[goosehunter2118]

I just started goose hunting last year with my friends and this year I want to have my own decoys for this upcoming season, but I am not sure what type of decoys to get, full bodies, shells, ect. I have heard that the full bodies are the best thing out there, but they do not work as well when snow is on the ground. I hunt in all the goose seasons here in PA and alot of times there is snow on the ground in the late season. My question is if you were starting out what type of decoys would you get and how many decoys would you get? Thanks for the info.

 

[poolarbear]

Without a doubt, full bodies are most effective. With snow on the ground, just leave the feet off a few and set the bodies directly on the ground. How many is another issue. In a large flyway with big flocks being the rule, larger spreads are needed. You may want to try a couple dozen FB's, and a few dozen good sillouettes to fill your spread. Flags will help, too.

 

[goosehunter2118]

Another question I have is how many decoys to use in the early season and late season? Last year in January we had three people out in the field with two dozen shell decoys and we called down two flocks of six. We saw flocks that were huge, but they would go right past us. I thought we needed more decoys. I have heard that you can use a dozen full bodies in the early season and do great. Thanks again for the info.

 

[poolarbear]

Actually, the smaller flocks are what you really want. There are lots of very sharp and wise eyeballs in those huge flocks, and you don't want to educate all those birds to your spread to shoot only 5 or 6 geese. We use basically the same number through the season and we have a split season, first part from the last week in October to mid-November, and the second from right after Christmas to the middle of January. We use a mix of shells (Super Mags) ,full bodies, and lots of silos. In warmer weather, we spread'em out a little more, colder, we bunch'em together a little closer. Shoot me a PM if you'd like to know how we set up,I've never seen anybody else using our setup, but we limit out when everybody around us isn't getting a second look.

 

[rexsdu]

Probally the best thing out the is the higdon stackable full body the geese cant tell the difference from over head and with a little wind they dance around. and it wont hurt your pocket book quit as bad

Good hunting
Let there toes drag then you cut em :wink:

 

[jim mcclenahan]

I would suggest 3 doz full bodies and 2 doz shells to start. That will get you off to a good start and don't forget about some wood silos that you can make yourself. JIM

 

[zx2dxz]

I think that u should go for the fullbodies, personally id go with BigFoots D) that cuz ive heard of ppl using them since they came out and still look brand new (PS everyone reading this dont be like 'ohhhh GHG'). Spend the money now on fullbodies whichever ones tickles ur fancy. All fullbodies work the same (cept carry-lites, they'll piss u off when the rubber body doesnt pop out and the heads dont come off and there are stakes involved). As for the comment about snow, we use them the same way without snow just bunch them up a little better. Geese arent as picky when it comes to snow for the simple fact that they are in the air and take more time looking for danger around the spread then in the spread. Remember during winter the more time in the air, the more energy burned. They arent gonna take as much time to look, they either like it or they leave. Again remember geese have to eat and to stay alive.

just MY .02 cents. I DONT want any GHG vs BF bashing here

lata, 2d

 

[d wiz]

The first question is how much do want to (or willing to) spend? If you're willing to throw out some change, go with the fullbodies.

If you are just looking for something to get you started, shells aren't a bad choice. Set them on stakes (not T stakes) and you get them off the ground as well as add motion. If you're looking to jump in head first, fullbodies mixed with silos as fillers can be a deadly combination.

 

[huntforfood]

If i were you i would get silowets they are cheap work well and easy to carry. i would get anywhere from 2 to 4 dozen, i guess early in the season a little amount of decoys will work ok but when the season goes on and the geese have been shot at. It helps to coax them down with more decoys they feel safer in numbers

 

[Drew Willemsen]

get as many F/B as you can.....