Goose Decoys...Which ones?

[JPowell]

So I have been contemplating buying some goose decoys for field hunting. I have hunted with many different kinds that buddies have but never really paid that close attentionto all the different types until now. After numerous searches on websites and a few trips to the local stories I have this question…what is the difference? Now I am no novice to hunting but I am newer to goose hunting. I have looked at the high end FFD Elite series Full Bodies and I have looked at the cheaper brands. As I find myself looking at the GHG decoys I started to get confused on what the differences were between the different styles. There are so many different styles like the “Prograde Lessers” “FFD Elite Series Full Body” “FFD Elite Series Lesser” Life Size Lesser” and the “Hunter Series Goose decoys”. No I know that the FFD are of course the fully flocked head and bodies but what about the others? How do the other styles hold up on paint, weather, durability, and overall longevity? What about the difference in the Full body and the lesser? How much of a difference is there in the size and what effects does this have on the geese? I would really like to find out more about this but there are only so many websites I can visit and I need some info from anyone out there that uses these.

I am also looking for any info about some of the other brands that people use out there like “Dakota” “Big Foot” “Hard Core” “Final Approach” etc…I know that this topic has probly been covered but I was hoping for more that just the simple “I like these” answer. If you have the time I am wondering why you like them and what is it about your favorite brand that makes you buy them instead of some other brands. Thanks for your time.

JP

[Maxxed Out]

Depends on your buying power and how much you're going to use them. Anything you buy should be bought at rogersportinggoods.com, I have bought a ton of FB's and they have the best prices around and it's not even close and they ship for either free or next to nothing.

If I had to start over, and didn't have any spending restriction I would buy about 5 dozen FFD elite lessers with bags. They are a great looking decoy and at Rogers they are $160 per 6 and that includes a decoy bag (which you HAVE to have if you are buying FFD's). That is the best value out there bar none and my customer's frequently comment about seeing them out of the corner of they're eye and thinking they are live geese in the spread.

[cutter08]

We run all GHG full bodies and shells. The majority of my decoys are the hunter series but i do own some FFDs. Personally I'm not a huge fan of the FFDs. In the late season if its snowing the flocking allows the snow to build up where the hunter series or pro grades don't as much. But on the plus side there is no glare off the FFDs on sunny days.

You don't need to run all fullbodys. GHG oversize shells are an easy way to build a spread if cost is an issue. And they make your spread more lifelike. If you look at real birds in a field not all of them are standing. Plus the sleepers shells in the late season are deadly.

The lessers are quite a bit smaller which is nice if space is an issue. You can fit more in the box of a truck and they are cheaper. I have hunted over them a few times and the big geese decoy the same to the lessers as the regular size.

And if you go with GHG decoys the bags are a must. The paint is not as durable as other brands.

I cant talk about Dakotas or hardcores because i have never hunted over them. But Bigfoots are by far the most durable decoy out there. You can kick them out of the trailer 100 times a year for 10 years and they will look the same as the day you bought them. The only bad thing i can say about them is the motion system sucks and they don't look as real as other brands. But people have been killing geese over them for years. If your on the X i don't think it really matters what decoy you have or how many you have.

[Superduty]

The new hardcores lose paint better than any decoy. Dakotas look good but are not as durable as everybody claims. They have metal bases that are supposed to add motion, but don't work very well. The bases are good for chipping paint off of the other decoys when stacked in trailer. You pretty much have to bag 'em. GHG look great but you have to bag them also or the paint will chip. Have the best motion system. FA decoys look pretty good but they are heavy and need to be bagged. Bigfoots are easily the most durable decoys out there. Just throw in the trailer and forget about it. No wasted money or time on bags while setting up and taking down. You can kill geese with bigfoots from early to late season. Don't let anybody tell you that they aren't realistic enough.

[SmilinBob]

I bought some beatup shells on the c-list and a little time with the airbrush had em looking pretty darn good. They hunt very good too!

[DIESELDAN]

I have some GHG and big foots I think you just can't beat the duribility of big foot decoys. Sure they may not look quite as reaistic as some of the others. But if the geese are close enough to see that small of details they should be flopping on the ground. Already had a couple bases break on my ghg and they are newer and treated more gently than the big foot dekes.

[SmilinBob]

I should say I just made them black again, not much detail work. I'm sure a spray can would have worked just as well.

[Fred_Bear]

I think the big drawback to the bigfoots isn't that they aren't realistic, it's that they take up a ton of space in your trailer or pickup box or whatever you use to haul decoys. Other than that they are an amazing decoy.

I've owned/used full bodies made by ghg, bigfoot, final approach, dakota decoys, and hardcore. My plan for next season is to sell all my full bodies and pick up somewhere around 8 doz Real Geese Silo's. They're cheap, extremely easy to haul and set up, and decoy birds just as well as full bodies do. I've had the opportunity to hunt over them 3 times this year and had great hunts each time.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

ive owned everything except dropzone, dave smith, and dakota, and everything i've owned ive killed birds over. i wont buy another full size decoy again. lessers are where its at. and when dakota comes out with their lessers next fall and if bigfoot ever decides they want to dominate the market and make a lesser, well then there will truely be a decoy that does it all.

my best advice would be to buy the best you can afford, and dont over look quality used fullbodies, or real geese pro series II silos for that matter. i have a dozen of those and love them.

[Fred_Bear]

ive owned everything except dropzone, dave smith, and dakota, and everything i've owned ive killed birds over. i wont buy another full size decoy again. lessers are where its at. and when dakota comes out with their lessers next fall and if bigfoot ever decides they want to dominate the market and make a lesser, well then there will truely be a decoy that does it all.

my best advice would be to buy the best you can afford, and dont over look quality used fullbodies, or real geese pro series II silos for that matter. i have a dozen of those and love them.

Dakota Decoys is coming out with a lesser model next year? How sure of this are you?

My buddy has some dakota honkers and I'll be honest I'm not too impressed. They look real sweet to hunters and I think that's why the sell. They're heavy, bulky, pretty expensive, are showing wearing after less than a full season in avery bags, the motion system isn't very quick to set up, and they shine no differently than any other decoy that's not fully flocked. But the body shapes do look pretty awesome, I'll give them that. That's my 2 pennies.

And to add to my post above, before I got the chance to hunt over Real Geese Silo's I was also 100% sold on lesser decoys. That's the only way I would go as far as buying full bodies. Maybe throw in a few honker high lookers for more visibility from a distance but IMO the best tool for that is just a simple flag.

[strait-meat]

My brother bought 2 dozen FFD elite lessers with the bags and we shot geese over them---you get 2 more with the lessers than the greaters so you get a more bang for the buck. I would say you could get 1-2 dozen of the elites and mix in some decent shells with them if you need numbers and you will do just fine--usually when we hunt we just set up a dozen of the FFD and if your in the right place that is all you need to bring in a flock--especially in early season.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

My brother bought 2 dozen FFD elite lessers with the bags and we shot geese over them---you get 2 more with the lessers than the greaters so you get a more bang for the buck. I would say you could get 1-2 dozen of the elites and mix in some decent shells with them if you need numbers and you will do just fine--usually when we hunt we just set up a dozen of the FFD and if your in the right place that is all you need to bring in a flock--especially in early season.

if your in the right place during early season all you need is 4 feeders and a looker of the crappiest fb you can get your hands on...

[carpshooterdeluxe]

Dakota Decoys is coming out with a lesser model next year? How sure of this are you?

95% sure. i had a discussion about this with a DD employee (not a staffer) early this fall.

[riversmallmouth35]

As I find myself looking at the GHG decoys I started to get confused on what the differences were between the different styles. There are so many different styles like the “Prograde Lessers” “FFD Elite Series Full Body” “FFD Elite Series Lesser” Life Size Lesser” and the “Hunter Series Goose decoys”.

JP

There are some differences in the ghg fullbody decoys but the quality is all the same. The hunter series will have a basic paint scheme with not as much detail to them. The progrades have the same paint scheme as the FFD's and come with motion stakes and stands, while the hunter series only comes with stakes. Then the ffd's will come with a six slot bag also and all the stakes and stands.

I don't see the need for the ffd's. If you are in the right location and are concealed properly you can kill geese with cheap carrylites. I am however a big fan of there hunter series and their prograde oversized shells. I use to own all prograde decoys but switched over to hunter seris fullbodies and have not noticed a difference with the geese commiting to the spread and I saved some money.

And as for the lesser vs fullsize topic, it all depends if you have the space for the fullsize decoys or not. The lessers will work great if you can get the geese attention but the fullsize can be seen from a lot farther away.