getting the decoys.. Spread?

[addicted]

picking up some decoys. which is cool. but then ill have no idea how to set them up at the lake.  should i just kinda put them out there randomly or should there be some sort of pattern?  i dont want to steal anyones secret weapon if there is one but any help for a new waterfowl hunter would be cool. thanks

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Several question come to mind to try and answer your question.

1.  What kind/number of deks and what kind of ducks are you after?

2 What size of a body of water? Large lake or small pond or salt flats?

3. What kind of pressure from other hunters?


Me I hunt a lot of smaller ponds mostly for mallards not a lot of competion from other hunters close by, I use 12 to 14 ducks and if it's a goose day at least 3 goose deks. I don't really put them out in any kind of pattern most of the time just a loose bunch. Sometimes I'll make a sort of J with the leg being the farthest away for me to try and draw them closer to the blind but always with the main bunch at the side the wind is blowing from. Just like airplanes they like to land into the wind.

[addicted]

small lake. reeds all the way around.

light pressure at the moment.

not sure on the number of dekes yet but probably at least a dozen. (gift from a friend)

probably too vague right now but hearing about yours helps
thanks

[LOVEMYLABXS]

Perfect addicted small ponds are great for a doz or so deks. First thing to check out is can you wade it or will you need a belly tube? then next is checkin the wind which way does it blow the most? You will want to put the wind to your back as much as possible, one small lake I hunt it shifts alot. i really like it when it's blowing out of the west but I have started the day on the east end and chased the wind by the end of the day to the west. This is one check mark for small spreads is being mobil and moving as needed to put thing in your favor. Find you good spot to hide being hid  will make or break your day especially as the year goes on and the birds get wiser. This can be anything from building a blind out of 2bys or just pickin up stuff from around the lake (sage brush where I hunt is common) hiding in the tulies is fine but remember you won't have a lot of cover from above.