How do you set your decoy spread?

[HerbanHunter]

DUCK DECOYS SET UP ON TREE LINED RIVER

My favorite duck hunting spot is in flooded timber but until the floods come I look for back water dead end fingers to set my duck decoys on rivers no wider than 60 yards with tree lined banks. After feeding in the fields ducks are attracted to these areas for a place to loaf and rest. Duck decoy placement is important to attract ducks on these back water sloughs. I like to put out 2 dozen G&H super magnum mallard duck decoys and place into two or three family groups as this is natural for ducks after they land to group up. As an added enticement I will put out 2 widgeon, 2 pintail and 4 teal just outside the mallard decoys as ducks of different species stay to themselves. I leave a landing hole between the duck decoys for the ducks to land in about 20 to 25 yards away from my shooting area. Now here is the key, motion is what will pull the ducks in. I like to set up one or two Herban Hunter spinning wing duck decoys downwind facing the decoys as if coming in to land. In the landing hole I place another spinning wing decoy close to the water or a swimming decoy or jerk string. The ducks will focus on this movement and come right into the landing hole.

Once they commit to land in the decoys by back peddling and dropping their feet, the only way out is straight up to get out over the trees as they have lost their forward momentum. In this situation we clean the flock of drakes, none get out. Let the hens pass.

This decoy spread is deadly on back water river sloughs but if you want every bird in the sky to come check your spread out you need to master the call along with the placement of duck decoys.


How do you set your decoys in your favorite hunting hole???

[HerbanHunter]

Just got back from duck hunting in south dakota. Pot holes are full of water and ducks. 5 man limits every day. Looks to be a banner year. States south of the dakotas get ready there is a mess of birds a coming. In the Dakotas I set out 2 spinner decoys and 5 floater mallard decoys, don't know if I even needed the floaters the birds attacked the spinners.

[ArkansasSloughboy]

looks awesome. Is that a canvas back in the stack? Always wanted to kill one of those. They are on my hit list.

[SBE2]

looks like you guys had a good time up there. Not much longer before season gets underway here.

[ducktape]

using this post on homepage, editing out the particular brand of SWD used.

[HerbanHunter]

looks awesome. Is that a canvas back in the stack? Always wanted to kill one of those. They are on my hit list.

Yea 3 cans came by and we took out 2 drakes. I don't know what they were doing out in the prairie.

[HerbanHunter]

California opener unreal amount of mallards for October.
Day 1 - 3 man limit
Day 2 - went solo
Day 5 - 4 man limit