Hunting Decoys

Choosing The Right Duck Decoys

Duck decoys are models of ducks that are used by the duck hunters to attract the birds to the spot where they are hunting. Often people might think that just any decoy will do. But an expert hunter knows the importance of a good decoy. Many factors contribute to a good hunting season and most of these factors are natural over which the hunters don’t have much control. So they try to increase the chances with the factors that they can control and one of such factors is the duck decoy.

Choosing the right duck decoy depends on a few factors. The most important things to look for are the shape and the color. The best ones are those which resemble a natural live duck. After all, the decoys are used to trick the ducks into landing in the target area of the hunter. The decoys should not be so light that they bob up and down on the surface of the water. Real ducks don’t do that. Also the color should not be such that it reflects sunlight. That will make the ducks suspicious.

The movement of the ducks is also very important. The remote controlled ones are good as they don’t make any jerky movements. Such movements can scare away the ducks and allow them to know the trick. If you can afford the position changing ducks then it will be better. A sleeping position or resting position gives confidence to the real ducks and they will flock to the place.

hunting decoys have played an active role in hunting geese but just having decoys does not ensure they will draw in the waterfowl.  Having realistic decoys can aid in luring geese to your blind but is just part of the strategy. 

There are decoy placement techniques that can aid in the success of your hunting hunting ventures.  It is critical to know the natural habits of geese roosting for success in your decoy placement.  The more natural looking the hunting decoys appear in the water will lure even the hardest hunted geese to your blind. 

A couple vital things to consider when setting up hunting decoys is the number you place in the water and their visibility.  In this case, more is better.  Geese have natural borne migratory habits and do so in flocks so it only goes to say they will migrate where there is larger numbers of other geese visible.  Fifty hunting decoys is a safe number to bring with you when setting up for the hunt. 

Visibility plays an important role as well however, you want to give the incoming geese you are attempting to lure a feeling of safety.  Geese know where they can become an easy target to prey so along fence lines or excessive natural cover are not ideal locations.  Place decoys where you would naturally see them migrate on land or water.  Pay attention to what geese feed on, grasses and grains such as beans, wheat, corn, and rice, when on land and in water the silt from the bottom of the water, aquatic plants like seaweed, and occasional insects or small fish.  Strategies your location for your hunting decoys accordingly.  Open fields and near water are more suitable and natural locations where geese will migrate and a good location to set up your hunting decoys to draw the most success. 

Pay particular attention to the weather.  On windy days, the natural flight pattern and roosting patterns of geese are in a “V” formation with the tip of the “V” the lead hunting flying into the wind.  The “V” formation represents the transition into spring and autumn.  Arrange your decoys to mirror the “V” formation on land.  In water an “X” or a “J” formation works well on windy days.  With “J” formations on windy days, arrange your water hunting decoys with the curve of the “J” facing the wind. 

Geese mate off into pairs and remain with the same partner until death.  As a couple, they form family groups and will flock together in their family when feeding or resting.  When setting up hunting decoys group them into family clusters of 6 to 12 with approximately 3 feet apart mirroring families of geese.  Plant your most realistic looking decoy downwind to pose as the “watcher” of the flock.  Scatter more watchers surrounding family flocks to comfort incoming geese.  One per every family or one per 8 to 10 hunting decoys should have a “watcher.”  Too many will represent danger and the geese will not land. 

If you still notice that your hunting decoys are not drawing in the flocks, try increasing the visibility of you decoys by contrasting the lighter decoys on darker ground and darker ones to lighter ground areas.  Think like a hunting and used your decoys to mirror realistic geese actions and placement on ground or water.  All you have to do is sit back and watch the action, although you may want to work a call in or two.