Decoy Spreads for Geese?

[Steelie28]

I am fairly new to waterfowl hunting, with just under two full seasons under my belt. I have had some success with the ducks, but a few of my buddies and I have not had such luck with geese. We have tried a few different spreads, but still have not had much luck. Those birds are smart, and I would think that a correct decoy spread would make a big difference. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks,

Steelie28

[Labsforme]

The most important thing in goose hunting is to be where the geese want to be,called the "X".Scouting and being in the right place at the right time help.Now be prepared to spend $ and time learning the set up,buying all the right decoys,calling,how not to move a muscle at the most inopportune(sp) times etc.I would suggest taking a trip with a top notch guide like Dave Smith and learn a lot.Last year I shot a lot of geese and still consider myself a novice.

[Steelie28]

We have a great spot to hunt down on the Luckiamutte River just south of Monmouth, there always seems to be birds flying around and feeding. We dug a nice pit blind this fall but the weather did not cooperate with us. Our blind is now under water as the river is almost at flood stage. We have about 3 1/2 dozen decoys, but need more. Those things are spendy!! I guess patience is a virtue...... Thanks for the info on the guide!

Steelie28

[Get Bit]

Steelie28,
Labs For Me is right on. There are two basic goose formations. One is to place Geese in small family groups and the other is to configure the dekes in a "U" or swoosh type formation. Either will work. Decoys come in many different types with full bodies being the cats meow. Any will work well at times. I think the hide(blind) and the calling are the next two things to look at. In the calling dept.: Learn to blow a short reed call. I'm partial to the Bill Saunders Guide Series calls. With the blind : Buy an eliminator or lay down in the field with some type of camo over you. I have had some success with the goose chairs but they are not as nice or as effective as the eliminators. Aside from these things, book a trip with Dave Smith and Brad Cochran for priceless info. And after you've done all of these things the geese will leave you baffled by totally ignoring you some days. Never think for minute that someone knows all. I will never feel like I have this goose thing dialed. Geese are just bizarre sometimes. When things do work, its the best waterfowl hunt you can have. Geese landing in your dekes 15 yds away... Yee Ha ! Good luck ! Maybe we can get together for a hunt sometime. Hope this helps.

Get Bit

[Cohodependent]

I have not hunted for Geese since I lived in Alaska, but what worked for me up there were lots and lots of decoys. I would mostly use ducks in a "U" shape with a couple of family type groups of Geese. Be sure to leave enough room for a good sized group to land in.

It's been over 20 years since I've hunted geese but Coho's advice worked for us in the Klamath Basin. Make sure you leave a down wind open area for them to land in.

[Bill Monroe]

Managed to get some interest the other day from a couple of flocks in a field with 205 dekes out, including 80 texas rags (yes, they work)...I've hunted them for 20 years, though, and still haven't figured it out...did just get a short-reed call to practice with and probably will invest in a Saunders next season for its resonance.

Steelhead28....Have floaters, will travel...or anyone else for that matter.

[Fishalot]

Like was said scouting is key, you can go out and watch the bird flight path and set up some where in the middle. Or you can push the first flock out and put the decoys where they were.

Fishalot

[tailchaser]

We killed a lot of honkers in KFalls and the best thing you can do is place the decoy's properly in the wind so the approach is easy for the birds. If they have to circle several times it can loose their attention and will eventually find another spot. I liked using the U pattern with some stragglers here and there in pairs of two or three work well. If you use the photographic decoys always place them close to your position as compared to the shells and full bodies. If they go over a large spread and all of a sudden they dissappear, they flare quickly.

tc

[bigshark]

S 28

I have a slightly different take on this question of yours. May I suggest you don't spend any money on gear until you have personally field tested it. My this I mean go with a guide and see what he uses, then go with another and then another. The money for guided trips will save you a lot more, many times over than going out and buying something you will throw away when you learn the ropes. I won't write a book here to try and explain why different things work better in different places and under different conditions. Let me simply say the variables are too numerous to try and cover. You will learn something new about these bird over and over year after year. The place to start is that birds get "conditioned" as the season goes on. Toward seasons end they will actually flare from a set that does not show some movement. They are not as dumb as most of us that pursue them. Your going to love hunting them as you learn more about them and appreciate what a good guide has to have between his ears to bring them into you.

If you are on water toss in a few ducks around the outside of your spread too.

[Tilla]

OK, now listen up. If you are going to hunt wary or picky geese especially on the westside here is the set up, and you need some acreage to play, here is how it's done. Ahem, make sure no one is listening. SHHHHH.
It's what I call stacking.
Picture 3 separate goose decoy groups. Good ,better, and best. This distinction can be done with quantity and/or quality.These groups are set up with the least attractive group the furthest downwind. Set the 3 groups about 50-150 yds apart. It is very important that they be at an angle to the wind anywhere between 15-45 degrees.
This is what may happen. The geese working into the wind approach the least attractive spread at 100 yds high and discover that this spead isn't for real. They will slide away and over looking at the next spread. This one they approach at 60 yds high and discover that it isn't what they want either and they spot the third group (your best) and slide away and over. This is where you are set up, somewhere downwind of the third group (not in the decoys). The birds are focused on the decoys, you are 25-50 yds or so downwind. The birds will drop in elevation again between groups of decoys. They may be between 30-50 yds high at this point. Ta-Dah!
Works well in grass fields. You can put a ditch between the 2nd and 3 rd groups to hide in.
Now just don't tell anyone!

[Steelie28]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. Tilla, we do have lots of acreage to play with, so next time out I'll give your secret method a try. Ifish is truely a great place to be!!

Steelie28

[Gun Rod Bow]

Can't help it, have to chime in.

Labs4me gave the best advice in this strand. I goose hunt about 25-30 days a season. I scout the day before just about every time.

Days that you don't kill em, you question decoys, calls, blinds. The days when you kill em, you think your the best hunter in the world. Just Like real estate.....Location, location, location.

I've hunted the same basic region for 7 years. Year in year out birds will TEND to pattern on certain fields. They change what they feed on as weather changes.... surface water, cold...and as the season progresses.

I've never dug a pit in my life. I have final approach blinds and use them very little. When I scout, I try to do it in the morning, that's when you'll hunt right? Don't just look for birds, look for birds you can kill. Some that are using a field with a little ditch, fence row, stand pipes etc... Something that doesn't look like it would hide a hunter, but just barely will.

Guys that build big blinds, or for that matter dig pits can't move with the birds. I seldom hunt the same field more than 2-3 times per season.

PS. I use about 40 bigfoots, painted to match Taveners, and about 4 dz shells. Sometimes I wish I had more, sometimes I set out 5 decoys. Keep different decoys segregated, you know, like Trent Lott would do. :shocked: (Just Kidding!) Silloettes are best in a high wind where birds wont circle. Geese in the valley usually like to circle.

The U or swoosh is fine, usually geese feeding through a field form a "feed line" about 6 geese deep and crecent or swoosh shaped. I like to spread them in the flat U mostly because if the geese are approaching from down wind, they see them better. I really don't think a pattern is that important. The geese you see in fields don't look to me like they spell out any letters.

If you have 10mph wind or better, set the dekes way up wind. In a good stiff wind I set them 80-100yds up wind. I like to let them make their turn just up wind of me. The geese will be up wind of me when I take em, and they'll flare back over you for 2nd and 3rd shot.

Do alot of scouting and you'll find out that geese aren't near as smart as an old greenhead, (in my not so humble opinion)

Good Luck!!

Get a thermos of cofee, and scout in the mornings!

GRB

[skein]

Good thread, you guys, I'm learning lots, and really appreciate your sharing. GRB hit it right on the head: Days that you don't kill em, you question decoys, calls, blinds. The days when you kill em, you think your the best hunter in the world

Can you believe how lucky we are to live in an area where there are thousands and thousands of geese? And how lucky we are that the old (figure of speech) masters are willing to share their hard-learned secrets. Bravo - and thanks. [img]graemlins/applause.gif[/img]

I'll be out at daybreak, scouting. I have an idea where a guy might set up an ambush....

Skein

[fishsauk]

If you hunt the fields we have done the best with stuffers, you cant beat the real thing, but we have modified them to a single post so they rotate with the wind(it's illegal to use motorized deeks in WA). I have found that you don't need as big of spreas with the stuffers but you need a bigger pocketbook

[TyeeTom]

Goose help needed. What kind of decoys and set-ups work best for Taverners and Cacklers. I haven't found it yet. I'm seeing lots o' geese but having trouble getting them down.
Any help would be appreciated.

[Tilla]

G,R,B,
That is good advise with regards to distance from decoys. When you have educated birds it's poison to be in your dekes. It's the first place they look for a trap! :shocked:
They know what real birds look like, sure you get a few to land, but sometimes you'll wait all day (or more) for that.