How big of a decoy spread?

[Blaze]

We hunt a larger piece of water (2 lake chain) that gets hit pretty hard the first couple weeks of season. I'm considering a 3-6 "safety duck" setup down the shoreline from our usual bigger spread to see what happens.

[duckbill]

I hunt a 90 acre private lake that has 3 to 4 different setups. I usually use about 50 decoys to achieve the spread the I feel comfortable with. I think that there are a ton of factors that go with how many decoys you use. If I was hunting a pothole I may only use 8-12 decoys. Later in the year on big water I have no probelm using 150 decoys on somedays.

[jblabsnduck]

We put out 70 ducks and 6 geese.

[bigbucks]

I'll put out 6-12 for three of us, but I'm hunting a river less than 100 feet wide. Groups are usually 6 or less, almost never more than 10. Quality shooting opps, not necessarily quantity.

The size of the water & reasonable flock expectation are the key I would say.

[Borch]

I've found the past few years that big spread often cause the birds to land elsewhere(usually in the middle of the lake) the first couple weekends.

I use 15 - 18 mallards set up in small groups of 4-6 decoys. I also use 6 divers in a string and 10 goose decoys.

This has worked much better for me than the 3-5 dozen mallards, couple dozen dizens plus the geese early in the season. Even thouogh I hunt a 100+ acre slough.

Borch

[Finlander]

I hunt a popular lake and opener gets alot of hunters out there.
I always put out at least 80-100 duck decoys, and 24 Canada goose decoys. Along with a Canada goose feeder the has a bilge pump attatched to it so it looks like it's feeding and creates a good ripple on the water when it's calm. And it is legal to use as there are no moveing parts above the water!
With that spread, I get most of the ducks to my spread almost every time. It's alot of work, but I get the ducks. And when I pick up to leave, the other hunters are heading to my spot thinking it is the hot spot. It happens every time I limit out!

[Blaze]

Early season, how big of a spread do you guys throw out for ducks? Later season it makes sense to me to use larger #s of coys when the birds are bunched up more, but for opening weekend do you go with 1 dozen or 3+ dozen for your setup?

I'm still learning when it comes to ducks...and I've got a long way to go!

[bassman222]

I guess it would depend on the area that you are hunting. I hunt a small area a ways back in the woods and use 3-5 featherlite decoys and it works. Me and my buddy simply dont bring more than we need for that far of a walk.

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