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Feb 7th, 2025
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 How many decoys is too many?
#6615104
01/04/17 01:20 AM
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,491
Jacob645
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,491 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615115
01/04/17 01:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869
Bdontexoma
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 869 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615117
01/04/17 01:34 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 453
Moe #2
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 453 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615145
01/04/17 01:50 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 33
pintail_ag
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 33 |
Pull the mojo. Try 6 or so pintail or wigeon and see what happens.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: pintail_ag]
#6615171
01/04/17 02:04 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,390
john paul
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,390 |
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.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615188
01/04/17 02:11 AM
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473
Tru2lifetaxidermy
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 473 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615282
01/04/17 02:50 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,149
TxDuck24
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,149 |
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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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928
FowlDreams
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,928 |
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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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177
sallysue
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,177 |
A bag of corn works better than deks
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: sallysue]
#6615488
01/04/17 06:44 AM
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 158
Team Porkchop
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 158 |
A bag of corn works better than deks 
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615546
01/04/17 12:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,572
BradyBuck
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 8,572 |
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...
HRCH Washita's Kimber Locked N Loaded
GRHRCH Firefly's Rally The Troops MH
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615562
01/04/17 12:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623
DPirates80
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,623 |
I do a lot of walk-ins as well, and we usually set up around 24 or 12...
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615678
01/04/17 01:39 PM
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,308
BarneyWho
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,308 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: FowlDreams]
#6615679
01/04/17 01:39 PM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,390
john paul
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,390 |
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.
I'm with GK because I like salty old dudes.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6615700
01/04/17 01:49 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 73
Napa
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 73 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: BarneyWho]
#6616312
01/04/17 07:50 PM
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Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391
Pintail711
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 391 |
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
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6616933
01/05/17 01:31 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 344
claypool
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 344 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6617680
01/05/17 03:16 PM
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Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 408
Gengo
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 408 |
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.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6618363
01/05/17 10:19 PM
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 554
Streater
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 554 |
This late in the season, I use 8-10 Canada goose floaters and 9 of the cleanest, newest mallards I have.
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6618372
01/05/17 10:28 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943
Ben Lilly
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,943 |
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6618457
01/05/17 11:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 163
a74aggie
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 163 |
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.
�The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.� Edmund Burke
I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed person
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6618652
01/06/17 01:53 AM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 88
Fowl Language
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 88 |
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.
Fowl Language Game Calls
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Re: How many decoys is too many?
[Re: Jacob645]
#6619349
01/06/17 04:29 PM
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Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 149
M Wilson
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 149 |
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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