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How many decoys is too many? #6615104 01/04/17 01:20 AM
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Jacob645 Offline OP
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What is your rule of thumb for number of decoys to put out? Me and my hunting buddy have been hunting small water lately (less than 2 acres) and only put out a couple teal on a jerk rig and a mojo. Had some ok hunts, but mainly coming in at first light. Ducks that come by later just pass us by. A lot of the problem is it's mostly wood ducks where we hunt, but we've had big ducks come through and not give us a look.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615115 01/04/17 01:33 AM
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Ive been doing a lot of walk in hunting here lately and carry about 30.

Mixture of mallard, teal and pintail.

I think at a minimum I would take at least 18-24.

If I can drive close to where im hunting or have a 4 wheeler or something besides me being the pack-mule I take 5-7 dozen.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615117 01/04/17 01:34 AM
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Moe #2 Offline
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Put out way more than you think and see if you still get passed by big ducks. If you do you can always pull them.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615145 01/04/17 01:50 AM
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Pull the mojo. Try 6 or so pintail or wigeon and see what happens.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: pintail_ag] #6615171 01/04/17 02:04 AM
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john paul Offline
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I've used anywhere from 3 decoys on small water and up to 12-14 dozen on the stuff we usually hunt where we are trafficking ducks.


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615188 01/04/17 02:11 AM
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We put out 2600-3400, but that's for snow geese. Ducks maybe 4-8 on small tanks that we have scouted. 24-36 on big water running traffic.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615282 01/04/17 02:50 AM
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We run 10-13 dozen on the coast

Pintails
Redheads
Wigeons


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Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615401 01/04/17 04:21 AM
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Originally Posted By: Jacob645
What is your rule of thumb for number of decoys to put out? Me and my hunting buddy have been hunting small water lately (less than 2 acres) and only put out a couple teal on a jerk rig and a mojo. Had some ok hunts, but mainly coming in at first light. Ducks that come by later just pass us by. A lot of the problem is it's mostly wood ducks where we hunt, but we've had big ducks come through and not give us a look.


2 acres is pretty good size. Might run a couple dozen at least




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Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615482 01/04/17 06:22 AM
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A bag of corn works better than deks

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: sallysue] #6615488 01/04/17 06:44 AM
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Originally Posted By: sallysue
A bag of corn works better than deks


stir

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615546 01/04/17 12:25 PM
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With a good wind 2 dozen or more....with little to no wind 6-12 and a jerk rig.





That way it doesn't look suspicious when your hunting over baited corn...


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Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615562 01/04/17 12:37 PM
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I do a lot of walk-ins as well, and we usually set up around 24 or 12...

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615678 01/04/17 01:39 PM
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We used 18-20 dozen last weekend. Ended with 95 mallard drakes at the end of 5 days hunting. I think the extra decoys helped.


Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: FowlDreams] #6615679 01/04/17 01:39 PM
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Originally Posted By: FowlDreams


2 acres is pretty good size. Might run a couple dozen at least


Thats a good point right there. When we use 3 decoys we are hunting a 1/4 acre pothole probably. 2 acres is 2 football fields side by side.


Originally Posted by garrett
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6615700 01/04/17 01:49 PM
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We hunt a small pond ( around 2 acres ). I start out with a couple of dozen early on, but will drop down to a pair on a jerk line now that it's later in the season.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: BarneyWho] #6616312 01/04/17 07:50 PM
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Originally Posted By: BarneyWho
We used 18-20 dozen last weekend. Ended with 95 mallard drakes at the end of 5 days hunting. I think the extra decoys helped.


This... if I'm hunting public, 10-14 dozen, 6 mojos, pumpers, splashers... you can always subtract but can't add if you don't have it

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6616933 01/05/17 01:31 AM
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We typically put out about 4-5 dozen with 2 monos and 2 wonder duck cyclones. Then 2-4 Canada floaters. Low water or sand bars will mix in 6 full body mallards.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6617680 01/05/17 03:16 PM
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I start out the season with usually around 18 in the decoy bag. By the end of the season it's less than 12. All on public.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6618363 01/05/17 10:19 PM
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This late in the season, I use 8-10 Canada goose floaters and 9 of the cleanest, newest mallards I have.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6618372 01/05/17 10:28 PM
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We use about 10doz.

Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6618457 01/05/17 11:15 PM
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My experience is it depends on the area, the pressure, and when in the season it is. If there is minimal pressure and it's early in the season, and the ducks are familiar to the area, the fewer you need. Later in the season and a front has pushed a lot of ducks in, they have been shot at and are not familiar with the area, more and more and more is better.


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Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6618652 01/06/17 01:53 AM
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I like more, I always have. I'll be putting out 130 mag decoys in the morning. 1/2 puddlers and 1/2 divers. Yes, I hunt the big lakes.


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Re: How many decoys is too many? [Re: Jacob645] #6619349 01/06/17 04:29 PM
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i like 18 or so on a small public pond and a jerk line. a lot of what i do is pass shooting and it helps bring them in for a look


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