Decoy spread size in the later part of season: UPDATED WITH PICS!!!!

[stickbuck]

So as we approach the last quarter of the season I begin to question the size of my spread. I hunt an area adjacent to public land and have been having good success with an assortment of 3 dozen decoys. I'm using two dozen mallards, one dozen Widgeon and two single pintail decoys. I also run a jerk string and a pull string wing decoy. My water size is 150 yds wide and 200 yards long. Over the past week though, I have noticed that the flock sizes have decreased on average from 20+ down to five or less. Do you guys start to decrease your spread size in January or do you stay with a larger spread knowing the ducks will have more confidence in landing in a spread with the larger number?

[wadu1]

I drop down to a dozen mixed decoys late in the season. I also run a jerk string with ducks butts. 

[duck stamp]

If you are having good luck with what you have been using I would say stay with it if not I would try maybe about half of what you have been using.   Good luck

[h2ofowlr]

If you have wind and lots of movement, more can be better.  No wind, less and better decoys are the ticket along with jerk strings.

[GregFowler23]

Most times just see whats working best for yourself. Every areas goin to be a little different. Try using the big spread and see how they react, if nothing happens change it up and pick up or use less decoys. But always keep the movement going.

[TheHunt]

I would only use 8 decoys and one spinner. I would put 3 hens and four drakes.   

[ICEMAN]

I would only use 8 decoys and one spinner. I would put 3 hens and four drakes.

You may want to check your math.

[D-Rock425]

1 spinner 4 drakes and 3 hens my math adds up to 8 but I'm from lake Stevens what do I know.

[92xj]

"and" being the key word. 

[D-Rock425]

You got me I told you I was from lake Stevens  .  Lets stop these math problems my head hurts.

[ICEMAN]

8 and 1 spinner is 9 last time I checked....and 3 plus 4 is........


Anyhow, who really cares, I just want to see more pics of ducks!!!

[D-Rock425]

Gadwal pic

[Widgeondeke]

I've always used less the last couple weeks. Use less dekes, but mix up the breeds. Throw in a pair of pintail or widgeon.
As was stated earlier tho. If 3 dozen are workin, don't change. Movement is critical.

[msteffens55]

Headed out on Monday, when I got to my spot I realized I forgot my decoy bag (I know... I know).
I opened my tool box in my truck to find 1 old and cruddy looking drake spoonie deek. I figured what the heck, I was already out there, I'd hunt with it...

Killed three!

I wouldn't recommend hunting over one decoy, but it seemed to work. And the hike in and out was pretty pleasant!

[stickbuck]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'll give it a shot in the morning. It's always nice to hear what other guys are using.

[money794]

last few weeks of season i put out around 2-5 decoys for small rivers or fields but big water i do about 4-8

[brocka]

Less is more late in the season. 3 - 6 mallards, with little calling.

[Wtrfowlr62]

i usually always run anywere from 15-24 (not dozen). dozen mallards then eaither 2 drake and one hen pin and widgeon maybe even just pins no wigeon, really just depends. I dont see a ton of pintails where i hunt this late in the season, but i get a ton of widegon, but i like the pins for contrast. what i do? well, weathers good, seems like a lot of birds gonna fly, dozen mallards 2 pin drakes 2x2 widegon, maybe sometimes throw in a couple teal or blue bill. If it seems like its gonna be a slower day weather wise, not bigger flocks flying, i decrease the numbers slightly and will add a little more color to my spread and contrast to the spread. always have motion with either situations of course. hell, last week we killed 4 man limit with 6 mallards, tried the same thing couple days later and it was a little more of a grind.

in general the best thing for late season i would say is mixed decoys with movement, and smaller numbers.

[D-Rock425]

I always thought big spreads late in the year.  What time of year do you use the 2,3 or even 4 dozen spreads?

[money794]

i rarely even use a full dozen of decoys ahah even tho i got almost 4 dozen

[steeleywhopper]

 My best late season hunts have always come from spreads of 10 or less decoys. Most of the time less can be more.

[brocka]

I always thought big spreads late in the year.  What time of year do you use the 2,3 or even 4 dozen spreads?

I have had good luck with large spread earlier in the year or when on big water, the later into the season you get, the smarter the ducks are, they have every spread you can think of and become decoy shy. I guess it would also depend on what area and what type of water.

[brocka]

My best late season hunts have always come from spreads of 10 or less decoys. Most of the time less can be more.

I would agree 100%

[singleshot12]

No decoys for late season, learn to call good and trick the ducks into searching for ducks that aren't there 

[seth30]

I have increased my decoy spread and now limit out or come close to it every time I hit a blind.

[singleshot12]

on smart northern mallards?  I guess it depends where you hunt, areas that get hunted alot the ducks become very decoy shy fast 

[seth30]

Many Mallards, Teal, and Pintails at the moment.  I use a flock of goose decoys, and a flock of duck decoys, they seem to love and land between them.  Oh yeah limiting out on pintails first, and letting the rest act as decoys seems to help my spread

[singleshot12]

Yeah it really helps to use quality decoys and know how to place them too in the right areas.

[seth30]

Yeah it really helps to use quality decoys and know how to place them too in the right areas.

I hunt the same areas every weekend, and now the where and when to place with tides, and also watching how each duck species acts helps.  I have noticed that ever single pintail has done 3 complete passes before they land, while teal just zoom in, and the mallard do 2-4 passes. I often dont let them land if they drop but wing shoot them.  Teal and pintails I can count on to land

[singleshot12]

Maybe decoys along the tide line are better for late season but hunting marsh, cattails etc. I've found by using no decoys is better, but ya really hafta know how to call. Besides that it alot less work packing dekes around 

[seth30]

Maybe decoys along the tide line are better for late season but hunting marsh, cattails etc. I've found by using no decoys is better, but ya really hafta know how to call. Besides that it alot less work packing dekes around 

that is the part I hate, in the morning I dont notice the weight, too jacked for the hunt   Coming back with a bunch of ducks and geese it really is a crappy hike, but hey Im willing to do it daily

[singleshot12]

It's all good    you're still young

[Sneaky]

quality > quantity always in my experience. Used to run 1 doz m4sw plus 6-8 more mixed decoys now down to 10 magnum flocked drakes only with more success 

[Kola16]

This Sunday I went duck hunting on a small lake. It was packed with five hunters. Three of the hunters had atleast 2 dozen decoys, and one other hunter, and I had a dozen. The difference between me and the other guy that had a dozen is that I had 5 different species and he had 1 maybe two. There were quite a few ducks flying and one group went to the other guy, but the rest came to my buddy and I  The other guys with a bunch did not get a thing.

[jeepguy]

the more the better bunch'em uptight ,tie a couple pull strings on  some i usualley take about a 120 by myself when i go late

[stickbuck]

So I experimented last week with mixed results. The first day of the experiment started with me more than doubling my three dozen decoy spread by throwing out SEVEN dozen. I was pretty skeptical but with the larger flocks flying right past my three dozen, I knew I had to make a change so I thought what the heck I'll try seven dozen. I threw out half a dozen Teal, half a dozen Pintails, a dozen Black ducks, two dozen Widgeon, and three dozen Mallards. I was amazed at the size of the spread and so were the ducks. I was getting flocks of 20-40 locking up on my spread that had been flying right by in the past weeks. At one point, I looked up and a flock of 50-60 teal were circling the decoys. The first pic is one duck shy because of the graphic nature of a hen teal missing half her head so I kept that one out.



I guess you could say that I got practically the same results with both sized spreads. After that day, I opted to continue the experiment by throwing out only a dozen Mallards and only five Widgeon. By shooting light, I had 30-40 Mallards swimming amongst the decoys along with five geese. I see geese once every few weeks at my spot so opted to take the geese first and wait for the ducks to come back. Unfortunately I had to leave the blind by noon that day so I was two shy of my limit. There was a huge bonus this day with a beautiful Pintail with a monster sprig on it, at least the biggest one I've ever shot.





The third day of the experiment started by me only throwing out the same dozen Mallards and five Widgeon. The morning started off quick with two green heads and a Widgeon by 8:00am. It wasn't until 12:35pm that two ducks came into land by the Widgeon. As I stood up to shoot what I first thought were two Mallards, I quickly realized that I was staring down the barrel at two Shovelers, a hen and a DRAKE!!!! First shot, drake down. Second shot, hen down. It was the first one that I had ever seen while hunting. Have always seen hens, over the years, but until yesterday I had never seen one let alone shot one. At 1:10pm, 9 Pintails flew in and a smoked one for the last bird of my limit. Well, I'm going out tomorrow and will be going along with my small spread. It's alot easier to carry to the blind and sure as heck doesn't take as long to set up. By the way, I haven't told the wife that the taxidermist has two Pintails and this drake Shoveler yet. I'm pretty sure I will wait until the season is over so I don't get cut off. 

[Fowlweather25]

That's awesome man! Nice job!

[jordano]

stickbuck- those wigeon and pintail in the 2nd photo are gorgeous! that bottom wigeon is totally awesome! nice work on the experiments!

[stickbuck]

Thanks man. The top Pintail in the second pic is an unbelievable specimen. I held it and just stared in awe. Not a single visible hole and every feather seemed to be in order. The head is awesome and that sprig, well, it's huge. I just couldn't believe it and still can't. 

[Widgeondeke]

Are you sending that Bull Sprig to the taxi

[stickbuck]

Yep. The wife gave me a spare pair of panty hose to make sure that the feathers lay perfectly in transit. One side got the Pintail, the other leg got the Shoveler. She just sighed and said "January 29th won't come soon enough. 

[prophet]

last week wednesday i used a mixed bag, a totel of 6 dozen dekes. we hunted a river slough with clear and sunny conditions and no wind. had nice size flocks of birds coming into are spread totely commited. it was a little wierd. because til then we were only getting small groups of birds that didn't want to commit to a smaller spread of about 3 dozen. between two guys we came home with 3 shy of are limit. wish i could post pics, but im at work. going to try it again this coming week. see if it was a fluke. i hope not.