Field decoy prices

[jparrucci]

Why is there such a dramatic difference in prices between water and field decoys? A dozen GOOD floaters can be had for 70 bucks. 4 of cheap field decoys go for 100 plus. Has anyone tried to convert water decoys to field decoys? I am just starting my field spread for mallards and with the prices I am seeing I am going to have to get creative.

[booger]

they have amphibious decoy stakes (google it) for your water decoys. Or the GHG shells work pretty well but they are around $110/dz.

IMO you don't need full body duck decoys. But I'd also have FB goose decoys for both geese and ducks. A spinner also can work wonders in the field.

[TylerS]

The best field decoy spread for ducks or geese consists of goose decoys and a few duck spinners. I keep the spinners right behind the blinds so if geese show up I can turn them off. Really don't need duck field decoys for ducks.

[jparrucci]

We have a few spinners and about 50 goose shells. Sounds like we are in better shape then I thought. This setup worked just fine for a few late season hunts last year.

[outdoorsmanwilly]

I made some wire stands from 1/8th inch rod you can get at Menards or Fleet and bent it around a few of the keels so they can slide on and off for when I want a few duck decoys in the fields for really cheap.

[Pherris]

I have found some really good deals on decoys on Craig's list.

[fishuhalik]

I've been reading that quite a bit Tyler. Seems like a lot of the pros are throwing out a mess of honkers with a couple doz mallards mixed right in with em. Makes sense, a lot better long distant visibility, both birds will come to you & you save a mess of $ not having to buy both duck & goose dekes.

[Pherris]

I have found some really good deals on decoys on Craig's list.

For mone reason it changed the list to HSO.

[TylerS]

I've been reading that quite a bit Tyler. Seems like a lot of the pros are throwing out a mess of honkers with a couple doz mallards mixed right in with em. Makes sense, a lot better long distant visibility, both birds will come to you & you save a mess of $ not having to buy both duck & goose dekes.

Well, and it make sense biologically, too. Geese tend to light with geese, but avoid ducks. Ducks, however, have no qualms about landing amongst geese. So if you run a field spread of strictly geese, you're catering to the whims of both species. The spinners really help bring the ducks in from a long ways, but will definitely turn off geese. That why I keep them behind the blinds for easy access in case honkers come in workable range (although a remote-controlled spinner would make things a lot easier).