| Over the years we have experimented with many | | | | machine or quiver magnets. The jerk string is by far |
| different types of duck decoy spreads and species | | | | the cheapest and most portable technique for adding |
| of duck decoys. Using the right decoy setup, species | | | | motion and my personal favorite. |
| of duck decoys, along with a landing zone will without | | | | Tip #4 - The sole purpose of a decoy spread is to |
| a doubt help you harvest more ducks through out | | | | attract ducks. With this being said a simple way to |
| the duck hunting season. | | | | maximize the visibility of your decoy spread is to use |
| Tip #1 - Creating a landing zone in a duck decoy | | | | over-sized duck decoys. Both magnum and |
| spread is critical in order for circling ducks to actually | | | | super-magnum sized decoys will be seen from |
| land into the spread. Many duck hunters will shake | | | | distances much further than standard decoys and will |
| their heads in bewilderment when a circling flock of | | | | also help your decoy setup stand out from crowd |
| ducks leaves their decoy spread without landing in it. | | | | when hunting highly pressured public duck hunting |
| Without a landing zone ducks will often land just | | | | areas. Another technique is to use a spinning wing |
| downwind of a decoy setup, or just keep skirting the | | | | duck decoy if these decoys are legal in your state. |
| outside edges of the spread until they finally drift | | | | Tip #5 - Adjust your duck decoy spread to the type |
| away. These scenarios are most often the result of | | | | of your location you're hunting and hunting pressure. |
| a landing zone that is to small, or its opening is | | | | If you're setup in a location where the ducks want to |
| blocked by decoys or maybe another type of | | | | be versus just flying over 12 -18 duck decoys is |
| obstacle such as dense taller vegetation that the | | | | plenty. On the flip-side if you're simply setting up |
| ducks simply don't feel safe flying over. If the ducks | | | | under the ducks flight pattern 60-100 duck decoys |
| don't have a place in the spread to land it doesn't | | | | maybe needed to get their attention. Another |
| matter how many duck decoys are set out or how | | | | consideration when deciding how many decoys to |
| realistic the decoys look. | | | | set out is hunting pressure. If a lot of hunting |
| Tip #2 - Ducks are attracted to ducks of their same | | | | pressure is present increasing the amount of duck |
| species. This simply means if your hunting mallards | | | | decoys in your spread is always a good idea. |
| use mallard decoys. If you're hunting pintail be sure to | | | | Tip #6 - While weighted keels seem to be the most |
| use pintail decoys in your duck decoy spread. If | | | | popular choice today among duck hunters, but |
| multiple species of ducks are in the area by all means | | | | weighted keel decoys also offer least amount of |
| use multiple species of decoys in your spread. Early | | | | movement on days with light winds. Decoys with |
| on in the season ducks will not intermingle as much | | | | weighted keels are also a lot heavier in a decoy bag |
| as they will later on the season so keep like species | | | | that's on your back. A bag of water keel decoys can |
| together in your decoy spread. Later on in the | | | | be a real asset for days with light winds or when |
| season you can start to blend in un-like species of | | | | walking to a distant honey hole. |
| decoys with others. | | | | Tip #7 - Try to avoid setting out the same old duck |
| Tip #3 - Does you duck decoy spread look alive, or | | | | decoy spread all season. By observing real ducks on |
| like a bunch of dead blocks on the water? When | | | | the water in waterfowl refuges and watching how |
| hunting on calm days, protected waters in the timber, | | | | circling ducks react your decoy setup you will learn |
| or small potholes adding motion to your decoy set up | | | | how to adjust your spread for maximum |
| will certainly help you decoy a larger percentage of | | | | effectiveness. To many duck hunters just don't |
| passing ducks. A simple jerk string setup is all that is | | | | make the effort or realize the importance of |
| needed to make a small spread of decoys come | | | | adjusting their spreads through out the season. |
| alive. Other motion decoys would include the mallard | | | | |