When I used to hunt the bay system open marsh, we (dad & I) would put out 10-12 dozen sprig decoys and around 2-4 dozen teal. Now that was back in the early 60's-80's when duck numbers and sprig numbers were still high and were only 10 points on the 100 point bag limit. Those flights of sprigs coming out of the rice fields headed to West Galveston Bay and Bolivar Pennisula were as high as 50-200 birds that would circle and circle and again, until they committed to drop in on the spread. Amazing to watch and not jump up and shoot. Remember those days well and fond memories with my father.

Now, I don't focus on sprigs anymore since I have shot my share when I was younger and have seen the overall numbers decline over the past decades and with new species of decoys, especially balpates, it gives the spread a more realistic appearance. They didn't have those back then, mallards, sprigs and green & blue-winged teal decoys only.