People have been hunting ducks with the aid of duck decoys for several hundred years. Decoys are an essential part of fooling the ducks to fly into shooting range. However, unless you have the experience and knowledge, you need to know how to set them up and use them properly.
Some people may think that the same old duck decoy spread will work in different locations, at all times of the year, but this is not the case. You need to find out what works in certain hunting spots at certain times of the year. If you don't have experience on the hunting ground, ask someone familiar with hunting the area. This will give you valuable advice on which you should follow.
Over time, the design, materials, construction, and craftsmanship of duck decoys have changed. Original decoys were made of wood, now they are made of wood, cork, foam, and plastic. However, the concept of duck decoys has changed very little. The hunters place the decoy out in a body of water in an attempt to lure the ducks in closer. This basic principle has been used by hunters to help them take ducks for food to their families and villages.
Remember, the size of your decoy set matters.
When you are duck hunting in large, open bodies of water, such as lakes, a large number of decoy sets is the best option. However, if you are hunting in a smaller body of water, such as a creek or stream, try to use a smaller number of duck decoys. You want your decoy sets to look natural. Ducks are smart, and they can easily spot danger from an unnatural decoy set.
If you plan on hunting geese, experienced hunters will tell you to set a larger number of decoys earlier in the year, and a smaller number later in the year. This is good advice to follow, because geese usually follow this behavior during the year.
This might seem like common sense to some people, but remember, the more duck decoys you purchase, the more expensive it is and the more you have to carry around. Trust me, it can get heavy carrying around dozens of heavy-weighted decoys. It's a good idea to try to find light decoys which can easily be carried.
If you are hunting from shore, it's a good idea to set most of your decoys upwind from your hunting blind. This allows the ducks to fly past your blind, only seeing the decoys instead of an eager hunter waiting on them.
It is also important to use decoys which resemble the species of bird you are hunting. If you are hunting mallard ducks, use mallard decoys. If you don't have a specific decoy, then use one that looks similar in size and color. Remember, fowl are smarter than you may think. They can spot color differences and unnatural number variations. Another thing you want to be careful of is the shine from your decoy. Some duck decoys have a shiny reflective surface which can reflect the sunlight and alert nearby ducks.
Duck hunting is a fun sport, and when you throw in duck decoys you add another element of excitement. I hope this article gives you a better understanding on setting up and using duck decoys.
