Nodak Outdoors Hunting & Fishing Forums

[Wacker 44]

How do you set out your snow goose decoys? i have never done it and hope to do it next week if anybody could give me some tips on how to set them up that would be great thanks a lot guys! Good luck hunting!!!

Wacker 44

[bluebird]

Do a search on this site and you will find a lot of good info if you are just starting out. I would say just mimic the birds in the field.

[CuppedAndComitted]

To put it simple, put out a bunch of dekes and sit on the upwind side of the spread. Snows are very aggressive feeders and will work the upwind side of the spread to get to the fresh feed.

[Wacker 44]

Thanks for the tips guys!

Wacker 44

[Dave Owens]

I've set a snow spread or two in the past 36 years and here is a simple system that works for me. First Avoid shells unless all 3 of these things are true: No frost, no dew, no sun. Tyvek windsocks are prefered. Pick a brand and use it. Only 175 to 225 are needed.

1. Always park in the field with the headlights directly into the wind.
2. Start by setting decoys sparingly around either side of the truck, width of spread about 30 yards.
3. Continue setting decoys into the wind very sparingly in front of the truck.
4. The farther you get from the truck the denser the spread should be.
5. The spread should stretch 100+ yards into the wind.
6. Flyers should be set at the far end of the spread.
7. Blinds should be in the middle of the spread.

Don't worry about patterns such as J or C, or family groups etc. Simply make the spread long, not wide, thinner in the beginning, denser toward the back.

The picture is of 38 geese harvested a week ago on a very low wind, bright sunny day. If the spread is set right birds are easily fooled even in this poor hatch year.

[Dave Owens]