| Getting the geese to land near you so that you | | | | Some hunters lay out up to 100 decoys for |
| can bag one is the reason why goose decoys | | | | Canada Geese and ten times that for Snow |
| exist at all. They are not new. People who have | | | | Geese. Such large numbers of decoys are usually |
| lived around geese for centuries past have | | | | the 'rag' variety - a waterproof stuffed goose |
| studied their traits. What stirred their imagination | | | | shape to which you can add details like heads or |
| to try decoys as a way of persuading the geese | | | | the 'shell' variety - a hollow goose shape with no |
| to settle where the hunter wanted them to, is | | | | legs and feet. |
| unknown. But it appears to have worked, for | | | | Obviously building up your own 'flock' of goose |
| decoys have been found made out of the | | | | decoys is just that. A building process. Buying |
| simplest material, starting with grass. | | | | them all at once is expensive, though would be an |
| Geese are sociable by nature - they flock | | | | interesting exercise given the quality and choice |
| together. When flying geese see geese on the | | | | available today. |
| ground, they have a strong tendency to join the | | | | Here are some suggestions for those who have |
| party. This is where decoys come in. Build up your | | | | to start small: |
| own flock of goose decoys and fool those flying | | | | 1. Type into a search engine phrases like 'Canada |
| over into thinking they're real and so entice them | | | | Goose Decoys for Sale' or 'Large (or small) lot of |
| to land on your carefully prepared landing strip. | | | | duck geese decoys for sale'. The first 9 pages will |
| The landing strip can be on the ground or on the | | | | yield very little because they mostly are sites |
| water. Possibly on the ground it is easier for the | | | | who sell new decoys, but by the time you get to |
| hunter to hide himself. The geese are wary of | | | | page 10 and beyond you will reach |
| predators or of anything that looks unusual. | | | | advertisements in 'free classified' directories |
| Hunters have been known to hide in a super sized | | | | where people offer just such items. |
| man-made goose until the flock has landed and | | | | 2. Try making your own goose decoys. A good |
| then pop out and take their shots. The working | | | | search engine here is Type in 'Homemade Goose |
| knowledge is that flying geese cannot distinguish | | | | Decoys'. Tip - If you go for the simple outline |
| differences in the size of the birds on the ground. | | | | type, glue several together to give some width to |
| (One must assume they can once they've landed | | | | the decoy. Other types are those of the |
| though). | | | | windsock variety. One of the most successful |
| Setting out the decoys is usually preceded by a | | | | decoy manufacturers is based on the windsock |
| visit to the chosen site the night before to | | | | design. |
| confirm its suitability. That nothing untoward has | | | | 3. If you're really serious you could go to website |
| changed since the choice was first made - no | | | | and find a goose decoy patent that you think you |
| fresh snow falls, extra mud or any other | | | | can make use of. |
| distraction. The goose decoys are then laid out, | | | | 4. For excellent information on how to place your |
| ready for the break of day. | | | | goose decoys, type 'Goose Decoys' into Google |
| Lay them out to make them look as realistic as | | | | and again start from page 10. Experts give their |
| possible. Walking, grazing, alert, snoozing, look | | | | opinions in various related websites, all of which |
| sideways - whatever replicates their normal | | | | are worth a read. |
| grazing pattern. Their colour should match the | | | | Finally, where to hunt? Your local state wild life |
| type of goose being hunted. An unnatural shine | | | | agency will help you out here or you can |
| from painting the would not be appropriate. | | | | approach the farmer on whose field you have |
| Moving parts on goose decoys have also proved | | | | seen geese land. Hunters can shoot Canada |
| successful in luring them in as flying geese seem | | | | Geese over land or water. |
| to be more comfortable with some movement in | | | | Perhaps some day 'the bag' of geese will be the |
| the flock which is laid out below. | | | | highest number which the hunter enticed to land. |