Im looking to get a set of decoys and i dont have a clue about them, all i know is after my dads friend took me duck hunting i want to do it for the rest of my life. Please help on what i should do for decoys. Do i just need one set? what brand? how much am i looking at spending? does it matter what kind of water ill be hunting? (ie. river, lake, pond) What kind of ducks should they be?
any information is much appreciated and if i missed any questions feel free to add them

You can get a dozen mallard decoys to start and you may also want to get a dozen teal decoys.

When early teal comes around use the hen mallards mixed in with your teal deeks.

Brand wise, how much money do you have to spend?

If you're on a budget you can visit Academy to get their Game Winner deeks.

Another inexpensive brand is GHG Hot Buys

If money is no object, you can check out Dakota Decoys

The next thing you need to decide is how will you carry your deeks.

Some folks rig the decoys with the Texas Rig and some do the traditional line and sinker to place in a decoy bag.

Depending on how you want to carry them will determine what accessories you buy to rig the decoys.

I would suggest reading every article you can about decoys. Watch different hunting videos... look at different spread options for the type of hunting you will be doing. I would do all that before you just went out and bought decoys. If you don't want to do any of that just go get a half dozen widgeon decoys and a half dozen greenwing decoys and call it good. This will look a lot more real than the other new guys with their 12 mallards and a mojo. Also depends on where you hunt.... if you see more gadwalls or pintails or ringnecks etc substitute those in or add them on. Good luck.

My standard spread is 12 mallards and 6 pintails… G&H. If you want to shoot mallards and pintail, this spread will do it. Teal, Gadwalls, and widgeon will decoy to it as well as many other ducks..

Depends on what kind of water you're hunting and what birds you expect to shoot. If you hunt anywhere near or on the coast, don't use mallard decoys. Almost anywhere inland mallard, gadwall, teal, spoonbills or ring neck decoys would work just fine. I highly recommend Greenhead Gear decoys. About $70 a dozen but very durable and lifelike paint schemes