“Geese will cross low over other geese, but for some reason they don’t like to finish directly over ducks. Geese are much more choosy about where they will land, and they often sit down outside duck decoys instead of passing over them,” Jones explains. “Ducks will sit down almost anywhere within the spread.
What decoys work best for ducks?
Dive Bomb Industries – F1 Wigeon Floaters
Many waterfowlers can’t think of duck and goose hunting without thinking about Dive Bomb, and for a good reason: their decoys work incredibly well. If it’s not already in your floater arsenal, one go-to should be the F1 Wigeon.
Can you call geese with duck decoys?
“Goose decoys draw ducks, but geese rarely come in to just a spread of duck decoys, so it can’t hurt to use both,” said Hudnall, of Westport, Kentucky. When he’s hunting the Ohio River, his home water, Hudnall starts by setting out 100 or so goose decoys, as if he was preparing for a goose-only hunt.
Do decoys work for geese?
Goose hunters must set up where these birds have been working or where they will work. There’s no substitute for good scouting and positioning a spread where the birds want to go to start with. Then, setting out a realistic decoy spread is the next requirement.
How many geese decoys should I use?
“Make ’em earn it.” There’s no need to come out of the starting gate with 10 dozen fully flocked full-bodies; keep those in reserve until you really need them. Small family groups of widely-spaced Canada decoys – five here, four there, another four there – are an excellent idea during the early season.
How many decoys do you need for ducks?
On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
How far should decoys be from blind?
How far should the decoys be from your blind? Well, the quick and simple answer is somewhere between 15-30 yards. Preparing your decoy spread can be fun and straightforward as long as you keep a few basics in mind. You want your decoy spread to appear natural.
How do you get geese to land in your decoys?
Set most of your decoys facing into the wind, because geese will land into and often feed into the breeze. Place some at different angles, though, to imitate geese walking about. And remember to mix in motion decoys wherever possible.
How do you get close to a goose?
Without further ado, here are 5 tips if you ever have an encounter with an aggressive goose:
- #1 Face the goose and maintain eye contact. This is not one of those fight or flight scenarios.
- #2 Take it slow.
- #3 Keep calm and carry on.
- #4 It’s not fight or flight.
- #5 If the goose attacks.
How hard is goose hunting?
Over the years, Canada goose hunting has become a highly specialized sport. It takes a combination of hunting savvy, good equipment, and persistent effort to consistently outwit these challenging game birds.
What do geese hate the most?
Geese hate loud noises, lights in their sleeping areas, long grasses, obstructed access to waterfronts, and grape kool-aid. Yes, that’s true. Geese are on your property to either eat or nest and disrupting what they need to do in both of those circumstances will help you repel them.
Should goose decoys face into the wind?
Setting the decoys up so they face slightly into the wind is important because the wind will make the skirts on my windsocks move and any movement will catch the eyes of the geese.
How far apart should goose decoys be?
That size makes it very important to space out the decoys enabling them to land among one another. Spread them at least 5 to 6 feet apart or approximately 2 big steps. Most geese tend to bed down when the temperature drops below 30 degrees.
Is 4 goose decoys enough?
Birds aren’t going to come in and land over geese where there aren’t any; geese prefer to land right in the middle of a group. Put three to four of your best active decoys in the middle of your zone of active decoys, to keep the bird’s eyes off the hunters.
Is 12 duck decoys enough?
Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. As far as the number of decoys to use, 12 to 24 puddle duck decoys is a good range for most people, with fewer than 18 being about right for a solo hunter to set up alone.
How do I attract more ducks?
3 Ways to Attract More Ducks to Your Pond
- Increase water clarity. Clear water encourages aquatic plants, aquatic snails and several aquatic insects, which are primary foods of migratory ducks.
- Reduce disturbance. Human activity near a pond can scare away ducks, causing them to relocate elsewhere.
- Add duck food plants.
Is it OK to leave duck decoys out?
Registered. It does not hurt to leave out. If having good success in one location then leave out.
Can you use too many duck decoys?
Packing too many blocks in a small area won’t look natural. Just make sure decoys are visible and look relaxed. Use common sense for in-between scenarios. Two to four dozen blocks will probably work fine in marsh or river backwater situations.
When’s the best time to duck hunt?
Time of Day: It is believed that the best time to hunt for waterfowl is during the first hours of the morning after dawn. However that belief has been challenged by hunters who find their most successful hunts happen in the afternoon or early evening.
Do ducks land with or against the wind?
Like airplanes, ducks and geese approach their landing areas by flying into the wind. They cup their wings to create drag, and then touch down feet first. When setting out decoys, always make sure to position yourself with your back to the wind or coming from an angled direction over one shoulder.
What is too windy for duck hunting?
Winds gusting at 15 to 25 mph — or more — create a conundrum. Extra-blustery conditions certainly move ducks and geese, often to forcing them to relocate closer to leeward shores or protected areas. Also, massive fronts associated with big winds prompt birds to feed heavily or migrate, creating sometimes epic flights.