[carpcatcher]

I think that I've seen something on this here before but I can't seem to find it. I'm new to the sport and trying to learn. The guy that I hunt with has some goose floaters and I am going to buy a few also. Is it OK to mix different brands of deks in the same spread? He bought cheaper ones a few years ago and I'm thinking of getting good ones so my son will have them in the future.
On another subject, when you set decoys out in moving water like a creek or river, if geese come in do they typically land down stream of them?

 

[DrakesOnly]

1) My decoy spreads look like the United Nations of Canada Geese and I like it that way.

2) There are various elements to consider but it's most often I set a floating goose spread slightly down stream from my hide.

 

[TEALHNTR]

Always and I mean ALWAYS the geese and ducks will approach into the wind. Place all of your decoys so that the birds will fly past your hide on approach. That should up your take at least 50%.

 

[carpcatcher]

Thanks for the input guys. This sure is addicting and expensive

 

[Strut10]

Just get your dekes out there.

First geese I ever killed were landing in a couple dozen silhouettes I had cut from plywood andd painted with 5 colors of Walmart 88 cents/can spray paint.

LOTS of times when I was running mostly Bigfoots, I'd throw shells, Feather Flex , plywood silhouettes, snow goose decoys and some field mallards in too. More stuff in my spread than vegetable soup. Haha !!

 

[Boatman]

I think that I've seen something on this here before but I can't seem to find it. I'm new to the sport and trying to learn. The guy that I hunt with has some goose floaters and I am going to buy a few also. Is it OK to mix different brands of deks in the same spread? He bought cheaper ones a few years ago and I'm thinking of getting good ones so my son will have them in the future.
On another subject, when you set decoys out in moving water like a creek or river, if geese come in do they typically land down stream of them?

The decoys should be close,if you have to paint the old ones to match the new somewhat.

When setting decoys you determine where the geese land by the way you set the decoys. You need to leave a pocket for them to land,and the way you set the decoys they are guided to that pocket. Or if yo u put them in small family groups so they have room to land between the family groups. If you put out a big wad you need to space them 5-6 feet apart so the have room to land in them or they will always land outside the spread out of range.

 

[dmccoy1]

I use a mix of everything you can think of, I guess like Strut, I don't think it matters at all.......

What does matter is how you set them, and where. The where can be important, as if they are used to using a spot, and are comfortable, that's where they are going, even if you have your decoys out, especially with ducks. If I see birds hitting a certain section of a body of water, even if it doesn't look right to me, that's where I would set up. I'm sure many like me have tried it with geese sometimes as well, see them feeding in a spot, try and guide them to a different spot with decoys, and they go right where they were. Geese you can get away with that sometimes, just dazzle them with decoys, but doesn't always work either.

 

[RacksnQuacks]

I agree with most on here. We use many different brands, sizes and some have slight color variations.

 

[UPJFowler]

I like to use a mix of decoys.. I think it adds to the realism.

 

[treehuggerjack]

A bunch of hand-me-downs, some store bought, some yard sale bought, and some from Craigs List.... We get shooting, so it must work....

 

[carpcatcher]

Thanks for all of your replies guys now I have another question. Other than the weight of carrying them, is there any reason not to put out floaters in a field?

 

[dmccoy1]

Nope, works well, use whatever you have.

 

[Boatman]

Yep, used floaters to help fill in the limited shells I had when young. Just prop them up so they don't lean to one side. You can buy stands that work with floaters that hold them up off the ground.