OCTOBER 2018 • NEBRASKAland 11
Downsized Decoy
Spreads
By Jarrod Spilger
Several years ago, I purchased a half-dozen goose decoys
at a local sporting goods store's clearance sale. These were
no ordinary decoys, though, but rather the oversized shells
waterfowlers used to refer to as "747s." I've since utilized
my "Super Six" to lure in numerous Canada geese.
Many of the fields I hunt can only be accessed by foot,
making a trailer full of decoys unnecessary and a large
spread impossible. Instead, I pack in the Super Six and rely
on their oversized stature, along with calling, to grab the
attention of passing honkers. It doesn't always work, but it
works often enough.
A small spread is effective because it's something
different. As the season progresses, Canada geese get
suspicious of huge spreads of a hundred decoys or more.
However, a small spread of, say, six to 18 decoys looks like
a small flock that's just landed in a field to feed.
If using less than 12 decoys, they should be slightly
oversized so they get noticed. When using 12 to 18 decoys,
they can be standard sized or slightly smaller for the sake of
mobility.
While my 747s are effective, they're bulky. This season
I'm trying a dozen of Greenhead Gear's hybrid 3-D
silhouettes. They aren't completely flat like a traditional
silhouette, plus they have flocked heads and motion stakes
that store in the decoy body for easy transport. Best of all,
they're compact and lightweight.
Try downsizing your spread this season. It may be just the
ticket for fooling wary, decoy-wise geese.
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PHOTO
BY
JARROD
SPILGER
