve had really good luck with just two or three decoys early in the season and in smaller ponds or pot hoes. As the year progresses I’ll maybe have three dozen max and have the spread with eight or nine in separate clumps/families with 2 to 3 “landing strips” or pockets. I’ll also use a minimum of 2 roto ducks on the inside of the outside pockets. Staggering the height of the rotoducks. Sometimes I’ll even throw in 3 honker floaters near the shore… This is all I use for greenies. And late in the season, I just use 4 to six rotoducks in the middle of picked corn fields. this is when most of the lakes just start to freeze.
I could just sit and watch those tornado flocks come and go for hours and not even shoot!

I’ve had really good luck with just two or three decoys early in the season and in smaller ponds or pot hoes. As the year progresses I’ll maybe have three dozen max and have the spread with eight or nine in separate clumps/families with 2 to 3 “landing strips” or pockets. I’ll also use a minimum of 2 roto ducks on the inside of the outside pockets. Staggering the height of the rotoducks. Sometimes I’ll even throw in 3 honker floaters near the shore… This is all I use for greenies. And late in the season, I just use 4 to six rotoducks in the middle of picked corn fields. this is when most of the lakes just start to freeze.
I could just sit and watch those tornado flocks come and go for hours and not even shoot!

My buddies use to laugh but I would always have my Blue Heron decoy. It really worked good. I would stake it with-in 10 yards of us..

My buddies use to laugh but I would always have my Blue Heron decoy. It really worked good. I would stake it with-in 10 yards of us..

we use somethin like this.

we use somethin like this.

My spread consists of a 24 malards and 6 to 12 teal. NO MOJO. We pulled the mechanicals out last year. I have found that the birds have started to get wise. Nothing beats a good set up and a good call.

We start with the malards in a u shape out in front of the blind. From there we take additional malard dekes and make small family groups within this same group.

The teal are scattered on one side or the other of the main group. (Usualy down wind.)

Once the northern birds begin there migration I will ad one string of bills or cans out front. This addes the illusion of a larger spread without humping a ton of additional dekes.

If there are geese in the area I MAY add 4 or 5 goose dekes but never more. I prefer to pick one speciecs or the other. We have had better success with ducks when the goose dekes are gone. (I would like to hear other takes on this theory if there are any.)

My spread consists of a 24 malards and 6 to 12 teal. NO MOJO. We pulled the mechanicals out last year. I have found that the birds have started to get wise. Nothing beats a good set up and a good call.

We start with the malards in a u shape out in front of the blind. From there we take additional malard dekes and make small family groups within this same group.

The teal are scattered on one side or the other of the main group. (Usualy down wind.)

Once the northern birds begin there migration I will ad one string of bills or cans out front. This addes the illusion of a larger spread without humping a ton of additional dekes.

If there are geese in the area I MAY add 4 or 5 goose dekes but never more. I prefer to pick one speciecs or the other. We have had better success with ducks when the goose dekes are gone. (I would like to hear other takes on this theory if there are any.)

MINE IS A U OR J SHAPE. I FELL THE MORE DEEKS THE MERRIER 5-6 DOZEN CONSISTING OF MAINLY MALLARDS. BUT I RUN 4-8 MOJOS, A VORTEX OCCASIONALLY AND A MINIMUM OF 3 GOOSE FLOATERS IN ALL SPREADS…..YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THERE GONNA COME OVER. AND I ALWAYS USE ODD #S ON FLOATERS DUCKS OR GEESE. I AM A GLUTTEN FOR PUNSHMENT

MINE IS A U OR J SHAPE. I FELL THE MORE DEEKS THE MERRIER 5-6 DOZEN CONSISTING OF MAINLY MALLARDS. BUT I RUN 4-8 MOJOS, A VORTEX OCCASIONALLY AND A MINIMUM OF 3 GOOSE FLOATERS IN ALL SPREADS…..YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN THERE GONNA COME OVER. AND I ALWAYS USE ODD #S ON FLOATERS DUCKS OR GEESE. I AM A GLUTTEN FOR PUNSHMENT

HOLY SMOKES MAN YOU MUST HAVE ONE FULL A$$ BOAT HAHA BUT HEY WHATEVER WORKS I FEEL A PERSONS SPREAD DEOENDS ON WHAT YOU FEEL AND IT IS MORE MENTAL THAN ANYTHING. FOR EXAMPLE HAVING ODD NUMBERS ONLY OR FOR ME IT IS ALWAYS HAVING A HEN AT THE POINT…WHO KNOWS I GUESS THE WAY I DO IT IS JUST KEEP CHANGING TILL IT WORKS

HOLY SMOKES MAN YOU MUST HAVE ONE FULL A$$ BOAT HAHA BUT HEY WHATEVER WORKS I FEEL A PERSONS SPREAD DEOENDS ON WHAT YOU FEEL AND IT IS MORE MENTAL THAN ANYTHING. FOR EXAMPLE HAVING ODD NUMBERS ONLY OR FOR ME IT IS ALWAYS HAVING A HEN AT THE POINT…WHO KNOWS I GUESS THE WAY I DO IT IS JUST KEEP CHANGING TILL IT WORKS

I like to have a limit mallards floating belly up with real bad headaches right in the honey hole !!!

I like to have a limit mallards floating belly up with real bad headaches right in the honey hole !!!

Here are a couple spreads that I probably would try. It kept me busy over lunch anyway.

Mallards, teal, and goose decoys. Diver spreads will have to wait until tomorrow’s lunch break.

Here are a couple spreads that I probably would try. It kept me busy over lunch anyway.

Mallards, teal, and goose decoys. Diver spreads will have to wait until tomorrow’s lunch break.

one more

one more

EXCELENT EXAMPLE SIR

EXCELENT EXAMPLE SIR

The first two were soo much fun, I couldn’t wait to do two more. That’s it for me though. I won’t waste anymore of your time.

Divers in blue, mallards in green

The first two were soo much fun, I couldn’t wait to do two more. That’s it for me though. I won’t waste anymore of your time.

Divers in blue, mallards in green

Last one. Can’t wait until the Goosies start flopping.

Last one. Can’t wait until the Goosies start flopping.

the mojo count is steadily rising

the mojo count is steadily rising

WOW Thanks for the looks guys!!

WOW Thanks for the looks guys!!

MM – excellent drawings.

WF99 – Really, 8 mojos?