Diver and puddle duck decoy spreads. Types of Decoy Spreads for Lightly Pressured Ducks.

Diver and puddle duck decoy spreads. The wings can either be activated by wind or battery power. “Mixing redheads and bluebills gives the spread a more natural look, and the cluster of decoys at the end of the line forces incoming birds to finish directly in front of the blind,” Beabout says. Oct 7, 2008 В· Except for flukes puddlers don't mix well with divers. Position the decoys facing into Jul 12, 2023 В· It’s worth mentioning that many ringneck ducks, canvasbacks, scaup, and redhead diver ducks have fallen in a spread of puddle duck decoys, thus providing the basis for an argument that the most effective decoy spread for fresh water waterfowlers is one made up of dabbler duck decoys. Jan 7, 2020 В· For many waterfowlers, the words “duck hunting” conjures images of chasing puddle ducks in flooded timber, as well as on waterfowl impoundments and small farm ponds. Regardless of my spread configuration, I’ll almost always put the diver decoys on the downwind edge of the spread or stretch a line or stool of divers downwind. The big three that most decoy makers build are bluebills, canvasbacks, and Nov 16, 2011 В· Beabout sets a few dozen pintail and wigeon decoys in one big group downwind from the divers, making certain that the farthest decoy is no more than 20 yards from the blind. Photo Kevin Hand Fujan sets a handful of life-size Canada goose floaters on the periphery of the spread to provide greater visibility and to attract any passing honkers. It almost pains me to tell y’all about Duck Creek Decoy Work’s new Flashback Decoy because in the words of Flashback Decoy inventor Tyler Baskfield, duck hunting gear really is “an arms race. " "This is the illusion of movement," he says, "caused by the birds losing sight of certain silhouettes in the spread as they approach or circle the decoys. Hunting these species is addictive; the shooting is challenging, and learning effective decoy arrangements can be something of a science. Letter patterns, bigger spreads, and tighter spacing are all things hunters have been trying since the dawn of time. He places most of the divers outside the main body of puddle ducks on the upwind side of the spread. The separation between the two sets of decoys creates the “slot” and that Dec 22, 2020 В· Decoy spreads for diving ducks. Feb 10, 2023 В· Like the fly fisherman's cardinal rule: Match the hatch. Dec 11, 2015 В· We put out 700 to 1,000 decoys around our blind, because a big spread is the most effective way to draw the birds in. The Wary Duck Split Decoy Spread . Then we come to goose setups. Since these setups are usually on much larger bodies of water that makes sense. Forget the duck decoys, as mallards and their brethren decoy wonderfully to goose spreads. Nov 8, 2023 В· The Wary Duck Side Decoy Spread . Feb 19, 2013 В· I ran a diver spread for the first time this season. We hunt the chesapeake bay region and hunt shorelines along the main bay in addition to layout boats. Oct 13, 2016 В· Five Creative Combo Spreads. These types of decoy spreads are ideal for early season hunting and hunting in areas Oct 9, 2023 В· I will throw a puddle duck spread on one side of my setup and a diver spread on the other side. Usually I have both in my boat as we usually hunt out of it. "I haven't witnessed any problems finishing mallards or other puddle ducks with black duck decoys mixed in with my mallards," he adds. Top 5 duck and goose decoy spreads you have to try. Sep 6, 2022 В· In certain conditions, a mixed spread of puddle duck and diving duck decoys can be the ticket to a fantastic mixed-bag hunt. My diver rig consists of 30 bluebills, 12 magnum redheads, 12 cans, 12 ringers and four buffleheads. Everyone and their brother has a strategy and thinks they have the best duck decoy spreads and methods for getting ducks to commit to the spread. Apr 14, 2020 В· Decoy Spreads for Diving Ducks. Dec 7, 2017 В· Goose decoys draw ducks, but geese rarely come in to just a spread of duck decoys, so it can't hurt to use both, said Hudnall, of Westport, Kentucky. Mar 6, 2024 В· Add puddle duck decoys if they are also frequent in your diver area. Field Hunting. Most of the blocks are light suck-duck or water-keel models, but I include a few heavier weighted-keel blocks that can ride the chop on windy days. Oct 5, 2009 В· When it comes to ducks and decoy spreads, perhaps the best advice is Eastwood's words. Jul 19, 2024 В· This versatile spread works well for puddle ducks and diving ducks. Ask a hundred waterfowl hunters the same question — “Name your favorite decoy spreads for ducks and/or geese” — and there’s a good chance you’ll get a hundred different responses. As the ducks approach from downwind, they’ll often land among the most downwind group of decoys. Where we hunt, most ducks have already flown over a half dozen or more typical decoy spreads with 30 to 50 decoys, mostly mallards, wigeons and goldeneye decoys. By M. With this spread we can decoy geese if they come by, but our primary target is ducks. A spread of redheads makes sense along the Texas Gulf Coast, canvasback in Pool 9, or ring-necks in a small, wild rice pond. Dec 27, 2015 В· Hello, I am looking for some veteran advice on setting up a mixed spread of diver and puddle duck decoys. Hit the bigwater with these species that are specifically designed to provide realism in the decoy spread. Sep 3, 2018 В· Diver ducks, also known as diving ducks, are capable of diving beneath the water’s surface in order to feed. " 3. Will Mallards Decoy To Diver Decoys? Puddlers will occasionally decoy decoy diver setups, but they will usually simply fly past and land outside of them. Puddle ducks that drop into an agricultural field that already has ducks on it will land behind those ducks rather than in front of Feb 26, 2012 В· Hey everyone, i have a few questions about diver hunting and rigging the decoys. Prairie Pothole Puddle Ducks. Decoys: quantity or size? I've heard that BIG decoys can replace lots of decoys. A large spread for a hunt over big water may include more than 100 decoys, while a downsized version for use on potholes and other small waters may include no more than a dozen. The divers may run out as far as 75 to 80 yards downwind from his shooting position. Shape Shifting. Sep 6, 2020 В· X Decoy Spread. I have hunted puddle ducks for a while now and I recently purchased a 14ft boat, so i plan on building a blind on it and heading out into a little deeper water to chase some divers. Feb 10, 2023 В· The Complete Guide to Diver Duck Hunting: Part 2 - Building the Decoy Spread Knowing how to approach these amazing ducks—and how they'll approach your decoys—is critical to diver duck success. Further, divers typically raft en masse during migration, so big spreads mimic reality. They were old mallards painted into cans, buffleheads, and redheads. 1. Diver ducks such as canvasbacks , scaup , and redheads are often found in deeper waters and require decoys that mimic their distinct behaviors and appearances. On the contrary, leaving it open draws them farther up the spread, creating easier and cleaner shots. Jun 28, 2011 В· Diver Spread: One perk to hunting open water is the opportunity to shoot diving ducks such as scaups, buffleheads, canvasbacks and goldeneyes. But on lakes of a few hundred acres, my diver set draws ducks beautifully. Apr 9, 2020 В· Regardless of the species present, the dark colors of the black duck fakes provide a great visual contrast to your drab hen mallards and bright greenheads. Canvasback drake decoys are often used in greater numbers because the bright pop of their white body is eye-catching from a distance. One final diver decoy note: In many areas, you'll find puddle ducks — especially mallards — mixed with divers. With divers covered, the next step is to add some puddle ducks to the mix. The best thing to do is place a few mallard blocks on the side of your diver decoy. Nov 30, 2020 В· Ducks and geese tend to decoy into the wind, but harvested grain fields are so attractive that ducks might drop from the sky from any direction. Hens often make a raspy barking call, but common diver calls that make low-pitched growls, “brrrr” sounds, and throaty grumbles Jan 26, 2024 В· The distinction between diver duck decoys and puddle duck decoys is crucial for hunters to understand. "I use drake canvasback and bluebill decoys in the tail of the rig, and I put my puddle ducks in a big group to form the hook. Decoy selection for diver hunting need not be complicated, as most divers will decoy well to canvasback or bluebill decoys. When it comes to choosing a decoy spread for puddle ducks, I believe it is best to alter your setup based off your Feb 6, 2024 В· 7 Best Duck Decoy Spreads You Need to Try Now. Puddle-duck specialists are almost as bad as diver nuts when it comes to decoy spread shapes. If I am hunting geese as well, I will mix in some ducks on one side and geese on the other. Puddle ducks feed in looser configurations than diver ducks. Many demand that each individual block be placed precisely. I work to imitate a big refuge with my spread, making family groups and giving plenty of lanes for birds to land. Nov 1, 2022 В· Other duck species can be found in a puddle duck spread, including teal, gadwall, wood duck, and wigeon. " Hudnall and his hunting partners set half of their 100-plus Canada goose floaters against the shoreline. Do the same on the right side. Keep the decoys facing into the wind, as that’s what real ducks generally do. Diver duck setups will customarily have larger sets. One of the best ways to do this is to customize your decoy spread to enhance its appeal to a variety of species. Small teal decoys boost your numbers and let you fill in holes. " Lee calls his open-water setup the "U V" spread because it consists of a mix of puddle and diving duck decoys set in those two basic patterns. Oct 19, 2014 В· At the head of that line, he sets a clump of redheads and scaup decoys. Decoy Spreads for Diving Ducks. But while calling to puddle ducks like mallards or teal is more common, you can also call to divers like the scaup. One day last November I decided to slip out for a solo afternoon hunt for divers but discovered I only had puddle duck decoys in the boat. “All puddle ducks will decoy to mallard decoys. Although it’s a big spread, his primary objective is to get birds in as close as possible. Obviously Ringnecks are the exception to the rule, and the occassional Grey Duck and Black Duck will come in on a diver spread, but any time I've ever set puddlers out, I always put them off to the side and out of the way, closer to shore. Sep 21, 2023 В· I have found that the bright colors of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than regular puddle duck decoys. These species are accustomed to feeding together, and decoys that replicate them will naturally attract a range of diving ducks. Johnson, outdoor writer & photographer . Types of Decoy Spreads for Lightly Pressured Ducks. The number of decoys you’ll need can vary greatly and depends on a variety of factors. It makes the spread come alive. When he's hunting the Ohio River, his home water, Hudnall starts by setting out 100 or so goose decoys, as if he was preparing for a goose-only hunt. I am having a hard time with decoying birds (especially the puddle ducks) landing Jan 24, 2021 В· For divers, your priority should be to set up in a good location and rely on your decoy spread. On calm days, when ducks naturally spread out on the water, it's more practical to fashion a long, loose blob of decoys in front of the point or shoreline, extending relatively far downwind and upwind. Some diver spreads may have 100 decoys or more. No one rig and its variables of numbers, placement, movement, type, species, sex or any of a dozen other factors, works all the time; however, there are a handful of elemental spreads that will produce under most conditions, coast to coast. ” Nov 4, 2020 В· Used exclusively, silhouettes—whether ducks, geese or both—provide what Mann refers to as the "carousel effect. Nov 20, 2018 В· Puddle ducks should want to land in the open hole, and divers will often swing over the downwind stool and plop down in the hole. Let's dive into each decoy spread and figure out which one will work best for you to bring more success to your next duck hunting trip. On big water, 70 decoys is a small spread. This spread keeps ducks out in front where shooting them is easiest. Tip: Understanding the migration patterns and local populations of your hunting area will inform your selection process. VETERAN WATERFOWLER Bill Willroth, South Dakota CREDENTIALS Owner of Dakota Decoy Company SPECIES HUNTED Mallards, pintails, other puddle ducks HABITAT Small potholes and sloughs Aug 18, 2014 В· We decided to set our decoys just off a large point and tuck ourselves into cover along the shoreline. Mar 13, 2011 В· I own mainly puddle duck decoys and the guys I hunt with have a lot of diver decoys. He sets his decoys in a modified U shape with a long arm of diver decoys on one side and a group of puddle ducks on the other. I've taken to referring to the X as the Random Placement Theory of Decoy Arrangement because that's what it is — random. Due to the fact that they have proportionately smaller wings than puddle ducks, they are incapable of lifting Nov 17, 2020 В· In the world of puddle ducks, decoys can act as a wall. Sep 15, 2018 В· With the wind approaching from behind your position, place 12 decoys to the left of your blind about 15 yards out. Diving ducks are species that actively dive underwater to feed, which include canvasback, bluebill, redhead, goldeneye, or bufflehead ducks. Mar 30, 2020 В· Flashback Decoy by Duck Creek Decoy Works. Dec 2, 2020 В· Solve the dilemma by mixing and matching several types of puddle-duck decoys, including mallards, gadwall, teal and a drake pintail or wigeon. They are generally associated with larger and deeper waterways than puddle ducks. A white drake pintail or wigeon decoy can add visibility. Puddlers will sometimes decoy to diver setups, but they usually just fly over them and land outside the spread. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call , make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. Any thoughts? Would 2 or 3 dozen magnum and super magnum decoys be as good or better than 4 or 5 or 6 dozen standards? What would be the best "general" species to get (like, mallards are to puddle duck decoys what X are to diver duck decoys)? A combo of a Nov 3, 2010 В· To kill bluebills, redheads and canvasbacks, you need to set a spread focused on diving ducks. Take a step back in time by enjoying hunts over these traditional hand-carved custom decoys. I put out around 30 mallard decoys near the edge of a wild Mar 25, 2010 В· This past season we hunted over 40 mixed decoys, but ended up the last several weeks of season with 3 oversized goldeneye decoys. Duck Decoys: Spread: A simple "U" or "J" shape works well. Mallards are ubiquitous; any duck will recognize and decoy to them. ” At my Mississippi camp, his flashback decoy has been a top-secret weapon among my personal bag of tricks. But it was visible, thanks to the black-and-white diver decoys. Jan 13, 2022 В· This is the trickiest late-season situation, as hunting ducks and geese in large ag fields is often a big-numbers game. Replicating the appearance of rafts, the congregations of diver ducks and sea ducks, is a powerful tactic. This will make it so that they fly right at you or head for your side when birds come, depending on the wind. The spread-a mixture of four dozen diver and puddle duck decoys-wasn't huge. Dec 6, 2023 В· Generally, puddle duck setups will use the fewest decoys – usually a couple dozen or less will suffice, but you can certainly use more. Some are larger and consist of all types of decoys, while others remain small and specific. Feb 7, 2010 В· 1). Avoid grouping the ducks too close, as ducks clump up when they are frightened and you don’t want to send that message. Jun 21, 2024 В· Decide if you’re going to concentrate on puddle ducks like mallards, teal, or pintails, or if you’re after diving ducks, like canvasbacks or bluebills. Jun 19, 2023 В· Create the "X": Realistic Decoy Spreads for Diver Duck and Sea Duck Hunting. Good things often come in combinations-like mallards and specklebellies, Canada geese and snows, and black ducks and divers. So, it's never a bad idea to put a few mallard blocks to the side of your diver decoys. " Nov 4, 2022 В· Spinning wing Decoys: What are they? Spinning wing decoys are exactly as the name sounds, decoys that are either floating or suspended in the air by a long stake that have spinning wings. It’s common for hunters to leave as much as 10 feet of space between decoys. Although I’ll readily hunt dabblers, I much prefer to dog divers and sea ducks in large, open waters—especially those surrounding Virginia’s Eastern Shore. There certainly is no harm in adding a few diver duck Mar 12, 2020 В· Typically, I rig 17 to 20 puddle duck decoys — a mix of gaddies, wigeon and mallards — on 4-foot lines with 4- to 6-ounce scoop weights that fit snugly around a decoy's bill. “When you’re hunting puddle ducks, I would recommend purchasing mallard decoys,” Zink says. Jul 27, 2016 В· When setting puddle duck decoys, don’t crowd the birds together. Decoy Placement When you have scouted and know where you need to be, a smaller decoy spread is the perfect choice. Jan 27, 2015 В· Traditionally, diver spreads and large numbers of decoys — say, 100-plus rigged on old school longlines — were synonymous terms. . An ideal diver spread will match how the birds you’re hunting are flocked on the water. That way, diving ducks clearly see the diver decoys and can fly over them on approach. Discover effective strategies and decoy placement techniques specifically designed for hunting diving ducks along shorelines. Diver hunting is a decoy game. Oct 13, 2023 В· Anglin deploys his decoys in a loose J configuration with the bulk of the puddle duck decoys placed in the calm water on the downwind side of the point. Bluebill and redhead decoys are used to Aug 28, 2007 В· Toye's decoy spread reflects the diversity of waterfowl that congregate on Pool 9 in fall. It’s not uncommon for hunters to conduct pre-hunt scouting to gauge which species are currently in the area. Nov 16, 2015 В· "After years of hunting the river, we've learned that ducks like goose decoys, but geese don't like duck decoys. By Wade Bourne. Bring your decoys together in tight bunches, forming long lines of 12 birds stretching from the central group. And it works. You’re trying to attract ducks across vast areas of water, and big spreads provide visibility. Diving ducks are a type of duck that dives underwater to feed. The trick, Beabout explains, is setting the puddle duck decoys far enough away to draw passing flocks, but also close enough to provide good shots at decoying birds. So, if you close the end of the U, there’s a chance the birds will never get within range. If you’re hunting diving ducks, such as bluebills or canvasbacks, consider adding scaup (AKA bluebill) decoys to your spread. I'm sure if you do what Cujo told you, it will work. Not me. Either approach works fine, provided the diver decoys are clearly visible at a distance. The experience of setting out huge decoy spreads, the speed of the ducks as they pitch into the blocks, the way the birds decoy in large flocks, and the preparation and effort required to take diving ducks have always made me appreciate diver hunting for the unique brand of shooting it provides. Aug 19, 2024 В· Diving ducks make up a large portion of the more popular game species among waterfowl hunters Aug 30, 2024 В· By understanding each decoy spread's detailed pros and cons, hunters can make more informed decisions about setting up their gear, whether aiming for simplicity and ease or a highly realistic, adaptable spread. Match what you can, but chances are, you're going to get a mix of divers coming through. The fact is, many waterfowlers strive to harvest a mixed bag. Each hunter or group of hunters have their “go to” decoy spread when it comes to puddle ducks. Mar 14, 2006 В· Explore shoreline sets for diving ducks and enhance your hunting success. Bluebill and redhead decoys are used to You can also put in some other types of decoys like Canada geese or puddle ducks if you want. This makes mallard decoys an excellent, all-around option for puddle duck hunting. D. And the reasons are easy to understand: on big water, there's a need for decoy visibility at a distance, and divers tend to raft in immense groups. But location trumps presentation, so even a meager spread can work, provided it's squarely on the X. They can be any species of duck and can be either sex. I noticed that divers only landed in the diver spread and the puddle ducks landed with the puddle spread. Beginner Decoy Spreads. On the other side of the dike, I had my large spread of puddle ducks. And as such, the X eliminates or at least disguises much of the humanness we hunters so often apply to our techniques, be it calling, decoys or the inability to not gawk, pie-eyed and white-faced, at incoming birds. Ducks flying the river could see them from hundreds of yards away. "I typically use about a 50-50 ratio of diver and puddle duck decoys," he says. He prefers to use "rester Sep 10, 2021 В· Decoy spreads for puddle ducks. High density cork bodies allow these diving duck decoys to sit "in" the water, not on top of the water, providing a more stable and natural float. idwz nwrf wweks tfnpwx eumn atggqa hugqb iipjf kshp csmx