"WATERFOWL NOTES"

SNOW GOOSE DECOYS for FIELD HUNTS
SPECIALITY DECOYS

The type of decoy is what is important. The specific decoys in each category are those decoys that we know work. All specialty decoys have a special role and all the decoys should move, either energy operated or air controlled.

Specialty decoys should be used with every spread, whether it the spreads are for 1 hunter or half dozen hunters.

Realistic Decoys: Snow and blue THP All-Wind Decoys. OPTION: Snow, Shells on Universal Motion Stakes, or Snow Buckwing Lifelite Full Body with Buckwing Spring Mounting System or Snow and blue Sillosocks Decoys. These decoys are placed downwind of each hunter in family groups of 6 to 10. The intention is to have the eyes of the snow geese on these decoys not on the hunters.

Landing Decoys: Goose Magnet Decoys – 6 snows and blues with ½”x 36” metal conduit (painted flat black, brown or tan) or ½” by 43” dark gray graphite poles. OPTION: North Wind Hovering Decoys. Used to resemble geese landing in the spread. They are placed upwind of the hunters on either side of the Landing Zone but still in the spread.

Spinning Wing Decoys (Battery powered): Mr. Lucky duck decoys painted to resemble a snow goose. OPTION: Flapping Wing Decoys.  The spinning wing decoys are placed upwind of the hunters on either side of the Landing Zone to resemble geese hopping over other geese to get to more food. The spinning wings motion attracts flights from far off with the flash and movement. DO NOT place in the Landing Zone, the geese will circle waiting for the spinning wing decoys to land.

NOTE: Sherwin Williams has a paint that works well on plastic. It is a flat white plastic paint primer. Available both spray can and gallon can. It is XIM #400. Wal Mart or any paint store can mix up a rose color to paint the bill and legs. The gloss black paint found at any hobby store works for the eyes. Cabala’s has paint packages to paint blues, specs and Canada geese.

Spinning Wing Decoys (Air powered): Air Lucky duck decoys painted to resemble a snow goose. Two decoys fit in a hard plastic 22” (minimum) toolbox. OPTION:  Winduk snow decoy. Used in lieu of the battery powered decoys on days the wind is above 7 mph.

Walking Decoys: Designed to give the appearance of a small family that landed short and is walking to the spread. The lead decoys is a snow Wing Waver (fishing line 4 to 20 pound running from decoy to center hunter). OPTION: Higdon Finisher Flapper Full Body Canada decoy painted white to resemble a snow goose. Behind (upwind) of the Wing Waver are 3 full body decoys , one behind the other about 3 to 5 feet apart.  Snow Buckwing Lifelite - 3 decoy combo (1 feeding, 1 alert and 1 resting) with Buckwing Spring Mounting System. OPTION: snow Green Head Full Body on GHG RealMotion bases or FUD Goose Decoys – Snow and blue. Placed downwind of the spread about center.

Motion for Full Body & Shells: Expedite Decoy Motion Device – Nothing adds feeding motion to a full body or shell decoy like the Decoy Motion Device. The package includes a black plastic stake, which attaches to a motor system, which attaches to the decoy. 15-rpm motor with metal gear reducer runs whisper quite. Moves the decoy in an arc, bill to ground and back up. Spring-loaded shaft, adjustable vertical arc motion, requires 9-volt battery.

String Decoys:  Snow Wave Magnet OPTION: String-O-Wings.  Placed upwind at the rear of the spread on 10-foot tall poles. The string resembles a small flight of geese flying in to the spread. On zero to very light wind attach helium filled balloon decoys to move the string decoys.

String Magnet Poles: 2 each 10’ by ¾” metal conduit, 2 each 5’ by ½” conduit and a ½-inch pipe cap. Place the pipe cap on the ½” conduit; hammer it into the ground about half way. Tie the ends of the string decoys to one end of each ¾” conduit. Slide the ¾” conduit over the ½” conduit. Stretch the decoys and repeat the placement of the ½” and ¾” conduits.

The ¾” conduit can be cut into 5-foot pieces with a 2-foot piece of ½” conduit and a ¼” nut & bolt used to reduce the length of the conduits. If you have questions please call or email duckngoose.com (bfiedler@airmail.net).

NOTE: The conduit can be painted flat black or tan. It can also we covered with wood grain plastic self adhesive shelf paper found at most Ace Hardware store and Wal Mart.

Balloon Decoys: Snow AirGoose – filled with helium. OPTION: Fowl Habit Flyer-snow.  Used in connection with the string decoys. Attach a 4 pound fishing line 4 to 6 feet long front the bill of the decoy to the tail of the string decoy. The balloon decoy will move and move the string decoy. Attach a safety pen to one end of the line and attach the pen to the tale of the string decoy. Tie a loop in the other vend of the line and attach to the bill of the balloon decoy with clear packaging tape.

NOTE: Most of these decoys can be found on Duckngoose.com web site. If you have questions on any of the decoys, call  (281) 914-3179 or email – bfiedler@airmail.net

GRILLING

Since fire was first discovered many centuries past people have built fires and cooked food over the flames or in the embers. It is a method of cooking to add a more delightful taste to “fried” food and reduce the amount of fat in meat. The word “barbecue” comes from the Spanish barbacoa, which describes the process of grilling meat over an open wood fire on bars of green wood. Today in North America barbecue and grilling can mean different types of outdoor cooking. Barbecuing is considered as slower cooking of meat and grilling is fast cooking of meat and vegetables. 

Charcoal briquettes - A convenient form of charcoal but the quality varies. An artificial resin is used to compact the briquettes and some brands are stronger than others. Do not cook until briquettes are glowing or gray to be sure the binder has burned away.

Natural charcoal requires care in building the fire. Place the smaller pieces on the bottom and larger pieces on top. The fire requires plenty of air circulation to have an even fire and even heat. The right height fire is necessary for grilling and smoking.

How Hot ? - Levels of heat are different for different foods the heat can be determined by holding your hand over the fire. Start at around 6-inches away from the coals –

• for 4 seconds the heat is low
• for 3 seconds the heat is medium
• for 2 seconds the heat is high
• for 1 second the fire is too hot

Adjust Heat - The heat can be adjusted by raising or lowering the grill. In gas grills the temperature is changed by raising or lowering the gas output and using one or more gas outlets. Electric cookers are more designed for slow cooking and smoking.

RECIPE

SNOW GOOSE APPETIZER BURGERS

4 ea snow goose breasts, deboned, skinned
1 lb ground chuck with 10 to 20 percent fat
1/4 cup purple onion, chopped fine
1 tsp DNG Bar B Que spice
1/4 tsp garlic salt
1/2 tsp Cajun Chef’s Green hot sauce
1/2 cup mayonnaise
3 Tbls sour cream
2 Tbls bourbon whisky
12 buns roll-sized small brioche buns, split in half crosswise
Melted butter for brushing buns
6 slice hickory bacon, cooked crisp, crumbled

In a food grinder place goose breasts and grind chili size or cut into approximate 1-inch pieces and in a food processor with knife blade pulse until chopped close to chili grind size. In a large bowl combine with your hands goose meat, ground chuck, onion, Bar B Que spice, garlic salt and hot sauce. Using an ice cream scoop, divide the meat mixture into 12 balls of meat. Use your hands to pt meat into patties – hamburger thickness – about 3-inches wide. Place on a dish and cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 to 4 hours. In a non-conductive bowl mix together mayonnaise, sour cream and bourbon. Over a gray charcoal fire grill meat patties a bout 2 to 4 minutes, flip and cook on second side DO NOT BURN. Lightly butter cut side of rolls, place on grill butter side down, toast a minute or so DO NOT BURN. Spread mayonnaise mix over both cut sides of bun. Place patties on buns and serve hot. Yield: 12 burgers

RECIPE

DUCK OPEN FACED BURGERS with SLAW

4 ea large duck breasts, deboned, skinned
1 lb ground chuck with 10 to 20 percent fat
2 Tbls butter
1 cup purple onion, chopped fine
1/2 tsp garlic salt
1 tsp brown sugar
1 Tbls Dave’s Peppa Royale
1 tsp Cajun Chef’s Green hot sauce
1 Tbls DNG Waterfowl spice
2 cup cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 Tbls honey
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
Kosher salt to taste
Red pepper to taste
Butter, melted
2 ea hamburger buns

In a food grinder place goose breasts and grind chili size or cut into approximate 1-inch pieces and in a food processor with knife blade pulse until chopped close to chili grind size. In a skillet melt butter over medium heat; sauté onion sprinkled with garlic salt sugar until tender. Remove skillet from heat and stir in Peppa Royale and hot sauce. In a large bowl combine with your hands goose meat, ground chuck, cooled skillet mixture and Bar B Que spice. Divide mix into 4 equal patties are slightly larger than a bun (meat will shrink when cooked) Over a gray charcoal fire, grill burgers about 5 minutes flip and cook 5 to 6 minutes until medium-rare to medium. In a bowl combine cabbage, mayonnaise, honey and lemon juice. Taste. Season with salt and pepper. Lightly butter cut side of rolls, place on grill butter side down, toast a minute or so DO NOT BURN. Place a burger on toasted bun (2 bottoms and 2 tops) and spread slaw evenly on top of each burger. Yield: 4 open-faced sandwiches

If you haven't yet subscribed to the monthly "Waterfowl Notes", go to: MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGNUP. Fill in the information and start receiving the FREE recipes, tips, columns, etc in your email every month. Plus, find out the products and hunting tactics that really work.

DUCKNGOOSE.COM
21302 Old Ranch Road
Houston, TX 77073

EMAIL