| Hunters have been using duck decoys to aid | | | | carry around. It has been known to help expand |
| them in their hunts for centuries. Today, they are | | | | your layout by using silhouette decoys |
| more popular than ever by hunters and collectors | | | | (handmade), or for less expense, you can |
| alike. However, unless you have the knowledge of | | | | purchase commercial silhouettes. |
| using one, you need to know how to use duck | | | | While hunting from shore in large wetland areas, it |
| decoys. | | | | is wise to set the majority of your decoys |
| It is not advisable to use the same old decoy | | | | upwind from your hunting blind location. This |
| spread all through the season, this limits your | | | | ensures that the incoming birds have to fly past |
| decoying opportunities. Instead, look for tried and | | | | your blind before settling, giving them something |
| tested decoy setups that have been proven in | | | | to focus on besides a waiting hunter. Ducks and |
| different situations and locations through the | | | | geese, without this method, are more likely to |
| hunting season which may help you kill more | | | | land on the outer edges of the spread which will |
| ducks and geese when you head out into the | | | | then limit your shooting opportunities. |
| field. | | | | Those choosing to hunt in the field or on the |
| Over a great length of time, materials and | | | | water find it is probably better to separate the |
| manufacturing methods have changed, but the | | | | groups of decoys whether they be ducks or |
| concept of duck and bird decoys has changed | | | | geese, as real birds of different species can often |
| very little. Today, the modern duck decoys, | | | | be seen feeding together they often tend to stay |
| geese or any other waterfowl hunting decoys, | | | | in their own individual groups of the same species. |
| are as effective as all those years ago when the | | | | All wildfowl are a lot cleverer than most people |
| capture of a bird was a matter of survival in the | | | | who have never hunted could imagine. |
| rugged outdoors. | | | | Those of you who want to place decoys under |
| When hunting in large open water areas, generally | | | | cover of darkness will find they often frost up as |
| the more decoys used for ducks and other water | | | | the sun starts to rise. This will result in your |
| fowl is the better option; for example, six, seven, | | | | spread reflecting light, causing many of the birds |
| even eight blocks of a dozen are not to many by | | | | that may have dropped in to become wary of all |
| any means. However, in smaller water areas such | | | | this shining light and having the reverse effect of |
| as ponds, potholes, etc. where waterfowl like | | | | scaring them away. Always have a rag or piece |
| ducks or geese are often found, one block of a | | | | of cloth to wipe down just before legal light. |
| dozen decoys is perhaps the better option. | | | | Another way to look at decoys when using them |
| It is often said by experienced hunters that when | | | | is trying to use them in similar colors to the |
| hunting geese in open grass areas at the beginning | | | | species you are wishing to hunt, as with lots of |
| of the season, it is best to have a large spread of | | | | different ducks, some have more color than |
| decoys, but as the season progresses, it is better | | | | others. When setting up your spread, try to |
| to reduce the size of this spread. The reason | | | | consider this and maybe you will have a better |
| being from experience, geese can sometimes be | | | | day's hunting and more successful. Use the same |
| very wary of large groups of decoys later in the | | | | for whichever duck, geese or wildfowl you are |
| season, and the same applies as the season | | | | hunting and maybe create the same effect. |
| draws to its conclusion to use fewer sets. | | | | I hope this gives you a better understanding on |
| It goes without saying the more decoys you buy, | | | | how to use decoys. |
| the more expensive, and the more you have to | | | | |