Summary: Here's the most important element of any duck decoy spread or pattern...
Like almost all other duck hunters, we too searched for that magical decoy spread that would assure us of limits of ducks every time we took the field. We were searching for "the pot of gold at the end of the decoy rainbow". But unfortunately what we found is that there was no "one size fits all" decoy spread.
Instead of continuing to look for the "Magical Duck Decoy Spread" we started to focus our attention on what were the common characteristics of successful decoy spreads or decoy patterns that we had used or had seen other successful duck hunters use. What we came up with was a set of keys or fundamentals that have allowed us to set up successful decoy spreads regardless of the area that we hunt.
What Is A Landing Zone?
A landing zone is an invitation. It's an invitation to those birds that are in the air to join the birds that are already on the ground or in the water. It's your "Come On In" sign.
There are three keys to creating successful landing zones. They are:
1. Your landing zone(s) should be an open area(s) in your decoy spread that is unobstructed and clear of other decoys. These landing zones or pockets should be placed in the area or areas that you want the ducks to land which is determine by your blind placement. You want your landing zone(s) positioned so it will provide you with easy clean kill shots. The X's in diagrams 1 and 2 show you the landing zones in each of the spreads.
2. Next, you need to determine how large should your landing zones or pockets be. You must make sure that the landing zone or decoy pocket is large enough to accommodate the size of flocks you'll be working. As a rule of thumb, it's better to have a landing zone(s) that is a little on the large size rather than one that is too small. You will notice that in diagram 1 we have a large landing zone, which is what we'd use if we were trying to decoy large groups of ducks. Diagram 2, on the other hand, has a number of small landing zones. The landing zones in diagram 2 are examples of what we'd use if we were decoying small groups or singles or pairs.
Diagram 1.
Diagram 2.
3. Finally, regardless of the decoy pattern you choose to use, make sure that your landing zone(s) resembles a C or a U. Doing so will insure that you have a proper landing zone and more importantly it will insure that you have a clear flight path for the incoming ducks. Once again, you'll see that although the decoy patterns are different in diagrams 1 and 2 they both have landing zones that resemble C's or U's. Notice that in both diagrams, the landing zones are clear of other decoys thereby reducing the chances of having the decoying ducks land behind your decoy spread.
Remember, it's not necessarily the decoy pattern that you use that will determine your success or failure, but rather it the proper use of using the keys to a successful decoy spread. Creating landing zones or pockets in your decoy pattern is, in our opinion, the first key you can take in setting up a successful spread.