Duck decoy patterns

[Joel Draxler]

I am new to hunting over deeks and am trying to get things figured out. I have been reading a lot about what patterns to set decoys in and wanted to get some input here.

I plan to hunt on small potholes, big water marsh, and one river.

[waterfowljunkie]

I would say that using decoys of the species that you are going to be hunting is key. Try to position yourself on a side of teh body of water so they birds can land against the wind, or set the decoys up so there is a landing zone that allows the birds to land against a crosswind...try to make the spread as realistic as possible...not just a big U shape. Hope this helps, and good luck next season

[QuackerWacker]

Watch the birds in the area you are hunting and try to mimic them for the most part while creating a landing hole and set up a few dekes away from shore for greater visability. JMO.

[goosehunter64]

How did you hunt before??

[Walt McCord]

I would agree with QuackWacker. I hunt rice fields and Soybean fields, and Flooded timber. When I hunt rice fields I place my decoys along the edge, and do the same when I hunt bean fields. When I hunt timber I sometimes put them over one area and hunt over them. I have put them all around me and shot them from all different directions. I would just do some scouting and see how the ducks look, and do what they are doing.

[David Ortley]

Keep reading and looking at what others have said and written about what worked under existing conditions. The key is to understand why it worked and being able to apply it to your situations. So much depends on the particular conditons that exist on the day of the hunt including species, wind. weather, time of the season, hunting pressure etc. A few basic set ups can be easily adapted to fit pot holes, a point, a sand bar on the river etc. My suggestion is to try as many sets as you can. If birds flare, or you can't get them to commit, change things up. Keep a hole that forces the birds to use the wind and fly into your kill zone.

[Keath Wetovick]

I like running two pods for puddlers. Have one set of 14-36 on the left and the same to the right. I also like to throw a drake and a hen in the middle of the two pods to simulate two ducks that just touched down. Hope this helps you a little bit. I find lots of success with this on potholes and lakes, big or small.

[Joel Draxler]

How did you hunt before??

I was a backshooter.(jump shoot)
http://wildlife.utah.gov/forums/images/smiles/icon_shoot.gif

[Ryan Thomas]

I agree with everything that has been said... but in my opinion scouting can knock out a bunch of the factors listed above. If you are where the ducks want to be then setting up with the wind at your back doesnt make that much of a difference unless you really want them cupped in your face... how you set up the decoys, and how many you have out also dont really matter as much as long as you have a few in the killin hole! Again, I believe that scouting is the best way to learn to setup spreads, just by observing live ducks and then mimicing them the following morning or whatever... good luck, and i hope there are some more helpful responses!