Setting Up for the ShootOut
Once you find some birds working a field, make note of the exact location in the field where the ducks are landing. Setting up on the spot where the ducks were last feeding will make fooling approaching ducks much easier.

Generally, setting up near the middle of the field is best or on the far upwind end of the field. Ducks that have played the game will shy away from trees, ditches or clumps of weeds that can hide predators and hunters. The new lay-down blinds make hiding easier than ever, and if you take the time to cover yourself with some natural cover, you can become nearly invisible.

Before you can hunt, though, you need to get permission. Use the plat book or a rural municipality map to identify the landowner; then, start knocking on doors. It's a thankless job but a necessary one. Often, landowners are far removed from the actual property, and you may need to do some phone work to make contact with the right person.

Don't take rejection to hunt private property personally. However, once you gain permission to hunt private land, cultivate and cherish the relationship. Offer the farmer some of your bag; send a nice Christmas card with a token of your appreciation; or just tell them how much you appreciate the opportunity to hunt. Just about any show of appreciation will go a long way toward being invited back. Leave the field in at least as good a shape as you found it. Pick up your empty shells, don't leave ruts in the field, and pick up any other trash you might come across.

Decoying the Ducks
You don't really need duck decoys to hunt ducks in fields. Goose decoys work almost as well. Goose decoys are big and highly visible, and ducks frequently feed where geese are feeding. However, adding some of the new field-duck decoys that are on the market can be the coup de grâce for attracting ducks into shotgun range.

Realizing the need and demand for quality field decoys, several manufacturers now make very lifelike field-duck decoys that look and move just like the real thing. Green Head Gear (www.greenheadgear.com) makes a line of full-bodied duck decoys that feature unparalleled realism. The decoys feature ultra-realistic paint jobs, sleeper, resting and active heads and motion stakes that make them look alive. GHG also makes shell-type duck decoys that utilize a universal motion stake for added movement. For more information on GHG products, give the company a call at (800) 333-5119.

Flambeau Outdoors has been a decoy manufacturer for years and has answered the call for field-duck decoys by adding The Enticer full-bodied field decoy to its line. The Enticer features a unique one-piece design that makes it ideal for use in the field. Flambeau also offers a Pontoon Perimeter mallard decoy that can be used in the fields or on water. It has a removable head so it can be easily stacked for transport. And Flambeau's Master Series Extreme Mallard Shell is the largest field-shell duck decoy on the market. Its one-piece design results in a durable, highly realistic decoy. For more details on Flambeau's line of field-duck decoys, contact the company at its Web site -- -- or give 'em a call at (800) 232-3474.

G&H Decoys' American-made decoys have been a leader in the industry for decades. The company's mallard shells set the standard for field decoys. G&H's over-sized mallard shell decoys are durable, with lifelike paint schemes, and feature removable heads that come in Sassy Suzie greeter, rester, feeder and preener positions. A stackable shell construction makes it easy for hunters to carry several dozen into the field. For more information on G&H Decoys' full line of decoys, visit the company online at www.ghdecoys.com, or call (800) 443-3269 for more information.

Spreading the Decoys
Ducks are drawn to field-goose decoys, but the sight of a few of their brethren on the ground usually seals the deal. Combining goose and duck decoys offers the best of both worlds. My typical field setup involves setting the goose spread in a wide U-shape, with the open end downwind.

Ideally, place the most lifelike decoys, like full bodies, at the far downwind end of the spread. The bulk of the decoys are placed at the upwind end of the spread, and the decoys gradually thin out along the arms of the "U."

It's a good idea to leave small openings along the arms where birds can land. We often clump the decoys here in small family groups of five to 10 decoys. The blinds can be positioned along the arms of the "U" and at the very upwind end of the spread.