Question:

I have a question about decoys, I hunt public land in saltwater marshes of south Louisiana.

I've noticed most hunters spread consist of either many different species of duck or at least 2 or 3. When scouting this year I found that most of the time I would come up to a flock on the water if I saw 10 different flocks, maybe 1 or 2 of those had more than one species of bird on the water at a time. Usually it was a flock of just gadwall or teal but not both. Yet, most people will still put out large spreads with a couple of different species. Is is common to see many different breeds together at one time? Should I throw out all of the same type species of decoy or keep mixing the species together? Thanks for your time!

Jeff

Answer:

Jeff,

Thanks for your question! What species decoys to use is largely a reflection on what you are seeing on or near the locales that you hunt. If in your marshes the birds are segregated by habitat type, I would suggest doing the same. In many of my favorite areas the birds are kind of jumbled together (especially the puddle ducks) and as such I try to replicate this with my decoy spreads. My day to day puddle duck contains mostly mallards with a few teal and pintail sprinkled in to resemble what I see in the marshes I hunt. The key is to be a keen observer of the places you hunt and do your best to replicate it with your decoys spread size and diversity. Good luck!

John Devney

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