Recommend duck decoys please..

[shootingmike]

Hi chaps, I'm in need of some decoys for duck shooting on rivers / splash. Can anyone suggest decent ones at reasonable prices?

Am I right in saying that generally folk just use wigeon decoys instead of mallard as they're smaller to carry, cheaper and pull mallard anyway?

I realise I'll need a line and clips etc. also.

 

Cheers

[Yoggy]

Mike, After using god knows how many types and makes of decoys I can honestly say...........buy the cheapest you can!!.

It really doesn`t make a squat of difference. A duck doesn`t know an expensive decoy from a cheap one!!. I usually take a mixture of both Mallard and Wigeon....One thing that will make a difference is learning to use a caller. This had a dramatic impact on my fowling. Using decoys and a caller is one of lifes pleasures!!!.

[anser2]

Use the decoys of the species you expect to see. If your marsh is a wigeon marsh then it will pay to use wigeon decoys. However having said that in the half light duck will drop into almost any decoy , but once its light then it will make a major difference.

 

One creek i shoot is used by both wigeon and teal in good numbers during the day. I used to use wigeon decoys and it was rare to have any teal drop into the , though they would buzz them on occasion. I managed to lose my wigeon decoys last season so until I got some replacements I used 10 teal decoys in the same place. All of a suden I started to shoot a lot of teal , but the odd wigeon droped into them.

 

Floating decoys come in many types Fuds , weighted keel and hollow keel. As you are shooting a river I would use weighted keel coys , but they will weigh more than the other types. Given the choice i would go for some of the American decoys such as green head , but they come at a price. Sportplast are good too , but again you are looking towards a tenner a decoy these days. Your cheapest option is to keep an eye on Ebay ( there were some very cheap used quality mallard , teal and wigeon decoys on there last week ) or try your local Poundland type shops . Some are carrying cheap decoys as pond decorations at 1.00 each. They are cheap and chearful , but for serious fowling will need a new paint job and idealy need filling with industrial foam otherwise do not expect a long life from them. They split along the seams after a seasons use or in cold weather the front conector eye snaps off ( have a cubbord full of them to be repared ).

 

If you shoot mudflats or a stubble silouete decoys can work very well , but I have never had much luck using them over shallow water.

 

Most seasons I shoot several hundred duck over decoys and i have found the secret of successful decoying is to use good quality coys , the right species and use plenty of them when shooting in daylight.

Edited August 25, 2012 by anser2

[kent]

grief, i have a shed full. They all have thier uses, different keel types from super magnum oversize stuff to std teal deeks. They all have thier uses, some are rigged for mainlines some for flashes. i do feel Teal drop in better to teal deeks and widgeon to widgeon ones etc especially during daylight but placement is the most important factor. with your description i should make a few plywood sillouttes for use on the edges and a few full body floaters of the main species you expect to shoot. half a dozen of each say. i have shot over many,many more deeks than this utilising many different species, it all depends on were you are and what looks natural at that location

[shootingmike]

Thanks for the replies chaps. Time to start browsing the net for some then..