[ILgoosehunter12]

im looking to add some mixture to my 2 dozen mallard decoys i have. so my question is what all do you mix in with your mallards?

ex. gadwall, wigeon, pintail, etc.?

thanks

 

[GCox25]

I just bought two of the GHG puddler packs with 2 wigeons, 2 pintails and 2 gadwalls in each pack. I'm going to put those out with 6 teal decoys in my buddy's monstrosity of a mallard spread. I know there are a lot of opinions on the GHG's, but I think they look great and can't wait to get them in the water. It should add alot of color to a mostly green and brown spread.

 

[Dave63]

I'd put some gads out. Pins are kind of a PITA due to the tail "extension", but add a nice look. If you've got widgeon in the area, by all means use some.

 

[Remingtonguy]

My spread consists of mallards widgeon and Green wing teal.

Clint

 

[Ajgall1055]

I use mainly mallard, green wing teal and pintail. been thinking about getting a few gadwall or even 1 or 2 goose floaters though

 

[ILgoosehunter12]

thanks guys! i might be getting me a dozen gadwalls and pintails and some teals.

 

[qwackhead]

I put out a dozen Mallards and a few geese. I get Widgeon, black duck and Gadwall coming in.

 

[apexhunter]

The one obvious factor is to mix in dekes of species you normally see in your area. For instance, if you don't see many pintails I wouldn't bother to mix them in (substitute any species for pintail). Typically mallards, teal, widgeon, gadwals and sprigs can and will feed and loaf in the same areas so it definitely won't do any harm to mix some in. As for numbers you might need a dozen or more of each for larger displays or you might get by with a 6 pack for smaller ones depending upon the needed size of your spread. If you can afford them I would get a dozen of each (cheaper that way) and rig up and put out as many as you think necessary depending on the number of birds you are seeing and the time of year.

 

[ILgoosehunter12]

The one obvious factor is to mix in dekes of species you normally see in your area. For instance, if you don't see many pintails I wouldn't bother to mix them in (substitute any species for pintail). Typically mallards, teal, widgeon, gadwals and sprigs can and will feed and loaf in the same areas so it definitely won't do any harm to mix some in. As for numbers you might need a dozen or more of each for larger displays or you might get by with a 6 pack for smaller ones depending upon the needed size of your spread. If you can afford them I would get a dozen of each (cheaper that way) and rig up and put out as many as you think necessary depending on the number of birds you are seeing and the time of year.

thanks! the area i hunt have just about al those species i mentioned.

ive decided im goin to get a dozen wigeon, dozen gadwalls, dozen ptails, and maybe some teal.

my other question is how do i want to mix up my drakes in hens? im pretty much done duck hunting for the year now. next year i will be hunting by myself more and i am just tryin to learn.

 

[duckman27]

I got a dozen mallards, 6 woodies, 3 Canadians, 2 gadwall, 2 pintails, 2 widgeon, 1 hen GWT (off to the side of the spread, favorite deke in my spread).

 

[lamudfoot]

I see a lot black ducks mixed in with mallards in my area. I almost always put blacks out with my mallard decoys. Blacks are also one the most difficult ducks to decoy, they tend to give mallards more confidence at times.

 

[Johann]

i use Widgeon, Mallards and greenwinged, to add visibility i Use a couple sometimes two couples of swans which i put further out than im really able to shoot and sometimes a couple of gulls..

 

[=TxDuckHunter=]

12 mallard
6 gadwall
6 wigeon
4 pintail
8 gwt

i carry all of them by myself when hunting public. this is about twice as many decoys than i see anyone else on the river using, and i think it helps alot. just think about it, everyone who hunts by themselves will only carry what is easy for them to carry ( usually between 1 and 2 dozen) the birds have seen that size of a spread so many times. so when they see 3-4 dozen, or less than half a dozen, it looks ten times more realistic. when the birds get decoy shy, i will switch to 5-6 deocys plus a jerk string. i almost never call at working ducks because they have heard every call imaginable by the time they get to texas. just a few quacks here and there and a wigeon whistle will bring them in almost every time. hope this helps some of yall

(just a tip that i think also helps. put your pintail deeks a little further out than everything else, they are twice as visible as mallards and will bring birds in from a long ways off)

 

[wratliffky]

When hunting back waters where im going to see puddlers usaully
48 mallards
6 gaddies
3 gwt
8 pintails
6-12 shoveler for confidence on the outside of the spread and 2 spinners.
Use rig'em rights it is alot faster.

 

[ntx_duckster]

I have:

25 mallards, 6 pintails, 6 widgeons, and 2 teal.

This season, I've used a dozen or less (sometimes only 5) and I will mix it up some. Like 2 mallards, 2 widgeon, 2 pintails.

 

[mudpack]

I always put out some ringneck decoys with my puddlers. They're magic.

 

[ILgoosehunter12]

what brand decoy looks most realistic and has the best paint quality? i have one dozen flambeau and they look good, but the paint quality is HORRIBLE!

thanks! im probly going to get 6 p.t, 6 g.w, and prolly 6 gwt.

idk yet. i just need some different colors and species instead of just mallards in my spread.

 

[Stevenot]

10 Mallards
8 Greenwings
3 Widgeon
6 Spoonies
3 Gaddies
3 Ringnecks
2 Pintail
and a partridge in a pear tree.
I will add and take away depending on the amount of ducks around but this is my base.

 

[snow goose]

We put out:
12 mallards
6 Green wing teal
2 butt up feeders
2 sleppers
and a mojo
If we join up with my friends from school we can put out:
12 more mallards
and a puddler pack
and another mojo

also if there are geese in the area we throw out 8 canada floaters

This works really well for are area

 

[riverrat85]

our boat setup in which we move every day consists of around 120 to 160 decoys.

84 pro grade ghg mallards(24 low head feeder, 24 high head, the rest resters or sleepers)
24 ringnecks
12 pintails
12 bufflehead
12 widgeon
6 gadwall
6 shovelers

i like to mix up the divers and puddlers together. Looks realistic, everytime i visit the refuges i never see the divers sitting alone.