question on numbers in a spread?

[Little Man]

i'm wondering how many mallard floaters you guys put out in a spread? right now we put 3 1/2 doz out and then some different things like some fullbodys on the shore and then also throw out a few goose floaters but when were done settin decoys it just looks like zoo somtimes i think we set too many. also when you put both duck and goose floaters out do you mix them or kinda set the goose ones off to the side?

[h20fow1er]

As few as 2.... as many as 160. Hope that helped on the duck numbers.

We'll separate the geese, and maybe add a couple sleepers in with the ducks on an edge or something.

"Match the hatch" are words to live by. And about the best advice you can get.

[Aaron Hitchins]

4 Mallards, all butt-ups, 6 Blacks. Incoming this season are hopefully 6 Ringnecks, 6 Buffleheads, 6 Goldeneyes, 6 OS Mallards ad 6 Wood Ducks, though I doubt all of that will ever be in the water together!

Aaron

[duckin82]

the place i hunt has mallards but not by the thousands. we usually just set up between 1/2 a dozen to a dozen mallards along with some ringbills along the outer edge of the spread. then we got about 60 geese floaters spread out.

[Jeremy Kriese]

I have used up to 150 floaters but i have since downgraded and have had better luck with around 4 dozen duck floaters and then put some honks on the side with a few mixed together.

[MarshallH]

It all depends on where you are hunting, scout the area beforehand and see how the ducks are sitting out there. If you are in an area where the birds want to be most of the time you don't need as many. But if you are hunting an area that the birds aren't using but there are still alot flying over and around the area (traffic birds) then for me it has always seemed like the more the better. But remember to leave a spot for them to set down, you dont want them sitting on the edge of your spread

[Jon Bradford]

I may take 7 decoys all the way up to 3-4 dozen decoys out into the field with me!! There is no set number how many decoys you have to set up!! Like h2Ofow1er said "Match the Hatch"!!! You have to set up deeks how you see ducks in the field, copy what you see the ducks doing!!

[James Staten]

Like the other fellas said. Match the look you see when scouting. I usually run a spread of around 5-6 dozen and about 2 1/2 doz of them are mallards. One thing is I don't put out all the same look mallard floaters. I will mix in Butt Up Feeders, Over Size, and Hot Buys. This year I plan to add some sleeper floaters and some of the No-Head Feeders. And always when you have the chance to add full bodies do so.

When adding geese to the spread I tend to separate them some what. But I will place some of my sleeper and rester mallard full bodies in with my goose full bodies. The ducks tend to see the geese as confidence.

James Staten

[Corey Carston]

Normally I use between 12 and 36.I killed 13 mallards 2 shovler and a shelduck this morning using 12 mallrds and 3 geese.

[Jeremy DeVries]

4 dozen is the most I've ever put out.

I have found the best luck mixing sizes of ducks, some teal, some mallards, some widgeon. I like James will make sure to have difffent styles and types. Next to a spinner, the most effective addition to a duck spread are motion full bodies placed on the banks of the water. I will typically use 6 standing ducks and the rest floaters.

I rarely add in geese and if I do they are well away from my ducks.

[Kip Strickland]

6 doz. total: 3 doz. mallards
1 doz. pintails
1 doz. green wing teal
1/2 doz. gadwall
1/2 doz. shoveler
this is the usual spread, but obviously certain circumstances can change everything. have hunted with as few as 3 or 4 decoys and as many as 300 when needed. i have found that a mixed spread of several species works better for us. if you put in your time scouting, you might not need any decoys:)

[jagermister]

The easy answer would simply be as many as it takes.Most days 3-4 dozen is all that I set.Mostly Mallards and atleast a 1/2 doz mag pintails.I also run 2-4 lucky duck spinning wings.Some day the birds want nothing to do with the motion, I than may increase the spread up to 100 decoys.When hunting fields the sky is the limit,6 dozen full body mallards and 8-10 dozen FFD.I like to bury my"Firing Line" with decoys.

[Lybeck]

typically I mimic the ducks around if theres small flocks of 3-6 i use around that many but late season when the wigeons get in the flocks can be up to a thousand so I use as many decoys as I can get ou there.

[Walt McCord]

Like the other fellas said. Match the look you see when scouting. I usually run a spread of around 5-6 dozen and about 2 1/2 doz of them are mallards. One thing is I don't put out all the same look mallard floaters. I will mix in Butt Up Feeders, Over Size, and Hot Buys. This year I plan to add some sleeper floaters and some of the No-Head Feeders. And always when you have the chance to add full bodies do so.

When adding geese to the spread I tend to separate them some what. But I will place some of my sleeper and rester mallard full bodies in with my goose full bodies. The ducks tend to see the geese as confidence.

James Staten


James, I think you were reading my mind, or looking at my rice fields!! I will see ya at the DW Shoot in Aug!!