White mallard dekes for snow geese

[Trapperkid]

Do you guys think they would bring in snows in on a budget and probably won’t hunt them a lot so I don’t want to drop a ton of capitol into decoys that won’t get used much. I found some old mallard decoys for cheap and white paint is cheap too. So what says rokslide.

 

[LongWayAround]

Don't bother.

Unless you were going to do hundreds of them or buy a bunch (dozens at least) of regular snow floaters and wanted to add some fillers.

A couple of dozen isn't going to be worth the time/effort/any expense.

 

[Trapperkid]

I’m also planning on buying some economy snow goose socks I just figured this would be like having some full body decoys mixed in. The guy has 4 dozen.

 

[LongWayAround]

Are you talking about mixing the floaters on land?

If so, just buy more socks or silhouettes.

Floaters for snows turn into a lot of work. If you have a permanent spread spot, maybe.

 

[Trapperkid]

I am so basically a spread of just socks will work? Also is 4 dozen enough?

 

[LongWayAround]

I have had good hunts over a couple hundred socks or full bodies. You really need to be around 500 minimum.

In anything other than the perfect set of conditions, four dozen is not enough.

 

[Forestryguy]

Snows are a numbers game. I would get buddies to buy into creating a large spread together. If you have more time than money for dekes and willing to make them permanent snow dekes. Cut the bottoms out, put them on a motion stake and paint.

 

[Trapperkid]

Snows are a numbers game. I would get buddies to buy into creating a large spread together. If you have more time than money for dekes and willing to make them permanent snow dekes. Cut the bottoms out, put them on a motion stake and paint.

That was my idea I don’t see why it wouldn’t work.

 

[LongWayAround]

Assembled Snow Goose Windsock Decoys | Durable & Affordable | SkyFly Decoys

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^$36/dz

You have to think about storage and transport also. In the space that one can store 4dz floaters, you can probably store 40dz socks.

I've been down the "make your own decoys" road.

It never turns out like you imagine. You're going to end up with a half-assed decoy on a Jerry rigged stake. You're going to spend money on the decoys, the paint, the stakes, decoy bags, etcetera for something that will be less than stellar. If you cut off the keel, you no longer have a viable floater. If you cut out the entire bottom, I can almost guarantee that they will curl.

If you just want a cheap project, make silhouettes.

I'm not trying to rain on your idea, I'm trying to prevent you from throwing away time and money. I tried all sorts of things when I was younger, they just don't turn out that well.

If the decoys are that good of a deal, buy them and use them to hunt ducks. Even repaint them as ducks.

Buy a white hoodie, a decent call, and 25dz socks and you can shoot a few geese.

 

[Wheels]

When I was snow goose hunting I had 1500 socks and 20 dozen full bodies. Strictly hunted migrators and watched million of geese fly over without looking down. Would get smaller groups to work, but like others said, it’s a numbers game. 1700 decoys seems like a lot, but looking at the spread from above it looked really small.
If you hunt someplace that they are feeding your chances get better with a small spread.

 

[KurtR]

Assembled Snow Goose Windsock Decoys | Durable & Affordable | SkyFly Decoys

Discover our top-rated Snow Goose Windsock Decoys. Fully assembled, durable, and field-ready. Better Design than Dive Bomb, White Rock and Tanglefree.

skyflydecoys.com

^$36/dz

You have to think about storage and transport also. In the space that one can store 4dz floaters, you can probably store 40dz socks.

I've been down the "make your own decoys" road.

It never turns out like you imagine. You're going to end up with a half-assed decoy on a Jerry rigged stake. You're going to spend money on the decoys, the paint, the stakes, decoy bags, etcetera for something that will be less than stellar. If you cut off the keel, you no longer have a viable floater. If you cut out the entire bottom, I can almost guarantee that they will curl.

If you just want a cheap project, make silhouettes.

I'm not trying to rain on your idea, I'm trying to prevent you from throwing away time and money. I tried all sorts of things when I was younger, they just don't turn out that well.

If the decoys are that good of a deal, buy them and use them to hunt ducks. Even repaint them as ducks.

Buy a white hoodie, a decent call, and 25dz socks and you can shoot a few geese.

This is correct on every thing.

I have the dive bomb socks and silo socks. I have about 40 doz and going to get more. I have a dozen fliers that are like kites that move in the wind. Keep adding more every year.

I hunt feeds around here and even being where they were the night before still watch millions fly over and not even look.

 

[LongWayAround]

@KurtR

What do you like better, the divebombs or the sillosocks?

I feel like they both have strong points but most of my experience is with sillosocks.

 

[voltage]

Save your money. Don’t get into snow goose hunting. Pick up a cheaper hobby like gambling or drugs.

 

[KurtR]

@KurtR

What do you like better, the divebombs or the sillosocks?

I feel like they both have strong points but most of my experience is with sillosocks.

I like the db with the snap back bone they have. Seems they move with less wind on those calm days the weather forecaster is wrong on the wind haha. Then when it blows 40 they don’t whip as much.

I have older version of the silo socks though got them from a guy quoting snow geese 20 dozen for 100 dollars couldn’t pass that deal up

 

[JohnnySeegs]

Never thought of it. good idea

 

[Sandhills]

Cocaine is a lot cheaper

 

[Trapperkid]

Cocaine is a lot cheaper

I don’t doubt it.

 

[WCB]

Snow Goose hunting is my favorite thing other than big game and if I was restricted to hunt only one thing it would be Snow Geese.

Mixing a few fullbodies in imo isn't worth the hassle of storing them. Besides the issue of having to paint ducks into snows. I currently have 300fullbodies and around 550 socks. Used to hunt with a couple guys and we would run 1500ish socks. I'm not sure adding the 300 fullbodies has proven to do absolutely anything in the way of success. It did require more work to get them in and out of the field and 50fbs take up as much room as 800-1000 sillosocks packed in cube bags.

When are you hunting them? Spring or fall. If you want to kill snows take up hunting them in the fall. 50-100 socks will kill snows in the fall pretty regularly plus generally the ducks love snow decoys. I would aim for a minimum of 300-400 for any spring hunting and then I would learn to target the young birds at the end of the migration. LOTS of driving to find them but LOTS of shooting when you do.

Look at market place for used decoys. If you want to buy new right after spring season is the time as most companies put sales on. Dive Bomb has really good deals but sell out quick. Final Approach makes a good sock decoy and are just over $30 a dozen if bought from Rogers Sporting Goods in the 100ct option.

Sillosock are probably my favorite sock. You can buy the economy socks (no feather detail) for $32 a dozen. I know over 250 of my socks are the economy Sillosocks and IMO feather deatail does not matter. If you want you can always buy some black spray paint and make a stencil to had that detail. Thing I like most about the Sillocks is there is literally nothing to break. Name the decoy with a backbone support and they wear out or break or in the case of some of my socks I don't break them down anyways.

 

[Sandhills]

I don’t doubt it.

Dad and I put out 20 dozen socks and full bodies mixed once. We couldn't get a bird to look at us. I think hunting em over water or jumping the Sonsabitches is the way to go.

 

[Fatcamp]

Save your money. Don’t get into snow goose hunting. Pick up a cheaper hobby like gambling or drugs.

Lot of truth to this.

If you are gonna do it stick to socks. Figure out how many you can carry in decoy bags along with a blind. Stay mobile and sneaky. Hunt the end of the migration. If you can lure someone else into it have them do the same.

Nothing better when it pays off.