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

[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