duck decoy spread

When setting out my goose decoy spread, I make a pocket for the geese to land in. Is this technique a good idea for decoying ducks?

What type of geese are you hunting & how many decoys are you setting out?

Generally where I goose hunt (the Texas Costal Praire/Rice Fields), we set out a spread of 700-2000 snow goose rags (ok, I've only done 2000 once, and there were 8 of us hunting it). I generally like to set it like this:

MMMMMMMMMMMM

Wind xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx V xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx S xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx S xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx S xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx-H-xxx-H-xxx-H-xxx-H-xxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

SSSS SSSS SSSS SSSS

where M = Goose magnets (kites) x = rags S = Shells -H- = Hunter

In other words, I like the pocket *behind* me, not in front. If you have more shells, I would use them to line the outside of the horseshoe, with the predomince of them in the front. If you have dark goose decoys, put them in a bunch behind the snows (ie on the other side of the Magnets).

PS. I've never actually had a spread look like this. It's too hard to see the shape of the thing at 5:00 am in the dark!

Absolutely. You always want a place where you are going to try to get the birds to work to. For us it depends usually on winds. If it's blowing hard we like to keep all the decoys in one flock and make a cone shaped spread with the tip curving to the downwind side. They like to sit right in the opening. If it's calmer we will put out several bunches of decoys leaveing room for the birds to land, having several place where the birds could come to. If your only using a dozen or so decoys it's not quite as important cause their is plenty of room to land. If you don't leave spaces then the birds tend to work you and then land 20 yards outside the spread where you most likely won't get a good shot. I think one of the most important things i've learned is that if the ducks don't like how i got em and they won't come in then get out there and change the dekes up.

Yeah it is generally a good idea to leave a pocket for the ducks, but in my experience they will rarely use the pocket as you intend them to use it. What works best for me is the pinwheel technique:

BLIND ......... <

Yes, they like a good spread, but they need open areas to land. I lake hunt, so we always make sure there are good open pools for landing areas.