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Old 11-05-2011, 07:32 PM   #1
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Default Goose Decoy Ratios

Our group is starting to get a pretty good number of full-bodies but I'm thinking we might be getting a little heavy on one body style.

What does everyone use for full-body goose decoy ratios when field hunting? For example, I heard the other day you should only have 1 sentry per dozen. Is that true for the actives also? What about feeders? Does it change throughout the season?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Last edited by skier2215; 11-05-2011 at 07:38 PM.
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Old 11-05-2011, 08:22 PM   #2
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

Quote:
Originally Posted by skier2215 View Post
Our group is starting to get a pretty good number of full-bodies but I'm thinking we might be getting a little heavy on one body style.

What does everyone use for full-body goose decoy ratios when field hunting? For example, I heard the other day you should only have 1 sentry per dozen. Is that true for the actives also? What about feeders? Does it change throughout the season?

Thanks in advance for any help.
I know guys that use nothing but sleepers late in the year.
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Old 11-05-2011, 08:28 PM   #3
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

I actually just figured the numbers today...My group just upped our full body spread from 10 to 15 dz this year... 3 of us split up the cost for 5 more dz...

To give an example: out of 5 dz, 2.5dz were feeders, 1.5dz were actives, and 1 dz sentries for extra measure

out total FB spread looks like this:
8z feeders
5.5 dz actives
1.5dz sentries

1/4 of our dekes are ffds

Not to mention the 3 dz shells that we have that have a mix of head positions
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Old 11-05-2011, 08:35 PM   #4
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

As for # of sentry theory... It depends... Watch/listen to the birds in the field... I use no fewer than 2 regardless.... And have use as many as 8 with only 2 dz other dekes... If the birds are vocal I'll use more... If not I'll use fewer.... You geese that call at birds in the air are not actives all the time and def not feeders... I personally have no experience with the number of sentries hurting our groups success
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Old 11-06-2011, 11:58 AM   #5
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

well we were in a field this morning, and I had 37 out for 2 of us, and 400 to 500 came at us, so more..is what i learned much much more
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Old 11-06-2011, 12:17 PM   #6
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

I try to have at least 2 sentry per 5 feeders, I also have mostly Bigfoots but just got 2 dz full flock tangelfrees I mix in.
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Old 11-06-2011, 12:54 PM   #7
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

Is there going to be a test at the end of the season? Seems like a lot of math and theories to remember.

Use more feeders (a lot more) than actives/sentries then shoot em when their feet drop. If youre not killing birds, it won't be because your ratios are off.
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Old 11-06-2011, 12:57 PM   #8
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

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If youre not killing birds, it won't be because your ratios are off.
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Old 11-07-2011, 05:03 PM   #9
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

Thanks for the advice guys. It sounds like go heavy on the feeders and after that quit over-thinking it!
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Old 11-07-2011, 06:02 PM   #10
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

Out of my approx 15 dz FFD's I think I Have 4 Lookers/Sentry.

I would say out of my FB spread I have 85% feeders 13% "others" and 2% lookers
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Old 11-07-2011, 06:35 PM   #11
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

Watch live geese sometime in a field and that should help personally I think people get carried away with to many feeders. I have more actives then I do feeders just for the fact usually out of a flock of a dozen or so birds there is usually only a few eating at a time while the rest look out or are milling around the field in search of food. Another thing with allot of feeders scattered around it can make it look like there is allot of feed in the field.
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Old 11-08-2011, 08:03 AM   #12
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

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Watch live geese sometime in a field and that should help personally I think people get carried away with to many feeders. I have more actives then I do feeders just for the fact usually out of a flock of a dozen or so birds there is usually only a few eating at a time while the rest look out or are milling around the field in search of food. Another thing with allot of feeders scattered around it can make it look like there is allot of feed in the field.
1) Alot of feed is a good thing
2) If there is alot of feed or isn't, the geese will also be the judge of that. They can see grain suprisingly well.
3) you hunt fields to catch them as they come into FEED.

Be on the x and you won't have problems. Period. With 1 or 100 decoys.


(Here's is your post and my response)
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Last edited by mallard26; 11-08-2011 at 03:59 PM.
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Old 11-08-2011, 08:07 AM   #13
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Default Re: Goose Decoy Ratios

70% Feeders 30% active................Until the snow flies then we are opposite with the actives feed pulled up (depending on the time of day). The game is too big to type it on a forum.
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