Evaluate this spread

[mixxedbagg]

This is a spread I used last week on a smaller river that has mallards, goldeneyes, probably some ring-necked, and a handful of other ducks. I took 3 ducks that day. These are all of the dekes I have. The river in the drawing flows north to south.

When I set this spread, I anticipated that ducks would come up the river and land in right of the bluebills, but that's not what happened. All of the ducks that came in flew in full bore from the NW right across where the bills and mallards meet, which surprised me a bit.

Would you approach this differently? Do you usually 'clump' dekes of a certain species like I have been? I tend to put my dekes pretty close together cause it's easier to pick up since I hunt by myself, but should I space them more? Finally, I keep seeing geese on this river, but they don't seem very interested in my spreads. I only have 3 goose dekes because they're so expensive, but how can I improve my chances at geese?

[magnum mike]

Where is the wind? Get the geese a little further away from the ducks. If we ever use goose decoys, they are more like a confidence decoy and also used as an attractant they can see from a distance. They don't want to be in the main spread of duck decoys.

[CANOPY SAM]

How fast is the water moving? Can you set a few decs out in the river a little ways?

If they're just bombing in I don't think the species of decoy matters too much to the birds in the air.

I too would get the honkers out away from the ducks. With wind out of the north, northwest, I'd think the birds might be more apt to land just south of that clump of vegetation. Looks like a little inviting pocket there.

Leave a landing area in a pocket in front of your blind, or just south of that vegetation clump.

Also sounds like the birds are coming from a roosting area in a different direction than you anticipated. If what you're doing is working I'd stick with it.

[Gordie]

I too would put the goose decoys up stream aways like at the top of the ill. along the side of the emg veg then string the BB decoys in a straight line off of the point of the emg veg but leaveing a pocket for them to land in then I would run the T along the shoreline just down from the right side of the blind and pile the Mallard decoys around the rice.

When I hunt divers and know thats all I'm hunting I dont even bring goose decoys and If its more geese your after just replace the BB decoys and run the goose decoys in there place and dont put out the BB decoys at all. sometimes less is better.

Something that I have noticed and over the years is that geese will almost always land short of your spread so set up accordily.

Good lUCK

[mixxedbagg]

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Where is the wind?

Sorry, it was light from the S and probably not much of a factor.

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How fast is the water moving? Can you set a few decs out in the river a little ways?

Slow. I could.

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I too would get the honkers out away from the ducks.

Why? Does it just look weird to them? I put the honkers close to me hoping to bring any geese in a little closer. Having not ever shot a goose (but REALLY hoping to do so) I didn't know what kind of range killing power I might have with the 3" #3 shot I've been shooting for ducks. In fact, I passed on 3 geese yesterday that flew directly overhead because I thought the range was iffy. I don't want to skybust.

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Also sounds like the birds are coming from a roosting area in a different direction than you anticipated.

I think you're right. I didn't think there was much upstream of me. I thought the good rice was downstream (but didn't set up there because the emergents are minimal and I don't have a blind) and figured other hunters might push something my way.

These are really good comments and I'll definitely make a few adjustments. Stay tuned...I may post another spread or two in the future.

[Gordie]

How far are the farthest decoys you have away from you?

It would also not bve a bad I dea to carry some shells that are a bit heaveier like BB, BBB or Ts they will greatly reduce the wounding factor if your in range of coruse and you need a well placed shot.

[mixxedbagg]

I do carry some BB with me...though I'm not sure I could unload and reload in time to use them and do so inconspicuously since I'm sitting right in the shrubs...no blind.

I don't really know, but I'd have to say the southern most bluebill was 100-120' away from my position.

[HugoBox]

Moving geese away is a good suggestion. They don't typically like to land near shore (there are always exceptions tho). Most times I've shot them over water it's been either out on a point in he main lake or by playing the wind and putting the geese way up wind and shooting them as they approach. Also, I think sometimes we fall into a "buffet" approach with decoys. How many times do you think a flock of birds sees a couple dozen diver dekes, a handful of mallards, and 4-6 geese? BTW that's a setup I've used a bunch with mixed results. Id almost compare it to fishing for sunnies, walleyes, and muskie all at the same time in the same place it may work out but youll probably have more success i you focus on what the conditions tell you It would make more sense to put out the type of birds that are around. That may require some adjustment as the day goes on.

Sorry for rambling, hearing the wind is keeping me up and wishing I was hunting rather than working in the AM.

Good luck.

[mixxedbagg]

You make some good points. I'll be out tomorrow morning and I'll change things up. I've wondered if the 'buffet' approach looks weird, but I'm using the dekes I have. Going back to the spot where I got peppered a few weeks ago....hopefully things have settled down a little. Regardless, I will be VERY conspicuous when I set up and VERY conspicuous if anyone comes motoring up after I've set up.

[HugoBox]

As far as other hunters are concerned, it's not at all rude to flash them early and often with a slot light. I actually appreciate when hoers do this to me. I don't want to set up close to others.