Wildfowling Decoy Arrangement/Patterns

[Spaniel]

HI

 

Just wondering if anyone could give me some ideas on setting up some decoy patterns for Mallards and Wigeons.

 

I was out at the weekend with only Mallard Decoys and when the Wigeons came in they mainly tended to land in front of my decoys, I am going to purchase some Wigeon Decoys today and was wondering what the best pattern would be in using both the Mallard and Wigeon Decoys to attract both types in.

Im not sure if i can mixed the decoys or i need to seperate to have one pattern for Mallards and one for Wigeons and obviously what sort of distance apart etc do the two groups need to be.

I will be setting up on some flooded ground close to the foreshore where the Wigeons have been feeding.

 

Any advise welcomed

 

Cheers

[anser2]

You could write a book on how to arrange your decoys. But a few simple rules. Set the decoys where they are highly visable to the birds , Keep the decoys well within range of your hide and give the birds a hole in the pattern to land in. Like pigeons usualy the duck will attempt to land on the downwind edge of the pattern , but a hloe in the right place will bring them closer.

 

If you are shooting at dawn or dusk the species of decoy will have little effect, but it becomes much more important if you are shooting in broad daylight.

Edited October 29, 2009 by anser2

[flytie]

I think everyone will do this slightly differently. Here's what i do;

 

I link my deeks in pairs, male/femail or f/m with about 4 ft of non tangle line between. From the lead deek I have about 12 feet of non-tangle linking to a J lead.

 

I have had teal, widgeon and mallard decoys and in the past I have used them together, seperately and mixed. I now only carry six mallard deeks, cos I'm getting old and lazy, and I find that all species will come in to them. I am going to buy some new widgeon decoys soon as they will be lighter than the mallard ones to carry .

 

If I was putting out deeks of two species I would seperate them, leaving a "killing zone" in between them. I think decent calls are more beneficial that the most expensive deeks. If you are shooting either dawn or dusk, like I do, the duck decoys are mainly black duck shaped blobs anyway. If you are tide flighting during daylight then well painted decoys will be worth carrying. Have fun!

 

Atb, ft

Edited October 29, 2009 by flytie