On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
How many sea duck decoys do you need?
Set them about 10 yards apart; any closer and you increase the risk that incoming ducks will land in the line, short of where you want them. If you’re running 150 yards of long line, you’ll use about 12 to 14 decoys, depending upon how deep the water is and whether you’re running one or two anchors.
What should I bring sea duck hunting?
I recommend that anyone coming to Maryland to hunt sea ducks bring plenty of clothes, hand warmers and body warmers. Before you hunt, you need to spend a lot of time at a sporting-clays range, a skeet range or a trap range, because you’ll have fast shooting.
How long should duck decoy lines be?
Line length for puddle-duck decoys should be 4 to 6 feet. For diver decoys in deep water, use 8 to 20-foot lines. Be sure to secure some lines at the head keel holes in some decoys (using a loop knot, or heavy-duty swivel), while securing others at the tail.
Is a dozen decoys enough?
“Two dozen decoys are more than enough,” he says. “I use Greenhead Gear pro-grade mallards in a variety of body postures, including swimmers, butt-up feeders, surface feeders, and no-head feeders.” Fladeland sets a small group of decoys directly in front of his shooting position.
Is 6 duck decoys enough?
On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
Should I buy wood duck decoys?
Yes, you can actually decoy wood ducks . These quirky birds are notorious for snubbing decoys and calling, but that’s often the result of where, rather than how, you’re hunting. … But if you’re waiting for woodies at their final destination, they might fall right into your decoy spread like a flock of mallards.
Where can I sea duck hunt?
Rhode Island
Scoters and eiders make up the bulk of the sea duck harvest, but a handful of other species are available as well. Additionally, Rhode Island and New Hampshire are the only two coastal New England states that allow Sunday hunting.
What do you do with sea ducks?
Wild Duck Jerky or Goose Jerky
Damn good use for sea duck breasts. You end up brining (or salting them) as part of the jerky making process anyway, and you typically use strong flavors in jerky, so there may be no better use for a sea duck than jerky… if you like to eat jerky.
How heavy should duck decoy weights be?
Typically, I rig 17 to 20 puddle duck decoys — a mix of gaddies, wigeon and mallards — on 4-foot lines with 4- to 6-ounce scoop weights that fit snugly around a decoy’s bill.
What size tarred line for decoys?
I use heavy tarred (black) nylon line (size 48 or 60), which is very strong and will not rot. I use slipknots to tie line to decoy keels and weights. (To keep the line from unraveling and to prevent the knot from slipping, tie a simple overhand knot in both ends of the line before tying the slipknots.)
Are black duck decoys worth it?
Most will be mallards, but one dozen will be black duck decoys for extra visibility. Black or dark-colored decoys stand out better. They’re easier for passing ducks to see, so I add these in to increase my spread’s visibility. … “This spread is especially effective in the late season, when ducks are getting decoy shy.
Can you have too many duck decoys out?
You’ll want to use more decoys when pursuing larger groups of birds, but you get the basic idea: Make the setup appear relaxed and realistic, and don’t overdo it. Overloading such spots with fakes can sometimes put wary or pressured birds on alert.
How many decoys do you need for a rice field?
Re: Huge spread in flooded rice? imo.. 6-12 decoys,a good caller and a good blind is all you really need.. no matter if you hunt a big lake or open field.