Duck Dekes for visibility?

[Aaron Hitchins]

I am potentially looking to beef up my duck spread this year, both for divers and puddlers, but due to financial concerns I want the spread to be as visible as possible without buying loads of decoys, two dozen max for both puddlers and divers, and preferably less. The divers that frequent our region are mainly ringnecks, with the occasional scaup and redhead, and goldeneye later in the season. A ringneck spread would be most realistic but for visibility? Would it be OK to mix different diver decoys together? ex. Goldeneyes with Ringnecks? As for the puddlers we have Mallards, Blacks, Woodies, BW and GW teal, and I've seen two pintail. Same questions as for the divers. Most visible ect.

Thank you for any help you can give...

Aaron

[Bob "Chappy" Chaplin]

Aaron,
I would go ahead and pick up some of our Pintails, Widgeons, or Shovelers, in any combination, and as far as diver go I personal would go with Blue Bills, but any of the diver we offer will help add visibility to your spread.

[Joe Fladeland]

Aaron,
I know absolutely nothing about diver hunting but my advice for puddle ducks would be, 1 dozen mallards, 1/2 dz. blacks, and 1/2 dz. pintails. You should take a look at the RealImage Mallards from Cabelas, they are made by Avery and they are a large decoy, which will give you that extra visibility you need with a small spread. As for the pintails, I would try to get them in the over-sized series. And the blacks are only available in O/S so I think this will give you a very realistic and very visible spread.

[Curt Wilson]

If I were you I would definitely have some shovelers, goldeneyes and pintails in the spread. The white on the decoys is visible from a long distance.

[Rob Jepson]

Aaron,

All good suggestions here. Bluebills for your diver rig, maybe a Can or two if you are on big water and Spoonies for the puddle duck rig will get my vote.

[David Rearick]

You want the mix throw out two dozen coots and mix up some pairs widg, pins, shovs, ringers- that is real and visible. I have been diver hunting for a long while, the darker the better. White isn't always visible and tends to dissapear from far away. Someday look at ducks at the 200 yard mark and see what color you see. They are black. Just my thoughts.

[Keath Wetovick]

I'd definitly get some shovelers!

[Mark Brendemuehl]

If you want to dump divers, get the bluebill decoys, and add some coot. Redheads LOVE coot, and the black stands out as well as white sometimes. Use the bills and the coot, and you are covered either way.
Mark

[Michael Weiss]

I would have to suggest our L/S Canada Goose Floaters. I have had so much success the past five years using goose decoys on ducks. There is just something about them the ducks just can't resist.

Good luck and thanks for supporting Avery/GHG!!

[Christian Curtis]

Michael brings up a very good point with the goose decoys. If I wanted to stick with duck decoys, I would go with Pintail and even I would try Shovelers. The visibility of these is great...I realize that they may not be common to your area but I think a half dozen would still be beneficial.

[Rusty Hallock]

I will second what Mike stated. Adding goose decoys to your duck decoy spread adds visibility. The new Life Size GHG Floaters would do the job.

[Wayne Radcliffe]

I agree with Rusty, but if you don't want to add geese try our Oversize Goldeneyes. Put six in a group just outside the main body of your rig. You can see these decoys from a very far distance.

[Travis Mueller]

I am all about the black ducks and geese for visibility.

[Jason Zerrer]

For the puddlers you can't beat adding our shovelers for the white and a half dozen over sized black ducks for dark. I'm telling you those blacks show up a MILE away.

I love the GHG bluebills, that would be my choice for your diver rig.

[Aaron Hitchins]

I can't get geese, too pricey for now, but between BLUEBILLS and RINGNECKS for visibility? I've looked at them both and the ringneck seems darker, and the white on the bordering the gray on the drake's side seems brighter as well. Would you guys get any mallards of will having the Pintail/Shovelers and the Blacks there be enough. I'm looking for every reply possible,

Thanks,

Aaron

[Steelers]

Widgeon, Sprig or Spoonies are ALL a great choice for puddle ducks for visibility. You WONT go wrong with any of those species.

As far as divers, give the majestic canvasback a thought. Big, lots of white and look natural in open water and puddle ducks like them too.

[Curt Wilson]

I would add mallards as well, especially if that is the primary duck in the area. You want to make the spread visible, but also keep it as realistic as possible.

[Aaron Hitchins]

How does 6 OS Blacks, 6 LS (because theyre cheaper) pintails, and 12 mallards (Is it worth it to get the Life Size over the Hotbuys?)

For divers Bluebills and Goldeneyes seem popular, and ringnecks dont seem to be. We hunt a marshy area, not open water so we don't see bills or goldeneye much... does it matter. Those Goldeneyes look like beacons, but would you put them off to the edge or just in with the rest?

Sorry for the continued questioning but I want to be sure I'm making the right decision, and I know that with enough responses from you guys I can be sure I am making the right decision.

Thanks,

Aaron

[duckboy1]

i dont think you can by 6 life size pintails. only 12 packs. for the mallards i would go with the life size paint job looks better on the hens.(dosent really matter much though) and 3 differant head postions vs. 2 differant head postions for hot buy.

and for the divers i would go with what you see the most of during the season! and in my area you can find ringnecks in marshy areas where the bluebills and goldeneyes are in mostly open water. but this could be differant in your area.

[Aaron Hitchins]

Ringnecks would be most natural but are they visible enough?

Aaron

[goosehunter64]

Aaron, with little open water as you say and you want the visability, yes, definately go with the ringbills ( ringnecks ). Like has been already been pointed out.......add the blackduck decoys as well. Most times with puddlers, the dark shape seems to draw them in more than the white......unless your a sprig.....hehehehe.......but honestly go that route.
If you don't have any duck floaters, throw in a doz or 2 or l/s mallards, half doz of widgeon, and some teal.
I believe this will give you the most advantage and realism anywhere you hunt.

[NDboy]

I like the pintails and the wegons there are a lot of color on them

[chad belding]

For the puddle ducks, nothing is more visible than the Over Size Pintail decoys. Al puddle ducks will work into these. As far as the divers go, you can't beat the visibility of the Canvasback decoys. I have had many awesome mallard shoots over nothing but the can decoys. Give this a try and let us know how it works for you.

Good Hunting!

Chad Belding
Avery Outdoors

[Derek Rambo]

I echo alot of guy's on here......never leave the house without some goose floaters and/or fullbodies!! Black and white are your best colors from afar......