Burley Outdoors | October 30, 2026

There’s something almost ridiculous about how much equipment we accumulate as waterfowl hunters.

It starts innocently enough.

A couple dozen decoys. A blind bag. A pair of waders. Maybe a duck call or two.

Then, before you know it, you’ve got an entire trailer dedicated to waterfowl hunting, enough decoys to populate a small wildlife refuge, multiple blinds, motion systems, batteries, sleds, and approximately 47 different ways to haul everything into the field.

And somehow, even with all that equipment, we still find ourselves saying, “Man, I wish we had brought that other thing.”

I’m as guilty of this as anybody.

Over the last several years, Danielle and I have put a tremendous amount of time and money into building our waterfowl setup. We’ve invested in better decoys, upgraded our blinds, improved our trailer organization, and experimented with just about every kind of motion system we can get our hands on.

And I don’t regret any of it.

Our Dave Smith Decoys have been phenomenal this season. Having the ability to build large, realistic goose spreads has opened up opportunities we wouldn’t otherwise have.

But lately, I’ve found myself getting excited about something completely different.

Walking into a hunt with a dozen decoys, a sled, my shotgun, and Ember.

That’s it.

No trailer full of equipment.

No hour-long setup.

No giant spread that takes forever to pick up.

Just a simple hunt in a small location that most people would probably drive right past.

And I’m beginning to wonder whether those little hunts might be some of the most valuable opportunities we have left this season.

Somewhere Along the Way, We Started Believing Bigger Was Better

It’s easy to understand how waterfowl hunters develop an obsession with equipment.

More decoys can create visibility.

Better blinds can improve concealment.

Motion systems can help attract birds.

Larger trailers allow us to carry more gear.

And when everything comes together, a well-built setup can be incredibly effective.

But there’s a downside that doesn’t get talked about nearly enough.

The more equipment we own, the more complicated our hunts can become.

Suddenly, choosing a hunting location isn’t just about where the birds want to be.

It’s about whether we can get the trailer close enough.

Whether there’s enough room for the spread.

Whether we can transport all the equipment.

Whether we have enough people to help.

And whether the amount of work required is actually worth the opportunity.

I’ve caught myself thinking about a promising little hunting spot and immediately trying to figure out how to fit a normal-sized spread into it.

But what if that’s the wrong question?

What if the better question is:

How little equipment do I need to hunt this spot effectively?

That’s a completely different way of approaching waterfowl hunting.

And it’s one I want to explore more.

The Spots Nobody Wants to Work For

Think about the places you regularly pass while scouting.

A small backwater pocket tucked behind a tree line.

A narrow channel with just enough open water for a handful of ducks.

A shallow corner of a marsh that requires a decent walk.

A little feeding area along the edge of a field.

Or a small loafing location that holds a few birds but never seems to attract a massive flock.

These aren’t necessarily the places that make hunters slam on the brakes and start calling landowners.

They’re easy to overlook.

Especially when we’re conditioned to look for large concentrations of birds.

But I think that’s exactly why some of them can be valuable.

A small group of ducks using a secluded pocket might be far more huntable than several hundred birds sitting on a heavily pressured public roost.

A few geese consistently feeding along an isolated edge might present a better opportunity than a large flock using a field with absolutely nowhere to hide.

And a narrow waterway with a natural landing pocket might be perfect for a dozen decoys.

We don’t always need hundreds of birds to have a successful hunt.

Sometimes we just need the right birds in the right location.

Scouting small locations requires a different mindset

When I’m looking for a traditional field hunt, I’m often trying to identify larger concentrations of geese, consistent feeding patterns, and locations where we can realistically build a spread.

But when I’m looking for a walk-in hunt, the priorities change.

I want to know whether birds are using the spot naturally.

How they’re entering and leaving.

Whether there’s enough room to land.

What kind of concealment is available.

And whether I can reach the location without disturbing every bird in the area.

That last part is especially important.

Some small pockets look perfect until you realize the only way to reach them involves walking directly through the birds’ preferred resting area.

That’s not necessarily a hunt worth making.

But when the access, concealment, and bird movement line up, those little locations can become extremely interesting.

A Dozen Good Decoys Can Tell a Pretty Convincing Story

One of the biggest advantages of our current decoy collection is that we can build believable spreads without needing huge numbers.

We’ve invested in DSD full bodies because we value realism.

And while those decoys look fantastic in a larger spread, I’m equally interested in what they can accomplish in smaller groups.

For example, imagine a small group of Canada geese using a quiet corner of a harvested field.

Do we really need five dozen full bodies to hunt them?

Maybe.

But maybe not.

What if we positioned a dozen realistic decoys exactly where those birds already wanted to be?

A handful of feeders.

A few relaxed birds.

An upright or two.

Enough variation to look natural without creating an enormous footprint.

If the location is right and the hide is good, that might be all we need.

The same concept applies to ducks.

A dozen floaters in a small backwater opening can create a believable group of birds without completely covering the available water.

In fact, putting too many decoys into a confined area can sometimes make the setup less attractive.

We can accidentally eliminate the landing hole or make the water look unnaturally crowded.

A smaller spread gives us room to work.

And it forces us to think carefully about where every decoy belongs.

Match the spread to the location

This is where I think hunters can gain a real advantage.

Instead of deciding how many decoys we’re going to use before we reach the spot, let the location dictate the spread.

If we’re hunting a tiny marsh pocket, maybe six to twelve decoys make sense.

If we’re hunting a wider channel, perhaps two dozen would create better visibility.

If we’re hunting an open field where birds need to notice the spread from a considerable distance, we might need more.

There isn’t one correct number.

But there is a correct mindset.

Use enough decoys to accomplish the job. Not simply as many as you can carry.

And if birds are already using the exact location, we may not need much convincing in the first place.

The Real Advantage Isn’t Fewer Decoys. It’s Mobility.

This might be the most important part of the entire discussion.

A small spread gives us options.

If the wind changes, we can move.

If birds are consistently finishing on the wrong side, we can adjust.

If we discover a better pocket 100 yards away, relocating doesn’t require a complete logistical operation.

And if the hunt isn’t working, packing up doesn’t take an hour.

That flexibility becomes increasingly valuable as we move deeper into the season.

By late October, plenty of local birds have already experienced significant hunting pressure.

They’ve seen decoys.

They’ve heard calling.

They’ve encountered hunters in familiar locations.

And while that doesn’t mean they’re impossible to hunt, it can make them less predictable.

A mobile hunter can adapt.

Instead of trying to force birds into one carefully prepared location, we can respond to what we’re actually seeing.

Sometimes that means making a small adjustment.

Sometimes it means picking up and moving to another spot.

And sometimes it means realizing that the location isn’t worth hunting today.

The point is that we aren’t committed to an enormous setup.

We’re free to make decisions based on the birds.

Not based on how much equipment we’ve already unloaded.

The Walk-In System We’ve Been Building

One of the projects I’ve spent time on during our waterfowl season is organizing our equipment around different types of hunts.

Instead of treating every outing like a full-scale production, I’ve been working toward having separate setups for different situations.

A walk-in bag for minimal hunts.

A smaller sled for quick trips.

A medium sled when we need additional decoys or equipment.

And larger hauling options for the hunts that genuinely require them.

It sounds simple.

But I think having these systems ready to go makes a huge difference.

When I find a promising little spot, I don’t want to spend the next hour digging through the trailer trying to assemble the right equipment.

I want to grab the appropriate setup and go.

What belongs in a practical walk-in kit?

For a short, manageable hunt, I’d prioritize the essentials.

Decoys: Enough to create a believable spread for the location. For a small duck pocket, that might be six to twelve floaters. For a goose hunt, a compact group of full bodies could be plenty.

Concealment: Clothing and lightweight materials that match the habitat, with a low-profile blind if needed.

Calls: A small selection suited to the birds we’re targeting, rather than every call we own.

Retrieval equipment: Appropriate gear for the water and terrain, plus a safe recovery plan.

Dog equipment: Ember’s vest when conditions warrant it, a lead, water, and the other essentials needed to keep her comfortable and safe.

Safety gear: Required licenses and stamps, approved nontoxic ammunition, first-aid supplies, a headlamp, communication equipment, and a life jacket when we’re using a boat or conditions call for one.

A hauling system: Something that allows us to transport everything in one manageable trip.

The goal isn’t to eliminate necessary equipment.

It’s to eliminate unnecessary equipment.

And that’s an important distinction.

A minimalist hunt should still be a safe, responsible hunt.

One Trip In. One Trip Out.

This is something I’ve become increasingly interested in.

Efficiency.

How much time do we spend preparing for a hunt compared to actually hunting?

How much energy do we burn carrying equipment?

How often do we find ourselves making multiple trips because we brought more gear than we could reasonably transport?

And how much of that equipment do we actually use?

I’ve spent plenty of mornings dragging sleds, hauling blinds, carrying decoy bags, and wondering whether all that effort was necessary.

Sometimes it absolutely is.

If we’re building a large field spread for a major goose hunt, there’s going to be work involved.

That’s part of the deal.

But if I’m hunting a little backwater pocket by myself, I don’t want to turn it into a major production.

I want a setup I can realistically handle without help.

That means everything needs a purpose.

The decoys need to fit.

The blind needs to be manageable.

The equipment needs to stay organized.

And the entire system needs to be practical for the terrain.

A small sled can be fantastic on firm ground or shallow, manageable approaches.

But if we’re dealing with deep mud, heavy vegetation, steep banks, or long stretches of water, we need to evaluate whether that same system is appropriate.

Mobility doesn’t mean ignoring the conditions.

It means choosing equipment that fits them.

And knowing when a location isn’t safe or practical to access alone.

Why Solo Hunting Is Different

There’s something about hunting alone that changes the entire experience.

When we’re hunting with a group, there’s usually a lot going on.

Everybody has a job.

Somebody is brushing blinds.

Somebody is setting decoys.

Somebody is checking the wind.

Somebody is calling.

And naturally, there’s plenty of conversation.

That’s one of the things I love about waterfowl hunting.

Sharing those mornings with Danielle, friends, and family is a huge part of why we do this.

But solo hunting offers something different.

There’s nobody else to make the decisions.

Nobody to blame when the setup is wrong.

Nobody to tell you when the birds are approaching from behind.

And nobody to help you drag everything out when the morning is over.

It’s all on you.

That can be frustrating.

But it’s also an incredible learning opportunity.

Every decision becomes yours

When I’m hunting alone, I have to think through the entire setup.

Where should I hide?

How many decoys do I need?

Where should the landing pocket be?

Should I call aggressively or let the birds work?

Is the wind going to create problems?

Can I safely retrieve birds from this location?

Those decisions can’t be passed off to somebody else.

And when something doesn’t work, I have to figure out why.

That’s valuable.

Especially after spending so much of this season thinking about scouting patterns, concealment, and mid-hunt adjustments.

A solo hunt forces us to apply those lessons.

Not just talk about them.

And Then There’s Ember

Of course, when I say solo hunting, that’s not entirely accurate.

Because most of the time, I’ve got a golden retriever sitting beside me.

And honestly, that’s one of my favorite parts.

Ember has made incredible progress this season.

We’ve already talked about her transformation from a hesitant young dog into a retriever that’s developing some serious confidence around geese.

She’s tackled difficult retrieves, worked through challenging situations, and continued proving that she’s becoming a legitimate hunting partner.

But smaller hunts offer something else.

More focused experience.

When we’re hunting with several people and a large spread, there’s a lot happening.

Multiple guns.

Multiple birds.

Different shooting angles.

A lot of excitement.

And sometimes several retrieves in quick succession.

Those experiences are valuable.

But so are the quiet hunts.

The mornings when it’s just me and Ember sitting along a marsh edge.

Watching a few ducks work.

Waiting for the right opportunity.

And letting her focus on one retrieve at a time.

Small hunts can be excellent training opportunities

A manageable solo hunt can give a young retriever the opportunity to practice skills that are easy to overlook during a busy group hunt.

Steadiness.

Marking.

Waiting for the release.

Working through cover.

Returning directly to the handler.

And settling back down after a retrieve.

But it’s important to keep the difficulty appropriate.

If we’re hunting deep water, heavy current, unstable ice, or a location where wounded birds could become difficult to recover, that isn’t necessarily a good place to push a young dog.

I want Ember to gain confidence.

Not learn bad habits or get herself into trouble.

And I want to be able to help her when she needs it.

That’s part of why choosing the right small hunting location matters so much.

The best opportunity isn’t always the place holding the most birds.

Sometimes it’s the place where we can hunt effectively and safely while continuing to develop a young dog.

Don’t Mistake Small Hunts for Easy Hunts

Here’s something I want to make clear.

Hunting with fewer decoys doesn’t automatically make a hunt easier.

In some situations, it actually requires more precision.

When we have a large spread, we may be able to attract birds from a greater distance.

We have more visibility.

More movement.

More opportunities to create an obvious concentration of birds.

A small spread doesn’t necessarily offer those advantages.

That’s why location becomes even more important.

If we’re only putting out a dozen decoys, I want to be confident that birds are already using the area or naturally traveling close enough to notice them.

I don’t want to rely on a tiny spread to pull geese across an entire section of farmland.

And I don’t want to put six duck decoys into a marsh that birds haven’t used in weeks and expect miracles.

The scouting still matters.

The wind still matters.

Concealment still matters.

And we still need to understand how the birds are behaving.

The difference is that we’re trying to eliminate unnecessary equipment.

Not eliminate the preparation required to hunt successfully.

A Few Small-Spread Adjustments Worth Trying

One of the things I’m excited to experiment with is how differently birds respond to compact spreads in different situations.

Here are a few setups I’d consider.

The six-decoy duck pocket

For a narrow backwater opening where ducks are already landing, six well-placed floaters might be enough.

I’d leave a clear landing pocket and avoid crowding the available water.

If the birds are using the location naturally, I may not need a spinner at all.

A little movement from wind or a jerk rig could be sufficient.

The key is making the spot look like a few ducks are comfortably using it.

The dozen-decoy marsh setup

If we’re hunting a slightly larger opening, a dozen duck decoys gives us more flexibility.

We can create two small groups.

Leave an obvious landing area.

And position the decoys to encourage birds to approach from a favorable direction.

Depending on the surrounding vegetation, a spinning-wing decoy might help with visibility.

But I’d want the ability to turn it off if birds begin showing hesitation.

The small goose feeding group

For a compact field hunt, I’d be interested in using a dozen realistic full-body geese.

Mostly feeders.

A few upright or relaxed birds.

Natural spacing.

And a landing pocket that makes sense for the wind.

This is where I think our DSD spread could really shine.

If we’re in the right location, a small group of realistic decoys might create exactly the picture we need.

The mixed duck-and-goose opportunity

Some of the most interesting small hunts might involve locations used by both ducks and geese.

A handful of goose floaters.

A small group of duck decoys.

Enough separation to create natural-looking groups.

And a hide that allows us to take advantage of whichever birds show up.

Of course, this only makes sense if both species are actually using that type of habitat.

I wouldn’t automatically mix species simply because I have the decoys available.

But when the location supports it, a small mixed spread could be an excellent option.

Pressured Birds Don’t Always Need a Bigger Production

One thing I keep coming back to this season is how much hunting pressure can influence our decisions.

When birds are stale and heavily hunted, our instinct is often to try harder.

More decoys.

More calling.

More motion.

More elaborate setups.

And sometimes those adjustments absolutely help.

But I think there’s another approach worth considering.

What if we made the entire setup less noticeable?

Not invisible.

Just more natural.

A small group of decoys in a location birds already want to use.

Minimal calling.

Good concealment.

No unnecessary movement.

And no giant concentration of equipment surrounding the landing area.

I’m not saying pressured birds will automatically prefer small spreads.

That would be an oversimplification.

But I do think a small, believable setup can be an effective alternative when birds have become reluctant to finish over larger, more obvious spreads.

And at the very least, it gives us another option.

Something different to try.

Because that’s what becoming a better hunter is all about.

Learning to recognize when a different approach might be more effective.

The Tradeoff Nobody Talks About: More Hunting Opportunities

This might be the biggest advantage of simplifying our setups.

Time.

Not everybody has the ability to spend an entire day hunting.

Work happens.

Family responsibilities happen.

Schedules change.

And sometimes we only have a few hours available.

If every hunt requires loading a trailer, hauling several dozen decoys, brushing multiple blinds, and spending an hour picking everything up afterward, those short windows become difficult to justify.

But what if the entire setup fits in one sled?

What if we can get everything ready quickly?

What if we can hunt a small location close to home and still make it back in time for the rest of the day?

Suddenly, those shorter hunting opportunities become much more realistic.

And I think that’s especially valuable for hunters trying to balance work, family, and time outdoors.

Danielle and I love the big hunts.

The mornings when everything comes together.

The group hunts with friends.

The big goose feeds.

The full spreads.

But those aren’t the only experiences worth having.

Sometimes a short hunt with a dozen decoys is exactly what we need.

And sometimes those little hunts produce memories that are every bit as meaningful as the big ones.

Know When to Leave the Trailer at Home

I’m not about to sell all my decoys and start hunting everything with six floaters.

Let’s not get carried away. 😂

There are still plenty of situations where a large spread is the right tool.

Open fields.

Big-water hunts.

Major feeding concentrations.

Locations where visibility and pulling power are critical.

Those situations may genuinely benefit from more equipment.

And that’s exactly why we’ve spent so much time building our setup.

But I don’t want to become so dependent on that equipment that I overlook opportunities requiring something simpler.

That’s the balance I’m trying to find.

Having enough gear to handle the big hunts.

But being organized enough to take advantage of the little ones.

And recognizing that the best setup isn’t necessarily the one with the most decoys.

It’s the one that fits the situation.

The Hunt Is Still the Hunt

At the end of the day, I think waterfowl hunting has a way of reminding us that equipment is only one part of the experience.

We can spend thousands of dollars building the perfect spread.

We can own the best blinds.

The best calls.

The best motion systems.

And every piece of equipment imaginable.

But none of that guarantees success.

We still have to find the birds.

Understand what they’re doing.

Choose the right location.

Hide effectively.

And make good decisions.

Sometimes all that equipment helps us accomplish those things.

And sometimes it just makes the process more complicated.

That’s why I’m excited about experimenting with smaller, more mobile hunts.

Not because I believe they’re automatically better.

But because they force us to focus on the fundamentals.

And because there’s something incredibly satisfying about knowing we can walk into a little marsh with a dozen decoys, set up efficiently, and create a legitimate hunting opportunity.

No massive spread.

No trailer full of equipment.

No unnecessary complications.

Just a good location, a handful of decoys, and a golden retriever waiting patiently for something to happen.

That’s a pretty damn good way to spend a morning.

Sometimes Less Really Is More

As we move toward November, I’m looking forward to continuing this experiment.

Finding smaller locations.

Paying attention to overlooked bird patterns.

Building compact spreads.

And figuring out how much we can accomplish without bringing half the trailer along.

Some of those hunts probably won’t work.

Some locations won’t hold birds.

Some setups will need adjustments.

And I’m sure there will be mornings when I wish I’d brought more decoys.

But that’s part of the learning process.

And I think the lessons will make us better hunters regardless of whether we’re running six decoys or six dozen.

Because ultimately, I don’t want to become a hunter who needs a massive setup to feel confident.

I want to become a hunter who can look at a situation, understand what the birds are doing, and choose the right equipment for the job.

Sometimes that’s a trailer full of DSDs.

Sometimes it’s a dozen floaters.

And sometimes it’s just me, Ember, and a little spot nobody else bothered to hunt.

The goal isn’t to hunt with less gear. The goal is to become good enough at reading birds that we know when we don’t need more.

And I have a feeling those small hunts are going to teach us a whole lot.

– Max & Danielle
Burley Outdoors

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