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

[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.