So for this time of year, approx what type of spread would you guys set up with what i have. As of now, i have about 2.5 dozen mallards, a 2 dozen teal, half a dozen pintails and 1 shoveler. How many of each of these would you use for big water hunting if you know your on the X or near the X.

Would you use them all? Or should i use about half the mallards? Im going to a spot tomorrow where ill take my canoe a ways first then walk to the spot, so im trying to pare down my decoys to only what i can carry.

Would you use more drakes than hens? Or more hens than drakes? With what i have, what would yall take?

Thanks so much for all your help this year. Im having a great season so far..Much better than last year, but still have a ways to go to consider myself decent. You guys and gals have been a tremendous help.

Ryan

What kind of ducks have you been seeing in this hole? How many at a time? I would use whatever you have been seeing in the area and same goes for numbers.....

If your on the x 6 mallard decoys should work. Thats whats been working for me

If your on the X then it really wouldnt matter imo. Like Austin said, go with what your seeing

well, i scouted it from a distance and did not disturb the birds so i didnt get a real close look, but i saw mallards, teal, shovlers, canvasback, and prob some others. Im willing to bet there were about 100+ or so birds in the water and shore.

niiiiiice well sounds like you need some help.....

If that is where they wanna be... then you should not need but 6-12 decoys.. I would use a mix of what you have

just use the dead ducks as decoys

You dont need decoys you need help

awesome, thanks so much. My dad and I are going to give it a go in the morning and see how it goes. I will report back.

Can the birds tell what type of birds are on the pond by the dekes? Prolly a dumb question but, im a new duck hunter

I have heard thier eye sight is better than ours but I would think the little brain they have is more primal and does not look for a decoy and a duck.. maybe later in the season they get wise but I think they look for buddies

thats what i was thinkin thanks

I like lots of white in my spread..

Something to give them a flash from a distance.

Widgeon, blue teal, redhead, can, ect

Unless your at the coast, then just use hens and not greenheads

Birds see really well actually. Now as far a telling a decoy from a real bird all the wile making flight plans adjusting for wind as well as watching what the rest of the flock is doing, well thats up in the air. On their final approach commited to the decoys they can pick up a lot more and flare easier, in my opinion. Get close to the look of what birds you might be shooting, along with water movement and thats good enought to kill em.

bobo, so your saying just use all hens and no drakes at all on the local lakes?

I hear that the duck general was in the state

No just on the coast... Greenheads and saltwater don't mix

I heard he played couple rounds of golf today..lol

Classic

gotcha, thanks.

well, didnt even see the mallards, canvasbacks...etc...but i did get a limit on teal...It was a great hunt. My dad got 4 teal. All birds were drakes. Sorry, no photos..my wife needed the camera this morning for herself...haha.