Field Decoys for hunkers

[carpshooterdeluxe]

GHG prograde feeders have the weakest head connection of any fullbody I've owned. Get your glue and drywall screws out right away if you buy any.

[Maxxed Out]

I saw that Avian X painted decoys have been dropped to $139/6 pack originally $239. They look great and should be durable. However.... price still not worth the aggravation that would follow from heads falling off constantly and ring bases disappearing in the field. I can't believe they put all that time into creating that decoy and completely ignored two of the things that drives hunters crazy heads and motion/foot bases. I feel bad for all the people that spent $239/6 pack for these when they first came out.

[PierBridge]

GHG prograde feeders have the weakest head connection of any fullbody I've owned. Get your glue and drywall screws out right away if you buy any.

I think they may have changed the manufacturing process, these fit nice and tight. I could hardly seat and turn them. Good tip on the clue but I'll leave them be as I expect these to hold up pretty well.

[Superduty]

I feel bad for all the people that spent $239/6 pack for these when they first came out.

I don't feel bad for anybody that thinks they need to spend that kind of money on decoys. If you can't kill 'em with Bigfoots, it's your own darn fault!

[Maxxed Out]

I don't feel bad for anybody that thinks they need to spend that kind of money on decoys. If you can't kill 'em with Bigfoots, it's your own darn fault!

[Roosterslayer05]

I can see why you would think that. It depends on where you are watching them from. If you watch birds from afar with binocs it's typically 70/30 feeders to actives. If you pull up next to them on the road within 1/4 mile then you will typically see 30/70 feeders to actives.

I knew you would bring that up. Obviously if they are by the road they are going to be looking at you when you pull up. Iv been seeing this ratio even glassing from afar. Sometimes birds are loafing in the field and not heavely feeding. Sometimes they are just siting on their breast looking around. Iv had days when iv done better with more heads up than feeders. I think guys stick too heavely to the lopsided feeder to heads up ratio when at certain times, the opposite can work better.

On a different topic, carpshooter and Maxx: Have you guys noticed on days when the birds are feeding heavely they will go back to the roost then jump up midday and go to a dirt field? Or jump from a corn field to a dirt field and loaf around? Iv seen this allot this year, and these fields are tilled up wheat fields that they are not feeding in. I was thinking they were going into these fields to pick gravel. Might have to do some midday gravel hunts next year.

[TylerS]

On a different topic, carpshooter and Maxx: Have you guys noticed on days when the birds are feeding heavely they will go back to the roost then jump up midday and go to a dirt field? Or jump from a corn field to a dirt field and loaf around? Iv seen this allot this year, and these fields are tilled up wheat fields that they are not feeding in. I was thinking they were going into these fields to pick gravel. Might have to do some midday gravel hunts next year.

I found quite a few dirt field spots this year scouting. Never hunted them as I've had poor luck doing so in the past, but you're right about the time of day. I believe it sort of a "transition field," which acts the same as a transition slough in that birds will rest there during the day, but won't be there over night or for lengthy periods. I thought maybe it had something to do with temperature, and the geese were using the warmer dirt fields to relax or something.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

I've seen the field hopping happen, and had some limited success hunting them that way; but I only have theories as to why they do that. It seems to me that it is a more prevalent pattern early to mid-season. I think it has to do with the birds needing additional grit to get the gizzards grinding. Seems like the loafing aspect comes into play more on dreary overcast days, and that is usually harvested bean fields.

[BoxMN]

I don't hunt fields as much as you guys, but I saw that a decent amount this year in NoDak as well. Couldn't figure why they were out in the black fields... ha! But for us, we didn't see as big of flocks doing that, they seemed to be smaller or broken up.

BTW - I like the hoe idea, and will use that next year. Will make it easier and more comfy by far. Thanks for the tip

[Maxxed Out]

In lac there are really only two types of fields. Chisel plowed corn and chiseled beans. I bet there are less than 10 wheat fields within 15 miles of the refuge. When I do see them hitting the turned soybean/black fields, its actually right after they have left the feed in the morning and are heading back to the refuge. Didn't actually see it as much or even at all this year because there was a lot of corn out when the birds started to arrive.

[Catfish999]

This may be the strangest response you will see. I use just 14 shells and a kite string. The kite string has 6 flat platic geese on a 30 foot string hung horizontally on 3 poles. The geese are from the wings to the tail only. Of course if there is no wind, you are our of luck and I switch to flagging, but if the wind is 5 MPH or more, the kite string looks like a fock of geese landing. I put half of my shell decoys on each side of the kite string and the geese try to land right behind the kite string. I am not a great hunter but I manage more then 20 geese per year hunting by myself with the kite sting and a lay out blind. Good luck.

[carpshooterdeluxe]

This may be the strangest response you will see. I use just 14 shells and a kite string. The kite string has 6 flat platic geese on a 30 foot string hung horizontally on 3 poles. The geese are from the wings to the tail only. Of course if there is no wind, you are our of luck and I switch to flagging, but if the wind is 5 MPH or more, the kite string looks like a fock of geese landing. I put half of my shell decoys on each side of the kite string and the geese try to land right behind the kite string. I am not a great hunter but I manage more then 20 geese per year hunting by myself with the kite sting and a lay out blind. Good luck.

Can't argue with a tactic that puts birds in the freezer!