Decoy Placement

[triggerjw]

I gotta question, picture if you will. My hole has a slough that comes in from the west and goes south.. we hunt in the bend, it just opens up into somewhat of an oxbow. Usually place dekes out in the oxbow in the U or C pattern depending on the wind. But birds seem a little hesitant, we are well hidden and I don't see another problem. What would be a better set up, place the dekes on the mouth of the oxbow or what?

[bigbeeducker]

Get in there and just watch, do the birds even want to be in it. Don't matter where you put if em they don't want in.

[cajun squealer]

Well, for starters, there are 24 more letters in the alphabet--try those.

But seriously, sacrifice one morning and just let the ducks do their thing without without decoys or calling. Watch where they land and how they distribute themselves on the water, then duplicate it.

[HOOD]

sx3 might have some suggestions...

[Red the CBR]

Number of decoys?? Might be your problem... I try to match the flocks that I see... If you see 100s and you put out 100s of decoys and that wont work try 8 or 10... I have hunted over 1 or 2 decoys and done well..

John

BTW the trick is to NOT bring more decoys then your plan... Else you will empty the boat like I do... If I decide I am hunting over 3 decoys on top of the meadow that is all I bring is 3 decoys...

[sx3]

your right hood pay $250 a day

[rustypjr]

Don't worry. I will come put out all the decoys for you and then we can watch all the ducks go sown about 60 yards from us. Oh then we can get some geese flying over and let some yahoo skybust them and watch them fly off to.

[mallardhunter]

If there's any decoys out of place, (IOW, downwind) that can cause 'em to not finish well. Usually occurs when folks try to set decoys the way ducks sit on the water. Doesn't take more than a couple of decoys downwind to stop 'em from coming in.

[Red the CBR]

If there's any decoys out of place, (IOW, downwind) that can cause 'em to not finish well. Usually occurs when folks try to set decoys the way ducks sit on the water. Doesn't take more than a couple of decoys downwind to stop 'em from coming in.

Please take me to school on this....

[Tedl10]

Instead of placing them in a shape, try something different. Sounds like they've grown use to your set up. If your putting out 4 doz dekes, try putting out about only 8 and vs versa. Switch from a J or C and spread them out. If your calling, don't call. Just mix as many things up as possible until you figure it out. JMO

[GordonGekko]

If there's any decoys out of place, (IOW, downwind) that can cause 'em to not finish well. Usually occurs when folks try to set decoys the way ducks sit on the water. Doesn't take more than a couple of decoys downwind to stop 'em from coming in.

Please take me to school on this....

I think what he is talking about is placing decoys downwind and not giving them an open space to light.... ducks like to light into the wind, and don't usually like to make the final pass over decoys, they tend to light in open water.....

I agree with Red's suggestion to use fewer decoys, I would try that first(particularly if you are not in a very open spot)....also sometimes movement in the decoys (jerk string) can help a lot.... decoy placement shape is overrated imo.... often times the best placement is a small "clump" upwind from where you want them to land....

[the doctor]

what are decoys? U pattern? C pattern?

must be over my head

the doc

[Red the CBR]

what are decoys? U pattern? C pattern?

must be over my head

the doc

Damn you must use lots of corn....