Hunting Washington Forum
Other Hunting => Waterfowl => Topic started by: mrmoskillz on September 20, 2012, 01:52:49 PM
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'm new to the duck world and would like to see how you set your decoys. I have looked through the threads and didnt see any. If it is a secret I'm sorry for asking. Like i said I'm new to this and I dont want to offend anyone but then again maybe this is a chance for you pros to show off???
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There is some good stuff if you google it :tup: I have never taken a picture of my decoys, but you obviously don't want them to far away from you. I like the farthest decoy from me about 35 yds. Also, the ducks like a landing area where there is no decoys. Often they will come right into that kill zone that you made :IBCOOL: They ausually will not fly directly over your decoys.
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Just a couple pics of the way I hunt from a few years back. I like a few small groups of dekes with landing areas open in good shooting zones. Pay attention to the wind in how you set your spread. Here's a couple pics of what I'm taliking about. The pics are a bit grainy, but I think that makes them look kinda cool. It was snowing at the time and low visibility which contributed to the look of the pictures. I'm heading out to retrieve a bird that sailed on us in one pic. This is hunting in a salt marsh area so that why I had a higher ratio of divers in the dekes.
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(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi12.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fa214%2FBradRoberts%2Fchad_beldinggeese1.jpg&hash=4fb02f501a8da003c4ffbf55d6d479c91cf12243)
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NED that is a cool pic......
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Read up on it. Google it. There is a lot of information out there on this topic (even if not on this site). For a new hunter the best way I often suggest is to use the alphabet. Set your spread in the shape of a U, or an X, or a J etc. The basic priniciple of any good spread is to have a kill zone/safe zone. You want the birds to feel "safe". With the U and the J setup you can guide the birds more or less to exactly where you want them to land. Generally speaking ducks will always takeoff and land INTO THE WIND. So facing your setup to maximize that is beneficial.
This topic can start getting real tricky and technical when your hunting in close proximity to others and/or you have seriously scouted your spot and know what the birds like. Examples would include... hunting on public land with 4 other groups within 350 yards of you. You have to do something to set your spread apart. That could mean more decoys, could mean less decoys, could mean more calling, could mean no calling. There is also a spot we hunt that we know the birds land in two spots on no matter what. We will strategically place our decoys so as to block off the areas we can't see from the blind and guide them to the two spots they seem to prefer.
There are lots of tips, tactics, and techniques in regards to placing decoys. But like I said earlier you want a Safe Zone and wind direction is very important. As far as the state of Washington goes.... I have had success with just 2 dozen decoys and I have had lights out shoots over 10 dozen decoys. Trial and error is the best learning tool I have ever found.
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Sometimes less is more.