Goose and Duck Decoys - what do you use?

[Weedbed]

Just got into waterfowl more this year. Still pretty green with the whole scene but I'm having fun learning.

One thing I'm learning quite quickly is the importance of quality decoys. My first trip out I went with a buddy who guides. We put out 3 dozen full bodies and 2 doz Avery Over-size shells. That was by far the best goose hunt I've ever partaken in. We had 15 birds in about 30 mins of hunting. We had several times when birds had landed in our spread and we were waiting on bigger flocks coming down.

My friend was using Bigfoot full bodies and Avery Greenhead Hunter and Pro series.

Since then I've had to settle with what I have and we definitely have had a much tougher go. Using Sillosocks, Carry-lite shells, big Mags and my Avery Hot Buy shells. Geese around here see a lot of hunter's spreads and are pretty cagey.

Anyways, wondering what other people use. I like the Avery's but the paint is not durable at all. First trip out, the paint on my Hot Buy shells was chipping. My friend sold all his Avery's and switched to all Bigfoot dekes after i went out with him.

Cheers.

 

[the spank]

I am running 3 dozen GHG Pro-Grade Fullbody Goose Decoys. 1 dozen real-geese silos(Canadas) , half dozen FA Brand Lesser Fullbodies for Geese in fields For ducks in fields I have GHG Rester series mallard fullbodies and Hard Core Mallard feeders plus two spinning wing mallard mojos(which do double duty on water). On water I am running GHG Pro Grade Life-size floater Canadas, Cabelas Real Image Mallards, GHG Widgeons , Teal, Pintail, Goldeneye and Bufflehead floaters and Redhead Brand Ringneck duck floaters as well as 1 mojo floater bluebill mojo

 

[subneural]

I've been impressed with the quality of Final Approach stuff so far (have a blind and bag from them). I'm likely to pick up a set of these honkers http://www.fabrand.com/products/decoys/honkers/feeder/ when I find them at a decent price.

 

[taffman]

for canadas 48 flambeau shells 33 inch long super grand mags, 24 22 inch to mix in to make family groups.
for snows, 10 dozen sillosocks and 3 dozen farm form waddlers and an ecaller
for mallards, floaters with two mojos

 

[Fassteel]

Full bodied decoys , although very nice aren't a prerequisite to having a good shoot. Since the quality of silhouette goose decoys has improved thats all I use now. The key to good waterfowl hunts will never change, and that is good spotting. FS

 

[Levi Garrett]

dropzone , pretty awesome, 2 live birds in the bunch here.

 

[.17]

Half an ashphalt shingle rolled into a cone for ducks and geese.

 

[sherlockbonez]

Agree on the new silos. I had a hawk try to steal one of them this year during early season, so it's gotta be pretty realistic. I also have FA and GHG dekes. I say GHG looks a bit better, and FA is a bit tougher. MY GHG dekes had paint scratching off even with slothed bags.

 

[Crazy_Farmer]

dropzone , pretty awesome,

They're pretty awesome, but I run DSDs.

 

[Turkeyslayer 1300]

I'm running a dozen dakotas, A dozen Avery Lessers, 2 1/2 dozen Avery shells and a few hidgon shells mixed in.I'm hoping to pick up a few more averys as some of mine are looking a little splotchy and ventilated for my tastes.

 

[219F]

my field rig has

8 dz - GHG Pro-grades all on motion stakes
2 dx - BigFoots with 6 bobble heads
2dz - Higdon Stackables
3 dz - Flambeau silos if things get tough
2 dz - GHG oversized shells. break them out if hunting in cold weather or snow

if money were no object I would be run DSD's, beautiful dekes