Goose Decoy Spreads
When it comes to goose hunting there are some adages that last a lifetime. The first and foremost concern is being in the right field when it comes time for the geese to be flying. If you are in the wrong field I don't care if you have the top of the line calls and decoys you are going to be struggling to get birds in range. Concealment is another key issue when hunting any animal. If they see you before you have a good shot you are sunk. Ensuring your camoflauge is up to snuff is imperative. If you have both of those things covered and you are in a good spot with sufficient concealment then it is time to worry about the subject of this article, goose decoy spreads!
Let's break down what we are trying to accomplish with a goose decoy spread. We are trying to convince the geese that the area is natural and bunch of their buddies are already there pigging out. Therefore realism is very important when we are talking spreads. In addition, have a pattern that is conducive to getting the birds to finish in a given area that is close to your layout blinds is very important also. Quality shots, afterall, are the hallmark of successful goose hunters across the nation. The final thing to consider is economics, as in yours. If you can't afford to be out hunting because you spent too much on your spread than that is completely counterproductive. Find ways to skimp where you can and still shoot a pile of birds is the idea here.
Goose decoys spreads and realism - putting it together
When it comes to hunting geese you need to make them feel at home. I don't care if you are hunting snow geese, canada geese or specklebelly geese you are going to need to convey this message. In fact, when it comes time to hunt those white fronted geese you had better play close attention to your specklebelly goose decoys! These birds are notorious for their scrutiny of goose spreads. You want your decoys to be high quality. You want as many of your best decoys nearest the blind as possible to ensure when they get really close they will finish. And on top of that, you want a bunch of decoys to calm their nerves that there is any trouble. Stiking out for realism is important to any type of goose hunting.
Goose Decoy Spreads - Finding A Great Pattern
I think that patterns are somewhat over rated in goose hunting. That being said, you need to have a way to funnel geese as close to your blinds as possible. In this way perhaps it can't be stressed enough. When it comes to spring light goose hunting the bigger the spread the better. Just remember to keep those snow goose decoys with an "X" or a "V" which will funnel the birds as close to your blinds as possible. Generally one very large line of decoys can be spread out even as far as a couple hundred yards. The geese like to see a bunch of white in the fields and therefore the sign that there is a safe and ideal location for them to be. Getting them to commit to a location that is in good shotgun range is the idea.
Goose Decoy Spreads - How Not To Break The Bank
Let's face it, goose decoys are expensive. And there seems to be an insatiable need to keep accumulating them. And truth be told, usually more is better in this game. However, there has to be some cash limitations to just about every hunter, no matter how well heeled. The idea here is to buy less expensive decoys and add them to areas where the geese look the least. Think far away places. Flambeau goose decoys are a great example of this. Generally these are less expensive than their full body cousins and look ok, but not fantastic. Simply put them at the outskirts of your spread to keep the size looking impressive, but saving some cash in the process.
So there you have it, a 3 step approach to building a great goose decoy spread and finding your game bag ever expanding.
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