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Goose Decoy Placement

Successful goose hunters recommend that you spread your decoys in one of three patterns. Place your decoys in a "V" pattern, "U" pattern or a "J" pattern. These are the basic patterns and they work. The opening of each pattern should face the wind. The point of the "V" or turn of the "U" should be into the wind. The opening of the "U" or "V" will be the landing zone for most of the birds. Make sure your decoys are facing different directions so the birds see the spread of your decoys from all directions. The birds will land into the wind so more of your decoys should be broadside to the wind. The general guidelines suggest 50% of your decoys be broadside to the wind, 30% at 45 degrees to the wind and the rest parallel to the wind.

Most hunters spread their decoys three to ten feet apart. Individual birds in family groups will stay closer together while different family groups stay farther apart. To understand how flying birds see decoys, place one decoy on the ground and walk around it from 100 feet away. You will notice that the decoys do not completely disappear until you are looking directly at the decoy's edge. It is the size change, appearing and disappearing that gives the decoys the illusion of movement to circling birds. Movement in your decoy spread is critical because live birds on the ground move. Below you will find suggested patterns.

 

Duck decoy placement.

1. First and foremost, visibility is key. If flying ducks can’t see your decoys then they are doing you absolutely no good. Don’t bother hiding decoys in cattails or toolers. Don’t put them over in a hidden corner of the pond.


2. Don’t spread your decoys out too far. More decoys may be better but if you’ve got your spread out to 100 yards then you’re never going to hit anything. Keep it tight at about 35 yards on the outside. That way, when birds come in you’ll be able to better judge when they are in range.


3. Next, make sure to leave an opening landing zone area for incoming birds. If you’ve got your spread bunched up and without any space, ducks will just move on to the next pond. Give them some place to land and make sure to control what direction.


4. When setting your decoys, alway check wind direction. You want to have the wind at your back when throwing out your spread. Duck land into the wind and positioning your decoys accordingly can help give you some fantastic shot opportunities


5. Take a look at a relaxed group of ducks in the water and tell me what you see? That’s right, they aren’t all facing in the same direction. I like to have 1 in 4 of my decoy facing in a different direction (figure 25-30%). What this does is help show high flying birds that your little pond is a safe, calm haven for feeding. A flock of birds all facing the same directing will appear to be agitated and ready to bolt. Changing up your decoy positioning will help bulk up your harvested ration in no time.


6. Add a little motion to your spread. Some like to use battery operated decoys, wind activated decoys or flagging to give your spread a bit of life.


7. Don’t forget color and contrast. Increase the visibility of your decoys by using more drake mallards or drake . Try placing darker decoys in light patches and lighter decoys in darker patches. Mixing dark and light colored decoys in the same spread can work as well.


8. Keep your most realistic decoys closest to your spreads landing zone or open area. This lets approaching birds see them clearly. Take your less realistic decoys flags or silhouettes and keep them further out and less visible to birds who have committing


9. “V” is a great basic and effective pattern for decoy placement is in a “V” or crescent pattern with the point or head facing into the wind since that is where ducks prefer to land.The area between the arms of your “V” are where you want birds to land.


10. Per scout Your Areas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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