Build Your Decoy Spread
Pick your water, the birds you're after, and today's wind. We'll lay out a spread, blind placement, and landing hole.
Habitat & species
Habitat type
Target species
Wind direction
Where the wind is coming FROM.
Conditions & crew
Hunt spot (live wind)
Wind speed (mph)
Hunt date
Hunting
Access
Hunters
Decoys owned
Open U or fishhook opening into the wind, hunters at the base of the U. Mix species and leave a clean 15–20 yd landing pocket in the mouth.
Birds land into the NW wind — put your landing hole and blind on the SE side of the spread.
Low-profile marsh blind or a-frame brushed with local cattail/grass. Sit at the base of the U with the wind quartering over your shoulder.
Puddle ducks: mostly mallard/hen-drake pairs, feet-down realism, moderate spinner use, aggressive calling early season.
Season:Mid season: migrators arriving. Scale up to 3–5 dozen and mix species; call to passing flocks.
Sun:You'll face SE, into the sunrise. Brim low, shade the blind, and expect glare on the first flights. Consider shifting the blind to a side angle.
Group & gear:2 hunters: shoot from a line no wider than the landing hole. 36 decoys covers this spread comfortably. Walking in: carry a light mesh-bag spread (2–3 dozen) and a sled for gear.
Motion:Water: a jerk cord or two for ripples and a spinning-wing decoy on a pole near the hole. Turn spinners off once birds start working. Spinning-wing decoys are restricted in some states or seasons, so check your state regulations.
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