Decoy 101: How to Build Your First Waterfowl Spread
By: Cupped
Start Smart with Waterfowl Hunting
Building your first waterfowl decoy spread doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sure, there’s a lot to learn—from decoy types and placement tactics to bird behavior and gear—but getting started is easier when you break it down into simple, actionable steps. The goal is to replicate natural waterfowl behavior to draw ducks and geese into your shooting range. Whether you're hunting a backwater marsh, a flooded field, or an open lake, the right spread can make all the difference between going home with a full strap or an empty bag.
You don’t need to own dozens of decoys or spend a fortune to be effective. In fact, many hunters start with a modest setup and refine it over time. This guide will walk you through the essential decoy types, how to choose the right species for your area, and how to begin crafting your own realistic and effective waterfowl spread.
Know Your Tools: Types of Waterfowl Decoys
Decoys are your billboard to passing waterfowl. They simulate real birds on the water or in a field, helping to attract the attention of live ducks and geese and provide evidence that your location is a safe and desirable place to land. There are three main types of decoys every hunter should know about:
- Floating Decoys
- Field Decoys
- Motion Decoys
Each type plays a unique role in your setup. Using a thoughtful mix of them increases your chances of convincing birds to commit to your location.
Floating Decoys
Floating decoys are the backbone of any water-based spread. Designed to mimic ducks or geese resting, feeding, or swimming, these decoys are anchored to to prevent them from drifting. They work best in marshes, ponds, lakes, and flooded fields—anywhere there’s, well, water.
These decoys come in a variety of postures; for example, to suggest a safe, relaxed environment and imply food availability. When setting up, consider how real ducks behave: they don’t sit in perfect lines or rigid clusters. A natural-looking grouping with space for birds to land in the middle is key. But more on that later.
Field Decoys
Field decoys come into play when you're targeting birds in dry fields, like harvested corn, wheat, or grain fields. These decoys are designed to simulate ducks or geese loafing, feeding, or resting on land.
There are several types:
- Full-body decoys – Highly realistic and three-dimensional.
- Silhouettes – Flat but effective when viewed from a distance and the right angle.
- Socks or windsocks – Lightweight and portable, great for adding movement.
These are especially effective for targeting geese or puddle ducks that regularly feed in agricultural areas. Field spreads are typically larger to compensate for the wide-open visibility, and often incorporate geese to lend credibility and apparent security to the setup.
Motion Decoys
If floating and field decoys are the body of your spread, motion decoys provide that evidence of life that can be lacking on calm, windless days.
Common types include:
- Jerk string rigs, a budget-friendly manual option to animate floating decoys.
- Spinning-wing decoys that simulate wingbeats.
- Swimmers that create ripples and simulate paddling ducks.
- Flappers or pulsators that mimic natural movement in place.
Motion decoys can be powered by batteries, wind, or a pull cord.
Species Selection: Matching Your Decoys to the Birds
Choosing the right species of decoy can be critical, though it depends. Ideally, you want your spread to reflect what the birds in your area expect and want to see. Realism is what you want to go for. If you’re in a region dominated by puddle ducks, your decoy selection should reflect that fact.
Here’s a starting point:
- Mallard decoys are the most versatile. Since mallards are bigger, abundant, and social, other ducks like teal, gadwalls, and pintails are comfortable landing near them.
- Teal, gadwall, and pintail decoys can be added to increase realism and match local migration patterns.
- Diver duck decoys (like scaup or canvasbacks) are useful if you hunt big, open water where divers tend to land.
- Canada goose decoys aren’t just for goose hunting. Ducks often associate geese with safety and will land near them, especially in field hunts.
Our recommendation is to start with a core group of mallards, and build out from there based on what you see in your area. Observation is your best guide—hunt the birds that are already present, and make your spread look attractive to those birds.
How Many Decoys Should You Use?
The number of decoys you need depends on your location, the species you're targeting, and how much gear you’re willing (or able) to carry. Contrary to what you might see on TV or social media, you don’t need dozens of decoys to start. For many of us that’s the goal, but you don’t need to start that way to have successful hunts.
For beginners or small-water setups, such as ponds, sloughs, or flooded timber, a spread of 12 to 24 decoys is often enough. This could include:
- 1 to 2 dozen mallards
- A few teal or gadwall for variety
- One motion decoy to add realism
Larger water bodies or field hunts might call for 3 to 4 dozen decoys to create visual appeal from greater distances. Goose decoys can also help bulk up your field spread.
The key is to focus more on quality and placement than sheer quantity, though there are certainly merits to quantity. One dozen strategically placed, realistic decoys in the right spot might outperform five dozen scattered at random.
The Power of Motion: Bring Your Spread to Life
Ducks and geese are drawn to realistic decoys that signify safety through apparent life and activity. That’s where motion decoys come in, and they can be the X-factor that seals the deal.
Why motion works:
- Ducks are naturally cautious and highly observant. Windless days can result in motionless decoys that may strike a suspicious duck as unnatural (and therefore unsafe).
- Movement simulates normal duck activities: feeding, swimming, or stretching behavior. These are signals that a spot is safe.
Options to add motion:
- Spinning-wing decoys
- Swimmers and splashers
- Jerk strings
- Wind-powered decoys
Keep in mind: as the season progresses and birds get wise, you might want to experiment with different placements. Sometimes you really have to work to outsmart those mallards.
Spread Setup: Placement Strategies That Work
Creating an effective spread is how you lay out a welcome mat for ducks. You want to guide them to land in the perfect shooting lane, while still making your setup look natural and safe. The best setups take realism, your desired kill zone, and wind direction into account.
No matter how many decoys you’re using, remember these goals:
- Provide a clear landing zone
- Mimic natural duck behavior
- Adjust based on wind and visibility
U-Shape, J-Hook, and X-Patterns
These classic decoy arrangements are time-tested. They give a clear structure to your spread and make birds commit where you want them to.
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U-Shape:
- Decoys form a U-shape with the open side facing downwind.
- Ducks naturally land into the wind and prefer to feel safe, so they are naturally drawn into the middle of the U.
- Great for ponds, open water, or big-water field setups.
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J-Hook:
- One side of the U is longer, creating a “tail” or “hook.”
- Best when wind is at an angle or shifting.
- The hook can help guide birds into the spread at a diagonal.
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X-Pattern:
- Decoys are set in an X.
- Can work well for field hunts.
- Place hunters in the center cross or just downwind.
Each pattern offers flexibility based on your shooting position, cover, and wind. Always leave a landing pocket—an open area in the decoys where birds feel safe touching down.
Wind and Weather Adjustments
Wind is your best friend in decoy placement, but it can also shift unpredictably. Ducks prefer to land into the wind, so your spread and blind setup should always take that into account.
Here’s how to adjust:
- Steady wind: Stick with a U or J-Hook, with the open side pointing downwind.
- No wind: Use motion decoys or jerk strings to create movement.
- Shifting wind: Opt for more flexible patterns like the X-pattern.
The goal in any condition is to guide the birds into a clear, kill-zone landing pocket while making your spread appear as lifelike and inviting as possible.
Budget-Friendly Ways to Build Your Spread
Getting into waterfowl hunting doesn’t have to drain your wallet. While decoys and gear can add up over time, there are smart, cost-effective ways to build a reliable spread without breaking your budget.
Start Small and Expand Over Time
Don’t feel pressured to buy dozens and dozens of decoys right away. Begin with 12–24 mallard floaters—these are the most versatile decoys and work in a wide variety of setups. Each season, add a few new decoys based on what species you're seeing and where you're hunting.
Mix Decoy Types for Savings
Combine a few full-body or floater decoys with silhouette or windsock decoys to bulk up your spread affordably. These lighter options are cheaper, easier to transport, and still effective, especially when mixed into a dynamic layout.
Take Advantage of Sales
Watch for off-season deals, clearance sales, or pre-season promotions from trusted brands. Bundles and multi-decoy packs may bring the per-decoy price down significantly.
Storage & Transport: Keeping Your Decoys Hunt-Ready
Your decoy spread is an investment—and like any good tool, proper care will keep it working season after season.
Transportation Tips:
- Mesh decoy bags are great for quick drying and hauling floaters into the marsh or boat.
- Slotted bags offer protection for decoys with detailed paint jobs.
- For longer hauls or public land hikes, a sled or game cart can save your back when moving gear.
Storage Best Practices:
- Always clean and dry decoys before storage.
- Stack or hang decoys in a dry, cool space. Garage rafters, utility shelves, or sealed totes work well.
- For painted heads, avoid decoys rubbing against each other to preserve realism and reduce fading.
Taking a little time to maintain your gear ensures your spread stays sharp and lifelike for seasons to come.
Final Thoughts: Build Smart, Hunt Hard
Mastering the decoy spread is a journey, not a one-and-done task. Whether you're on your first hunt or your fifty-first, the fundamentals remain the same: understand duck behavior, mimic what looks natural, and adapt to your environment.
Start with a versatile, manageable spread. Learn how different species respond. Watch how weather changes bird behavior. Then tweak your setup, season after season. You'll not only become a better hunter and gain the kind of knowledge that can only be earned in the blind.
Waterfowl hunting is as much about tradition as it is success. With the right mindset, gear, and a little motion in your decoys, you’ll set yourself up for a season full of memories—and full straps.
Explore Cupped Decoys and Gear to Get Started
At Cupped, we design gear that works as hard as you do. From ultra-realistic floating mallards to motion decoys that bring your spread to life, our products are built to help hunters of all experience levels succeed in the field.