SNOW GOOSE DECOYS for FIELD HUNTS
1 of 2 Decoys
The article on snow goose hunting in the issue of DU magazine reminded me of a statement made by Frank Smith in the book “Living On The Wind” by Scott Weidnsaul. In chapter 10 “Uneasy Neighbors” mostly about snow goose hunting Mr. Smith, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Mr. Smith, a native of central Delaware had been a wildlife biologist at Bombay Hook and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuges for over 20 years. Mr. Smith stated he had been born in the area and didn’t see a flock of snow geese until the 1960s. By 1976 there were more than 9,000 snows using the refuge, that number rose to 90,000 snows by 1995. Mr. Smith was asked if it a hundred decoys spread was needed to harvest the snow geese. “They (hunters) need more like a thousand. It takes a lot of decoys to pull in snow geese.”
A normal hatch of snow geese is 5%. There are estimated to be 5 million snow geese. The harvest of 400,000 recorded in 1993. The article in the May/June issue of Ducks Unlimited Magazine “Decoy Snows In Close” by Gary Koehler reported that several members of Avery Outdoors pro staff used 1,700 Full Body Green Head Snow Goose decoys to harvest the migrating snows in Missouri. The hunts were in a cornfield. The hunters were concealed in layout blinds. The hunters were added by two electric callers. The decoys were transported to the spot in the field in three trailers (it didn’t say the size of the trailers).
The average cost of a full body decoy is $ 20.00. Translate to 1,700 decoys is a cash outlay of $ 34,000.00. I am able to get 8 full body decoys in a 30 x 50 inch decoy bag. Not only will full body decoy cost an arm and leg, maybe 2 arms and 2 legs. The transporting to the field would take a big truck and trailer. The storage would require a mini storage building
HOW MANY DECOYS
We have set a goal of 200 decoys per hunter per hour. With 30 minutes to set our specialty decoys and “brush” up hide. This would mean four hunters would combine to place a spread of 600 base decoys (normally Texas Rags or Windtamer Windsocks) plus Goose Magnets, Wave Magnet, Goose Balloon decoys, Goose kites, Wing Waver (and/or Higdon Flapper) , Spinning Wing Decoys (battery operated or air driven) , All-Wind Decoys (or Sillosocks), Buckwing Full Bodies (or shells and/or hard full bodies) and layout blinds or backrests.
All snow goose hunter’s goal should be 100% movement. When we use full bodies (hard & soft), shells and silhouettes we use motion stakes for the some types of hard body full-body decoys, soft (colapsable) fuul-body and shells. Expedite ----- is a great decoy accessory for hard body full bodies, shells and silhouette decoys. The spring operated stakes and the Expedite ---- body movement devise makes adds movement to “All” decoys.
HOW MANY DECOYS CAN A HUNTER PUT-OUT
The 200 decoys per hunter is a good frame of reference. It allows getting into the field an hour and half prior to shooting time, and it allows for the same 1-1/2 hours to pick up the decoys. Waterfowl hunting, snow goose field hunting normally requires more time, requires getting up very early each morning. The agenda decides on the time the alarm rings. At a lodge its breakfast time, then a trip to the field, either a walk from the autos to the spot in the field or a ride on an ATV and trailer into the field. We prefer the second.
TIP: Obtain a trailer (approximately 4x6 feet) and place the decoys in the trailer at the beginning of the season, cover with a waterproof camo cover for the season. If you have a permanent location the trailer can be left there. If you are traveling each hunt to a possible different location obtain a 16-foot lightweight trailer and hook up the ATV to the field trailer and transport on the 16-foot trailer.
TYPES OF DECOYS
There are two basic types of decoys the (1) base of the spread and (2) the specialty decoys.
Base Decoys can change as the time of the season changes, the number of hunters, money to invest in decoys, transporting to the field and storage.
Our base decoys are Windtamer Ready to Hunt windsocks. The base number is 900 snow, 100 blue and 50 Canada/spec decoys. We roll the decoys in rolls of 10 with 9 snows and 1 blue. The dark decoys are rolled 10 to the roll. Windtamers will fit nicely in Windsock Decoy bags in 15 rolls or 150 decoys.
TIP: Windsock decoys will last longer if they are rolled tight, and then slide in a Windsock Bag without trying to get more than fits comfortably. More Texas Rag windsocks and Windtamer windsocks are damaged when they are stuffed loosely packed or more than fit. The stakes catch and break and/or tear the decoys.
Other base decoys are Texas Rags Ready to Hunt, Northwind windsocks, Sillosocks and Headless All Wind Decoys. Our idea of a BASE DECOY is one that 700 to 1,000 can be transported in large quantity in small space, can be afforded by the hunters with out taking out a second mortgage on the homestead and can be stored easily in the off season.
Windsock Heads in alert and feeding are a positive touch.
Texas Rags Ready to Hunt (snow and blue) are about $ 1.00 per each
Windtamer Ready to Hunt (snow and blue) are
Headless All Wind (snow & blue) are
Northwind windsocks are
Sillosocks, 9 snow & 1 blue are
Sillosocks (all economy snow) are
SPECIALITY DECOYS
These can be increased or swapped out for other specialty decoys; the type is the important concern, not the specific decoy. All specialty decoys have a specific role and all should be decoys that will MOVE, either energy operated or air operated.
Specialty decoys should be used with every spread, whether it the spreads are for 1 hunter or half dozen hunters.
All Wind Decoys: OPTION: Full Body on ------ or wind activated stakes, shells on --- or wind activated stakes, Sillosocks or FUD decoys
Landing Decoys: Goose Magnet Decoys – 5 snow, 1 blue, 1 Canada and 1 spec decoy with ½”x 36” metal conduit or ½” by 43” graphite poles. OPTION: I don’t know an option for the Goose Magnet landing decoy
Spinning Wing Decoys (Battery powered): Air Lucky duck decoy painted to resemble a snow goose: 2 decoys and Mr. Lucky decoy bags OPTION: Flapping Wing Decoys with Flapping Decoy Bags.
Spinning Wing Decoys (Air powered): Air Lucky 2 each in a hard plastic 22” (minimum) toolbox. OPTION: I don’t know an option for the air powered decoy
String Decoys: Snow Wave Magnet
String Magnet Poles: (a.) 2 each 10’ by ¾” metal conduit, 2 each 5’ by ½” conduit, or
(b.) 4 each 5’ by ½” conduit, 2 each 3’ by ¾” conduit, 2 each ½” conduit couplers
(c.) 6 each 3-1/3’ by ½” metal conduit, 2 each 3’ by ¾” metal conduit, 4 each ½” conduit couplers |
