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Mixed Decoys #4668957 10/17/13 06:35 PM
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Leonardo Offline OP
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Alright I am fairly new to duck hunting and for the last several years I have been using my buddies decoys. I am now interested in building my own spread so I can go on my own.

Several questions I have:
1) Are the more expensive decoys worth the money. Dakotas, Avian ect..
2) If I am starting off small should I buy small sets of each species or buy all one. Should I have 6 mallards, 6 gadwalls, 6 widgeon?

I have used the search function and there are just too many threads about decoys to wade through all of them. I am wanting to start small with two dozen or so and build from there. I have been hunting small water and plan to move to the lakes with my boat purchase. Do I need a larger spread on the lakes? It seems easy to put too many dekes in the water.

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Leonardo] #4668992 10/17/13 06:47 PM
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What I do, and not saying it is right, is try to match what ducks are in the area. With the exception of Mallard decoys. I use those everywhere. I typically hunt in the salt marsh...

My typical spread is;

Dozen Mallards
1-2 dozen GWT/BWT usually closer to 1 dozen
6 Shovelor Decoys
6 Wigeon Decoys

This is a max spread and is often/usually less...

I bought some coot decoys to throw around the shoreline as confidence decoys. Depends how they work if I'll keep using them...


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Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Leonardo] #4668995 10/17/13 06:48 PM
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You will probably get lots of different answers to this. I would go with mostly mallards. If you want to add something different, I usually go mostly mallards and then 6-12 of something else (Teal, widgeon, or pintails).

Cheap decoys are fine, but not too cheap. Go with the avery "hot buy" mallards or Flambeau "storm front" mallards. Those are both cheap mallards but still have weighted keels and decent paint.

imo, the good expensive decoys are only worth it if you are going to baby them and get slotted decoy bags. I buy good goose decoys, but I am way too rough on duck decoys to buy the expensive ones.

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Buffs 1] #4669012 10/17/13 06:54 PM
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Ive used mallard decoys only in my spread for the past three years. Weve killed more than 1500 ducks on public land shooting over these decoys...get a jerk cord and a mojo and get after em!

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Buffs 1] #4669013 10/17/13 06:55 PM
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Leonardo Offline OP
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Thanks for the input. Most of my hunting will be North Texas and hopefully some southern Oklahoma. Typically we kill gadwalls, widgeon, mallards, and gwt.

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Leonardo] #4669030 10/17/13 07:03 PM
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I find that the cheaper mallard decoys work fine. I hunt private water so my big lake experience is limited. I do use more hens if im seeing more hens than drakes while scouting. When birds are moving in on the fronts I prefer bigger spreads. Last year I did incorporate some feeders. I think this works great and will continue to use them. The main thing with decoys is movement. If the wind is not blowing you need a jerk line or some kind of water thrasher. I like the hidgeon duck butt. The only birds I find that are selective what decoys they land in is pintails. They will land in mallards but they like to see some other pins. If I know they are in the area I will take a dozen or so out with me. The most decoys I use is 3 doz all the way down to five or six singles. Really depends on the time of year and what the birds are doing.


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Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Leonardo] #4669032 10/17/13 07:04 PM
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If you want good cheap decoys get the storm front mallards. I've had them for 3 years and they are still all floating with no leaks. For better quality decoys I'm really fond of ghg. I've had some of the same ones for 6 or 7 years and they are still going strong

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: yakinthebox] #4669043 10/17/13 07:09 PM
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I'm wanting to buy some good Pintail decoys and maybe some Gadwall as we usually shoot a lot of Gaddies and a few Pins every season.

Also, I don't believe you have to buy the most expensive decoys to have success. I use mostly GHG decoys and i really like them for the price. They are nice and not crazy expensive. I can't say the expensive ones are not worth it because I've never had them. And probably never will. I started off using the cheap GW academy decoys and while they will get the job done, they are not good quality. They fade and crack after 1-2 seasons.

I still have all those cheapo decoys but never use them.

Last edited by yakinthebox; 10/17/13 07:13 PM.

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Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: yakinthebox] #4669090 10/17/13 07:30 PM
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I duck hunted for 3 years in North Dakota, our decoys consisted of 4 decoys that I found at a pawn shop. They lacked paint, they were God awful ugly, but they floated and ducks came to the set. We supplemented them with blocks of wood, just logs that were cut about a foot long.


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Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: dogcatcher] #4669859 10/18/13 12:27 AM
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I like the GHG dekes. Good quality and they aren't real expensive. I would recommend weighted keel whatever you get.

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: ArkansasTraveler] #4669886 10/18/13 12:36 AM
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Decoys are overrated, i never use them.


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Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: beaversnipe] #4670057 10/18/13 01:39 AM
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GHG are the best value to quality ratio in my opinion. Like someone else mentioned I like to match the decoys to my area, I'm kinda crazy about realism haha. You would probly be good with Mallard Gadds and Widgeon deeks in your area. Thats what we are going to throw this year and the occasional coot or ringneck depending on the area. Buy or build a jerk string though, they rock!! I am no expert either.

Re: Mixed Decoys [Re: Ambrot] #4670168 10/18/13 02:02 AM
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Flambeau Storm Front Mallards were $30 for a dozen online on cabelas, not sure if they still are or not. If you want variety, I recommend mallards, GW teal and pinnies. Also, buy or build a jerk string. I have a feeling I know the general area you hunt. Let me know if you ever want to hunt sometime together


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