Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

Hey guys, I got a quick question that i have alwys wondered. Do yall think it is better to have more or less decoys when hunting a 5 acre beaver pond.

The ducks i have arnt used to seeing a bunch of ducks there when they arrive to feed, so when i go to hunt them should i only put out a few ducks just to ge them to my side of the pond or should i go ahead and put out atleast a dozen to really convince them?

I was thinking of maybe only going with 4 woodies and a side pair of mallards, think that would work better than a dozen mallards and a hald dozen of woodies?

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

:DYes I would say less in some situations and more in others. Try both setups and see what works.

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

I wouldn't worry much about woody decoys. They will decoy into Mallards, and pretty much have a mind of their own...I would use about 6-8 Mallard decoys. Maybe put a group of 5 together and a pair off to the side, or swimming in to the group. Keep it realisitc, but 6-8 decoys is not to much on a small pond.

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

I agree with TFA.
To many decoys are going to make birds steer clear. When hunting small water. I generally hunt with a dozen decoys. And i bunch them into two or three small groups. Good Luck!

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

I am going to have to disagree with TFA, If there are woodies where you hunt use woodies. I found when you intermix decoys I seem to have better success than when using straight mallards. I dont see very many mallards so I dont use mallards all that much. I do see alot of teal, pinnies and gadwalls so thats what I use for decoys. If the ducks are use to seeing just a few ducks then use just a couple ducks.

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

I see your view hunting buddy...I don't really hunt Woodies much, but when I do they are in that location and whether you have decoys or not they're coming in. The best is when you see guys blowing their mallard calls at woodies...Thats a good laugh!

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

the general rule I stick to: fewer decoys earlier in the season, more decoys later.

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

Lol I dont see very many woodies in my area if any at all. If the area you are hunting has all mallards then throw a spread of mallards. I am going to steal this from the fly fisherman but "match the hatch" so to speak.

RE: Strength in numbers? Decoys.
 

wow, thanks abunch for the great responses. i didnt quote everyone but im going to sum it up real quick:

Where i hunt there are mainly wood ducks, a handful of mallards and hooded mergansers. So the ducks are used to there being a variety in there.

The woodies are the first to come in and usually decoy somewhatto mallards, but i got 6 woodie decoys i was going to put out early then alittle later in the a.mthrow out 6-8 mallards is seperate little groups

How does this sound?