On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
How far apart should decoys be?
One of the common mistakes in laying out long lines is placing your decoys too closely together. Set them about 10 yards apart; any closer and you increase the risk that incoming ducks will land in the line, short of where you want them.
Does duck decoy size matter?
Size – while you can find many decoys that are lifelike in proportions (referred to as “standard” decoys), there are also “magnum” or even “super magnum” duck decoys that are much larger than a real duck. The benefit of larger decoys is that flocks can see them from farther away than smaller decoys.
Can you use too many duck decoys?
Packing too many blocks in a small area won’t look natural. Just make sure decoys are visible and look relaxed. Use common sense for in-between scenarios. Two to four dozen blocks will probably work fine in marsh or river backwater situations.
Do ducks land in front of or behind decoys?
Ducks typically land facing into the wind, so put decoys downwind of the blind or leave a zone where birds can land into the wind.
How far apart should duck decoys be?
Space them apart a little so they are not touching – one metre apart is good. Most decoys should face into wind, so tie the retaining cord to the front of the keel. Decoy mooring lines should be at least 1½ times the deepest water depth. Ducks will not land right among decoys.
Which is better a buck or doe decoy?
“Buck or doe — which decoy works the best?” This is a question I get asked a lot. The answer is easy — “both of them work!” The very best decoy set-up is a buck with a doe. At this time of the year, it’s November here in the Midwest, a buck, which does not have a doe, cannot stand it when he spots a buck getting lucky.
How far should decoys be from blind?
How far should the decoys be from your blind? Well, the quick and simple answer is somewhere between 15-30 yards. Preparing your decoy spread can be fun and straightforward as long as you keep a few basics in mind. You want your decoy spread to appear natural.
Should you mix duck and goose decoys?
“I do mix duck decoys among the goose decoys, but I keep the duck decoys together within the goose decoys,” he said. “It’s not out of the question for ducks to spread out and mix in with the geese as they feed, but I want my spread to look like the ducks just landed.”
Are black duck decoys worth it?
Black or dark-colored decoys stand out better. They’re easier for passing ducks to see, so I add these in to increase my spread’s visibility. “Also, sometimes I put out a couple of pairs of shovelers, maybe some pintails and some teal.
Are foam filled duck decoys better?
A great foam or cork decoy wrapped in burlap will last you the rest of your life! A standard plastic decoy will have more feather detail and be more realistic.
Is it OK to leave duck decoys out?
It does not hurt to leave out. If having good success in one location then leave out.
Is 12 goose decoys enough?
I’ve done great with 12 decoys per hunter. It takes this many to conceal a hunter in a layout blind. Cochran echoes Bartz’s advice: “You’ve got to be in the center of the bullseye—right where the geese want to go—when you’re hunting with three dozen or fewer decoys.
Is it better to use doe decoy or buck decoy during rut?
For example, during the rut, estrus doe and young buck decoys are typically the most effective for luring in a buck. Estrus doe decoys attract potential suitors, and young buck decoys pull in mature bucks that want to assert their dominance over their territory.
Is 2 shot OK for duck hunting?
Size 2 shot is the best load for shooting ducks beyond 45 yards. Of all the shot sizes that have enough power to be effective at this range, 2’s have the highest concentration of pellets within a 30” circle (figure 1). For ducks closer than 45 yards, a smaller shot size is better.
How far should you aim in front of a duck?
A shooter needs to lead a duck by . 24-5.16 feet to make a clean shot. The two distinct variables that determine how far each duck should be led by are: How far away the duck is, and how fast the duck is flying.
How far ahead of a duck should you aim?
It’s important to wait until ducks are well within range before firing, and that normally means 40 yards or less. That’s a shorter distance than most hunters think it is. Pace off 40 yards sometime and see.
Is a dozen duck decoys enough?
On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
Do decoys work after the rut?
Post-Rut – Just the Doe
A feeding or standing doe deer decoy on a food source will be enough to attract the buck, but you’ll want to add in some estrous doe urine for good measure. Add in an estrous doe bleat to really bring in the big guns.
When should I put out my buck decoy?
Best Time to Use a Decoy
The best time to use decoys for deer hunting is pre-rut and rut. Two to three weeks before the rut or peak breeding hits in an area is a great time. During these weeks, bucks are starting to break up out of their bachelor groups as they begin to establish their home ranges.
Do duck decoys attract ducks?
Ducks are rather visual creatures, and tend to follow their peers. Placing a decoy duck pair in the water will make it seem more attractive to ducks passing by, or at the very least pique their curiosity enough that they’ll check it out since they think that other ducks are there.