Decoys

Whether you’re after ducks or geese a solid knowledge of patterning techniques is essential to a successful hunt.  But equally important are the number and type of decoys you use. 

There are a multitude of styles, sizes, and types to choose from and a wide variety of price ranges available.  Choosing and purchasing a comprehensive set of decoys can be a daunting experience, especially for the beginner.  The big mistake that a lot of hunters make is to head off to their favorite sporting goods supplier and buy as many of the cheapest decoys as they can afford.  However, quality can be even more important than quantity.  Realism is the key and your goal is to set out a pattern of decoys that looks and acts as close to the real thing as possible.

Be sure your decoys are non reflective.  This doesn’t necessarily mean they cost more but it is certainly something to look for in a quality decoy, or you could make some modifications yourself to tone down the reflectivity.  There is nothing worse than the sun reflecting off your decoys when that first flock heads in just at sunrise.  The flocked heads on many of the newer goose decoys are super realistic and non reflective.

A bit of movement in your setup is also a great asset when you’re trying to lull that wary flock into a sense of confidence.  Bobble heads are a great addition to any duck or goose setup to give your spread a lifelike appearance with just the slightest of breezes.  Mix things up with respect to size.  Full body magnums, Super Magnums and Big Foot mixed in with regular sized decoy shells can alter the illusion for gun shy birds and help bring them in closer for a more certain shot. 

Silhouettes have the advantage of being easy to store and transport but they can spook wary geese when the silhouettes optically disappear as the birds fly over your spread. Throw in a couple of mechanical ducks to give your set-up a natural look and you may just tip the scales in your favour.

Don’t neglect your decoys when you’re doing your pre-season maintenance and cleanup.  Decoys that are smudged with mud, cracked, or go floating off in the pre-dawn darkness because of worn lines or missing anchor weights aren’t very attractive to incoming flocks.

I know hunters that own enough decoys to fill a shed and a lot of time has been spent over the years to learn just what type of setup and decoy type will work on a given day.  A good set of decoys is always a work in progress and trial and error is often the best teacher, so take your time, talk to the experts, and make your next set of decoys a winning combination.