Small Pond decoy placement

[CP]

Here's what I'm thinking,  Suggestions?

[Special T]

Looks pretty good to me!

[Oldguy]

Should work well; just don't overload it with too many decoys.

[Badhabit]

Put at least one hen near or right in front of the blind if you are calling much.

[Special T]

Less Is more unless it's really stormy

[bulldogs40]

Not enough information here... I think I need the lat and long to give you more input

Looks pretty good to me. I can't wait for opening day.

[asmith]

In my limited experience, I would put more closer to you.  I would set some just to the right, out in front a ways and to the left.  Leaving an open space in the middle.  But that's just me.

I've had more ducks land in the decoys than I have land in an open landing area I thought they would.  Even though everyone will say ducks land into the wind, I've seen more ducks come in with the wind and land than against it.  I think a lot has to do with the pond, which direction they are flying from to begin with and how comfortable they feel with that pond or decoy setup.  That's just my  , I'm no expert by any means.

[h2ofowlr]

Given the scale of your picture, your placement based on the tree sizes unless small bushes, I would want them closer, 25 - 30 yards out.  I want to pull them into the pocket.  Red would be decoy placement and blue lines would be where I would want the birds.  Your white X's look to be 60-70+ yards out which could be deceiving.  The birds will fly into the wind and probably want to get out of it.  The white X's marks you have on your picture would still potentially expose them to the wind. 

I am also a right handed shooter and I love the crossing shots from left to right.

Note: Key thing to do be for you build the blind and place decoys is see where they birds are sitting on a prior scouting trip.  They may have a location they like and use that to your advantage in blind and decoy placement.

Also pay attention to the first few groups, if the spread is not working change it up.  Don't ride it out flaring birds and hoping you will get some.  If they like the set up, they will bomb in.

Good luck.

[Stein]

Put at least one hen near or right in front of the blind if you are calling much.

That is what I was going to say, a couple of hens right out in front of the blind up tight against the bank.

[hdshot]

Ponds have many variables with depths and where ducks tend to be when using it.  In general I like the blind to be to the left where the shore bows out the most and keep deeks out in front of blind and in the middle to be seen easy from ducks in the air to start. With your spread simulation I would want the wind at my back as much as possible for blind location. 

When I hunt ponds I also try to make sure the sun is at my back as well.   

[Chesterdog]

 I've had many hunts where adding or subtracting a few decoys in key areas made all the difference.  If you notice birds flaring or reluctant to work, adjust your blind (obviously) but also your decoys so that the focus as they are working in, is not on you and your blind, but rather the decoys.  I rarely want the wind at my back and never in my face (assuming they will land into the wind).  It gives the birds too much time to see you and make a decision. IMO

[h2ofowlr]

Put at least one hen near or right in front of the blind if you are calling much.

That is what I was going to say, a couple of hens right out in front of the blind up tight against the bank.

I wouldn't worry about hen placement.    Many times I may only have a few hens in my entire decoy spread.  I go for the color of the drakes to help catch the birds eye.  I have ran this set up a lot.  Years back, I purchased 12 dozen decoys and sold off most of the hens.

[fowl smacker]

It's early season, shouldn't need too many dekes.  If you do group them along the outside like you have pictures, put 2-3 right in the pocket like they just landed there and are swimming toward the others.  Shoot straight!

[Bill W]

CP,  let us know what setup you went with, the wind direction and how the birds responded.  I know I'd find it educational.   We're faced with a similar situation tomorrow morning.

[CP]

CP,  let us know what setup you went with, the wind direction and how the birds responded.  I know I'd find it educational.   We're faced with a similar situation tomorrow morning.

Will do Bill - I'm bringing 15 mallard floaters, 6 Avian's on a stick, 4 goose floaters, and a wind duck.

[CP]

CP,  let us know what setup you went with, the wind direction and how the birds responded.  I know I'd find it educational.   We're faced with a similar situation tomorrow morning.

Will do Bill - I'm bringing 15 mallard floaters, 6 Avian's on a stick, 4 goose floaters, and a wind duck.

Well, this didn’t go exactly as planned.  The pond was bigger and deeper than I expected, with steep banks that were mostly inaccessible.  So decoy placement was restricted to where I could get to the bank and no further out than I could reach with a decoy pole.  No place to put full bodies or the wind duck.  Ended up hunting alone as well so I just packed  in a dozen floaters and put them along the bank about 10 yards to the right of the blind.   

Ended up more like the pic below with the birds mostly following the red track and landing out of range in the red circles.  The pond is about 50 yards across so this offered some good shots on birds flying left to right about 25 yards out.  Not ideal, but it didn't suck either.

[CP]

.

[Stein]

Looks like a great place for a small layout boat.

[h2ofowlr]

My drawing might have worked!  Use a float tube or small boat next time.  If it is shallower than 10' get a pice of 3/4" conduit and nock it in the ground.  Drive the 1/2" grey PVC in the top.  You can use this for pull string.  Use 3/4" as it will flex less if using a 10' section for deeper water.  A small pond like that should be a fun one to hunt.

[CP]

My drawing might have worked!  Use a float tube or small boat next time.  If it is shallower than 10' get a pice of 3/4" conduit and nock it in the ground.  Drive the 1/2" grey PVC in the top.  You can use this for pull string.  Use 3/4" as it will flex less if using a 10' section for deeper water.  A small pond like that should be a fun one to hunt.

Yeah, that's what I would have gone with if I could have placed the decoys out further.  Next time ...