Ever wonder how to setup duck decoys?
Well no problem, in this post I am going to show you one of the most effective ways to hunt ducks over water.
I like to call this duck decoy spread diagram “The Gauntlet”.
Let’s discuss the important factors in duck hunting spreads.
Step 1: Wind Direction
Arranging decoys to look natural and real is of vital importance, there are other factors that come into play when it comes to setting a successful decoy spread.
Therefore, your decoys should adhere to specific patterns to cause the ducks to land where you want them to. When you toss out your spread randomly, ducks will usually land on the outer edge of the spread.
So ultimately, the challenge for the shooter is that this makes it difficult to actually get a shot at the duck.
So decoys should be separated specifically and, more importantly, according to the wind direction to cause ducks to drop right in front of the spread.
This is because ducks enjoy landing into the wind, so your decoys spreads should be set out accordingly.
Additionally, if you set up on the upside of the river or lake, the wind is coming from behind you, this means that the ducks will approach from the front of you, which is exactly what you want them to do.
Step 2: Spread Setup
There are dozens of different ways in which you can set up your decoy spreads, in fact, it may seem overwhelming to the newbie duck hunters.
However, the following are some of the most popular patterns to use when setting up your spread.
The J-Hook is a classic setup and, as the name suggests, involves you creating a landing zone in the rounded portion of J-Hook. Move it around until you feel the wind against it, and then point the J-Hook in that direction.
The next option is the double circle setup. Use your decoys to create two set circles set up next to each other with a narrow strip in between.
This option is quite popular because lots of duck seem keen to approach this setup and will land in the zone between the circles.
Setting up a V-shape spread is a good idea if you’re hunting in shallow water. So setup the V in the direction of the wind, and the ducks will be drawn to land in the middle of the spread.
In the event that you’re hunting in timberland, use a horseshoe pattern.
STEP 3: Distance Between Decoys
Geese and other birds prefer adequate landing space. So a larger distance between decoys makes your spread look bigger.
While as a hunter, you may prefer to use more decoys to maximize your chances of a successful hunt, if the decoys are too close to each other, it defeats the purpose.
So the next time you set up your goose decoys, ensure that you set them at least 5 to 8 feet apart. In order to accurately measure this distance set one decoy down and then take 2 to 3 large steps before setting down the next decoy.
So with each large step, you move about 3 feet, so 2 or 3 of these steps should give you an adequate distance between your decoys.
If you like to go the extra mile, place your decoys 6 to 9 feet apart from each other, and the geese will not feel crowded when they come to land in your spread.
Step 4: Decoy Facing
It’s highly unlikely that you’ll find a raft of ducks all facing the same direction. When setting up your spread, vary the way the decoy’s face. Avoid setting them up all facing the same way or exactly evenly spaced.
Try to get each decoy to face in a slightly different direction and spaced unevenly. This will look more realistic to the ducks and more attractive. For example, have some decoys facing north while the rest are facing south.
Step 5: Hunter Placement
If you find that ducks set their wings but are still landing far out, then there’s definitely a problem.
If your decoys are realistic and spread out naturally, then a blind or hideout situated too close to the spread is usually the culprit.
When your decoy spread is too close to the hunting blind, it doesn’t necessarily invite ducks into a convenient landing zone that is reasonably within shotgun range.
The solution to this problem is to move the decoys farther away from the blind, thereby creating a gap or slot between you and the decoys that shows the next flock an inviting place to land.
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