Duck Decoy Spread Tips

Most seasoned duck hunters will tell you just how important the right duck decoy spread is. If it's done right and looks natural, it will attract the ducks like a magnet, but if it's done wrong, the ducks will be alerted of your spread and continue to fly by without landing. The problem is that unless you have a few good seasons of duck hunting and using decoys under your belt, you're probably not going to know to create an effective spread. If you're spread isn't working, or if you're looking to improve it, read our decoy spread tips here on this page.

Duck Decoy Spread Introduction

A duck decoy spread is the arrangement of decoys a hunter makes that's intended to lure the ducks towards it. When ducks spot a decoy spread that looks realistic and natural, they will likely land. What's the most effective spread? There isn't a "best" spread, as different situations will require different types of decoy spreads. Wind direction, your physical location, and the size of the water your hunting on are just a few things that can affect how your spread performs.

Rule Number One - If It Doesn't Work, Try Something New

I remember talking to a couple other duck hunters on day who were using the same type of decoy spread throughout the season and wondered why it wasn't working. The fact is that we as humans don't know everything about ducks and their behavior. Sure, through science and obeservation we've learned a lot, but ducks can still be unpredictable in nature. So if your decoy spread isn't attracting ducks as it should, maybe it's time to make some changes to it, even if it's just the number of decoys you're using. Other things you can change in your spread are the types of decoys your using, their movement (jerk string, motorized, etc.), the direction they're facing, and arrangement pattern. Through trial and error you'll be able to determine what works best and under what conditions.

Rule Number Two - Keep It Looking Natural and Realistic

It should go without saying that above all, you want to keep your decoy spread looking like a real arrangement of ducks in the water. There are a lot of factors that can affect the realism of your spread. Does your decoy spread match the ducks in the area? Is your decoy movement natural looking? Are you using too many or too few decoys? These are questions you should ask yourself when constructing a spread.

Using The Right Duck Species in Your Spread

Duck decoys are made to resemble many different species of duck, and one of the choices your going to have to make is which species you want in your spread. Remember, you want your spread to look as natural as possible, so it usually works well if you try to match your decoy spread to the species of ducks in the area.

You can find decoys made to resemble a wide range of ducks, including:

• Mallards
• Pintails
• Teals
• Widgeons
• Gadwalls
• Shovelers
• Reheads
• Coot
• Harlequins
• Any pretty much any other type of duck

Mallard ducks are likely to be the predominant species of waterfowl on your most puddle ponds, which is why it's not uncommon to see a spread made entirely of mallard duck decoys. If you're hunting mallards, you obviously want to use a spread that's mainly consisted of mallards, but from my experience, it's best to add a couple other species to your spread. Scout your hunting grounds out beforehand and look for other species in the area. If you see some redheads and pintails, try adding a few to to your spread.

There's no magic formula for how many decoys you want of one species versus how many of the other. Depending on how the ducks are reacting to my spread, I will typically start off with a spread that has 7/10 predominant species, and 3/10 non-predominant. Just be sure to keep your species grouped together.

Size of Your Decoy Spread

Hunters use decoy spreads of all sizes, ranging from a handful of decoys to several hundred. Here are some of the factors that will determine how many decoys you should use in your spread:

• Larger bodies of water typically require more decoys. If you're hunting with a relatively small amount, ducks might not take notice.
• If you're planning on using a lot of decoys, have a plan for transporting them to your hunting area. It can be quite difficult hauling around a hundred or more decoys.
• Don't be afraid of using too many decoys. I've never seen a negative effect from adding decoys to my spread.

If you've never creating a decoy spread before, you might feel lost when it comes to an actual number to use. For most small bodies of water I hunt on, I will use a spread of one to four dozen decoys, making sure it's quite visible.

Adding Motion To Your Spread

By giving your duck decoys a bit of motion, they will replicate the ripples on the water that ducks naturally cause, making your spread appear more alive. While some people may have different opinions on the use of motion decoys, I've found that they are almost always beneficial to spread.

One way to add motion to your spread it through the use of motorized duck decoys. Typically, motorized decoys have some sort mechanical function that allows them to create motion, such as flapping wings or bobbing heads. You don't have to make your spread entirely of motorized decoys. Just spread enough throughout your regular decoys that the water ripple passes through them and is noticeable. My motorized decoys will usually consist of 2/10 of my spread. One of the downsides to using these types of decoys is that many of them require batteries to run, which can be a real pain when they die. Be sure to test any motorized decoys you have before taking them out.

If you have the time and materials, you may want to consider making a jerk string for your decoys. Jerk strings are basically lines attached to all of your decoys that allow you to create movement with your decoys when pulled. The downside to jerk strings is that it's quite easy to get your lines tangled together and more of a hassle to carry.

Creating an Effective Landing Zone

Oftentimes overlooked by novice hunters, a landing zone is the empty area in your decoy spread that's intended for ducks to land. By taking the time to set up your landing zone correctly, ducks will be more willing to come in and land.

Shape of Your Landing Zone

Some hunters may just use an open circle in the center of their decoy spread for a landing zone. This can work at times, but doesn't give you much control over how the ducks are going to come in and land. Remember, ducks almost always land with their head facing the wind, so instead, shape your spread in the form of "J", "U", or "C", depending on the direction the wind is coming in at.

Landing Zone Size

How big you want your landing zone is really going to depend on how big the flocks of ducks are in the area. You obviously want one that's going to be large enough for any overhead ducks flying to come in and land, but if you make your landing zone too big, you might space your decoys out too much. You can usually judge with your eye if your landing zone is big enough, especially once the ducks start coming it.