SO.... I am a newbie a.k.a. duck hunting virgin. Haven't killed a duck in 40 years. But my new land on the coast has a several acre shallow pond so I am itching to break into the waterfowl world. My question is, just how important is the paint on a decoy. I picked up 5 dozen used decoys off craigslist, and they are showing some wear. I got a mixture of teal, bluebill, pintail, mallard, puddle type ducks. These are Flambeau decoys in photo. Do they need paint touch-ups or o.k. as they are?

Also, in setting them out on the water can I mix them, keep them separated, in circles, 4 corners of pond, What formation works best? Thanks for your advice!

Those will be just fine. Paint on duck decoys is more for the enjoyment of the hunter.

Place the decoys where you are wanting the birds to land. Leave an open spot for the birds to work into. Its best to have the wind at your sides or back. Never in your face.

If there close enough to see color's and specie's you should have been shooting already. Those will be fine.

If you need help picking up dead bird's just PM me I'd be glad to help out. LOL

X2 on elpatoloco, the wind should alway play the largest roll in the placement of your decoys

Try some spray on tire cleaner to help brighten up the dekes a little. It also keeps mud and dirt from sticking to them. Dirty dekes act like sandpaper when they are bounced around in a bag.

I would advise against any such actions. SHINE is the enemy of a waterfowler. That's why flocking is the "In" thing these days.

Just my 2 centavos, them blocks are fine

Great info guys. Thanks a bunch. I am looking forward to get into this duck hunting. The huge flocks flying the coast & bay systems here are a sight to see. So hopefully I will get a bunch of shooting in this winter. Thanks for the advice.

We usually end up with J or U type formations for the decoys with the ends pointing into the wind. I've tried about everything imaginable but those two seems to yield the best results (versus X, C, V random etc.) most of the time.

The first year I painted (to add contrast) and clear coated all my decoys. I don't do that anymore but I do like to add some contrast if paint starts to wear off. For those you bought, if you do anything I might repaint the whites, wouldn't touch the rest of them and not a must do or anything.

We used to mix up all of our decoys but for the past two seasons have been running everything in groups by species. Not huge gaps between species but basically clusters of same species along the shape of the spread. Brightest decoys out on the ends is usually our strategy, or your most weary species.

We don't overthink it and we switch things up if we are getting looks but no landing gear. Start with some of the suggestions above and in a few weekends you will start to see what works for you.

Good luck!

In my opinion the more you pay attention to details the "luckyer" ya get with ducks. Good luck

I like to put decoys out in the exact spots and areas the way I saw the ducks and or geese in the previous day(s) scouting in most circumstances