I understand decoys are sold in standard, magnum, and super magnum sizes. I'm probably going to get some more mallard decoys before next season and am thinking about getting super magnums. Are these worth the extra money and extra weight? I hunt primarily small waters, for example marshes with small patches of open water.

Nope, mag decoys are a big water decoy they are primarily designed so that birds see them at a greater distance... I tell all the guys I take hunting.. don't believe the hype you see on tv... If you put out a dozen 15 dollar decoys... you'll kill birds... no matter where your at.

kingvjack: Another question, to clarify your answer. So, on small waters supermag and magnums offer no advantage. I got that and appreciate your answer.

You said something about $15 decoys, which I take to mean $15/dozen decoys, which is at the far low end of decoy cost. What is your view on more expensive standard sized mallard decoys versus less expensive standard sized mallard decoys? I have some Flambeau mallard decoys that I have used now for two seasons. They may be showing some signs of age and their numbers have been reduced by misplacing and losing over time (I leave my decoys with my hunting partner during the season, and over time some dekes just don't make it back into the bag at the end of the day, it would appear). I've been thinking about getting another dozen mallard dekes before next season. The Flambeaus were on the low side of deke cost. I was figuring I would buy "better" hence more expensive dekes this time around. My hunting partner picked up a dozen Redhead brand mallard decoys, and they look nicer than my Flambeau dekes from my perspective. I've been thinking about getting G&H dekes. So what is your advice? Do the more expensive dekes provide a hunting advantage or a longer useful life?

They can.

I use Magnums or Over size decoys pretty much exclusively. I hunt marshes, tidal creeks and beaver swamps primarily. I would list it as small water bordering bigger water (river is about 500 yards wide). I have killed ducks over the mags, and over the older smaller blocks I used years ago.

I don't think that mags hurt you, but in small water situations, they probably don't provide the advantage they do in more open situations. In tight water, I fill holes I DONT want the birds to land in with decoys. Bigger blocks can occupy more space sometimes and that can be helpful. Its largely subjective. Just my experience. If you are in the right spot, hide yourself well, don't overcall.... you'l kill ducks over painted bleech bottles. Thats not an exaggeration either.

I run Super mag decoys some places and other times I run standard sized decoys
In a tight area with limited visabilitythe standards work just as well

But even on a semi open marsh's I hunt
The supermags seem to pull more birds IMO

I think it is the birds can see them better

I have a area I walk in , many times by my self
I throw 3 doz super mag decoys ( 2 bags of 18 each )on the deer cart and walk in a mile
I may be compeating against groups of guys with4 - 6doz standard sized decoys
Many times I get the birds they can't pull in


If I was going to add decoys in you spots
I would add Black duck decoys , if you can get them at the same price
Mallards have no problem pitching in with blacks
And itmakes your spread a little different than all the others

Also a mix of standards and mag or super mag works well

John

No. Sounds like you are probably packing in to these places and carrying 1 dozen Super Mags are a pita. You can easily carry 2 1/2 to 3 dozen standard water keel in a good bag (like Cabelas floating bag).

For your other question, Greenhead Gear and G&H are all we use. G&H very durable. Greenhead Gear look great and the Hot Buy is priced right.

whiskeysnoot: Yes, we are packing in on foot. We wear waders and walk about 200 yards from our parked cars to the edge of the marsh. We walk in another 200 yards, about, through muddy bottomed marsh about knee deep, marsh grass with about 4 inches of water in it (having to high step to keep from tripping in the marsh grass), across a welcome patch of dry ground with some oaks, then back into muddy bottomed water in flooded timber, out of the trees to open water puctuated with patches of cat tails and some sort of brush that grows in the water there. The water is only about knee deep through most of the area we hunt. When there is ice on the water in the mornings the hike in is a little more troublesome, as we break ice with either our boot foot (which requires high stepping, which is tiring) or lean down on the ice with our shin, or just sort of kick our shin into the ice, which can be a little painful and has cut waders of one member of our group in the past.

There are several open patches of water -- bigger and smaller in area. The biggest area may be about 1 to 2 acres in extent. We put out about a dozen mallards decoys and about a dozen teal decoys. My mallard decoy population has diminished somewhat so I find I have 3 drakes and 5 suzies remaining. These are enough decoys, I think, for this small water that we are hunting. Groups of ducks we see flying are typically singles, doubles, six, or eight. Given these circumstances, I'm thinking a dozen mallard decoys and 6-8 GW teal decoys is ample.

Thanks all for the information. When I feel the need to repopulate my decoys -- maybe before next season -- I'll probably go with G&H standard sized mallards. I drive through the home town of G&H decoys, Henrietta, Oklahoma, all the time when I drive from my home in North Texas to visit my in-laws in Tulsa, Oklahoma and particularly when I go up to duck hunt with my niece's husband NW of Tulsa. I dropped in at their showroom once and received an interesting discussion of what minor features they add to their decoys that make them better. I don't remember all of these points, but one had to do with how the edge of the decoy merges with the water and makes the decoy more stable on rocking water.

My view on decoys is this, If you know how to use em.... you can get the same thing done using a standard sized deek than using the Mags, which depending on your budget may not be feesible.
I have seen people use full bodies on the ice to shoot ducks too... Just get what you want and think about how you use them.
I have 3 dozen duck deeks, my newest box cost me 15 dollars at Dack's and I've had ducks land in em,
I've got a 40 dollar dozen of flambeaus that ducks land in as well...