The Right Decoy Fools Those Ducks Every Time

The first use of decoys as a means of attracting ducks and geese is credited to the North American Aboriginal Indians who used crude decoys to help lure birds within net or spear range. The earliest confirmed decoys, found in a Nevada cave, date back to more than 2000 years ago. Speculation though among archeologists suggests that decoys may have been used as many as 8,000 years ago prior to that.

While the materials and manufacturing methods have changed and evolved considerably in last couple of millennia, the concepts of duck and bird decoys have changed little. And the modern duck decoys and other waterfowl hunting decoys are every bit as effective today as they were when a bird in the bag was a matter of survival in the bush and rugged outdoors.

Generally the more decoys deployed when decoying ducks and other waterfowl in big water. Six or eight dozen blocks are not too many by any means. In potholes however, when hunting for waterfowl such as ducks or Canada Geese it is better to seldom use more a dozen decoys. When hunting goose in the field it is best to reduce the size of the spread as the water bird hunting season progresses. Educated geese will sometimes shy away from large sets of bird decoys, so by seasons end it is best to use considerably less decoys used earlier in the waterfowl hunting season.

A large spread of decoys can be a cumbersome and expensive venture. Help fill out your layout in the field by using silhouette decoys crafted from ¼ inch plywood painted back, or invest in a few dozen relatively inexpensive commercial silhouettes.

If hunting from shore on a large wetland set up so that the majority of your decoys are upwind from your hunting blind location. This will help ensure that incoming birds will have to fly past your blind to settle whole giving something to focus on besides a waiting hunter. Without it ducks and geese are likely to land on the outer edges of your spread limiting your shooting opportunities.

Whether hunting in the field or on the water. Keep some separation between the groups of decoys that represent different ducks or goose species that represent different ducks or goose species. While real birds or different species often feed together they tend to stick to subgroups of their own species.

Thought it is generally agreed that you should not point your decoys into the wind do not overdo it. A natural flock on the ground will have birds facing in every conceivable direction. To make sure that your goose or duck waterfowl decoy spread does not end up looking like a regiment of feathered soldiers add lots of diversity to the direction that they are facing and the spacing between your shells. At least 30 % should face a direction other than upwind.

Decoys placed under cover of darkness can often frost up as the sun rises. Frost results in your spread reflecting light like a hundred prisms flaring many birds that otherwise might drop in. Use a rag to wipe them down just before legal light, eliminating that hunt destroying glare. Snow in a confidence destroyer as well –so keep your flocks wiped free.

Adding movement to your spread can make a big difference – a little fatal attraction. Consider using a dozen windsock decoys or flying two or three kite like decoys on poles. You could also try “flagging: to give birds the impression of movement. Adding confidence as they make their final approach.

If you are hunting diving ducks, high color contrast in your decoys is important. While species specific blocks are optimal you can still effective attract divers with any decoy that shows lots of dark/light contrast much like their own natural plumage.

It is no accident that decoys are useful in increasing your hunting bag either a thousand years ago or hunting waterfowl – ducks or geese today or this coming fall.