Layout blinds and snow decoys

[Big Country]

Fellow waterfowlers, I seek your knowledge! I remember reading a post about preferences to ground layout blind's, but can't seem to find the one I was looking for. Our crew has hunted Saskatchewan four times and are now in the market for some new toy's In your experienced opinion what is the best bang for your buck? Also, we have used sihlouettes and Texas rags and are finding out that the snow's are getting very smart to them unless it is extremely windy. Full bodies are the way to go from what I hear, but are very expensive. Was thinking about mixing some full bodies with shells. Any opinion's? Thank's! BC

[Nova]

I prefer the layout bljnds from Avery. I have the finisher and love it. It is very similar to the Final approach x lander which I have also used, but I like the finisher better and it's less expensive and I think quicker and easier to set up. If you're looking for a little less expensive the power hunter is a good blind, not as comfortable. It's more or less a camo sleeping bag with a dome for your head, but the dome makes it very easy to call using both hands while being concealed. the birds never see your hands or face. As far as the decoys, I haven't hunted snows enough to make a valid argument either way.

[IceHawk]

First off welcome to the site!! As far as lay-out blinds I have Avery's and Final Aproaches. Both are good blinds but in my opinion the FA's are the best product out there right now. I have the Pro-Guides roomy and durable.

As far as hunting snows I am a snow goose fanatic!!! I have chased them for years in the Dakotas it has been a battle at times but when everything works and the tornado's come down it's all worth it. As far as decoys I run around 800-1100 decoys. Numbers defiantely are the key but I have had good shoots with as little as 100 decoys.

My spread consists of mostly Northwind windsocks but I also incorporate silo's and shells with a good number of goose-magnets. I do set about 2 dz full bodies, they work great (look realistic) but storage issues and cost are a problem so I won't be adding any-more.

For a good spread I highly recomend Northwinds, with some shells mixed in. I custom paint some of the Northwinds to resemble blues and juvei's and this makes a big differnce. As far as the texas rags I have used them with success at times, but I feel they rattle in strong winds and this alarms the birds. I no longer use them I have switched to Northwinds and silo-socks. What ever you set put your best decoys out front and use your others to fill in your spread. By doing this they will key on your best stuff up front and won't be as alarmed. Hope this helps any other questions fire away.

[Big Country]

Nova, that helps a lot. I remember the post saying some of the layouts are nothing more than a sleeping bag on a backrest. I should have pointed out that we are all above six foot and two hundred pounds plus. Comfort will be an issue.

Icehawk, Rags are definetly a no-no according to the guides up there. And good point about adding color to make some of the birds look like blues. Same thing one of the guides told us last year. We have been useing all white. If you see a large flock feeding on the ground you will notice lot's of blue's inter-mixed. We will be adding color this next season. Met a father and son combo up there last time that had all the decoy's but nailed the bird's useing predominately windsocks. Our crew is thinking on a small amount of full bodies, windsock's, then shell's. Thank's for the help and warm gretting's guy's. BC

[koutdoors]

BC. I know where you can pick up a blind for a good price. Shoot me an email.

[email protected]

[bigswede]

Big Country,

I feel your pain when it comes to blinds. I am 6'7" and a svelt 300+. I tried lots of blinds before I saw the FA Legacy. If you go to their HSOforum you'll find it and it states.. Made specifically for teh big and tall hunter. Used it this fall fir teh first time and LOVED it. Lots of room even fro me. I never had trouble with brushing my shoulders or anything. Sorry I cant help on the dekes, butlooks like there is plenty of info on that.

[Big Country]

Thanks Bigswede. I will check out the legacy on Final Approach's web site. BC

[Big Country]

O.K., after all the research our crew decided on final approach's sub. My cousin took a look at the last 3 at a local shop for $159 and decided it's what we are going with. Anyone ever use them? BC

[IceHawk]

BC- I haven't used that one yet looks good let us know later after hunting in it what your thought's are.

[Big Country]

I will let everyone know my thoughts on this blind sometime soon. I might pick it up from my cousin and set it up this weekend just to get the feel of it. BC

[MuskyBug85]

hey guys i picked up an S.U.B. for late season ducks and geese this year. I am 6'7" and 210 just thought i would start out by saying that it is a very nice blind for guys shorter then 6'1" and thin, it is a tight fit in comparision to my bro's migrator but for the price it is hard to beat. I have mine in field khaka and love the color, works well in tilled under corn that we have down in southern Mn. well there are my two cents if you are shorter and thin it is a great blind other wise i might look at something else.

[Big Country]

Thanks for the output MuskyBug85. Like I said in previous post, we just bought ours and I am going to put it together and see what she feels like this weekend. I am 6-3 and weigh 225. The price was very good. Hopefully it will work out. Will keep all posted. Thanks BC

[Rost]

I also have an SUB. I love the blind except for how it folds up to carry. It's like carrying a card table. I bought it thinking how rare it is not to be able to drive out in the field...well, the first 4 or 5 times I used it this year I had to carry it out.

[MuskyBug85]

rost i laughed when i read your post because i thought the same thing the first time i had to carry it out in a field.

[Big Country]

Guy's,the main reason we bought these are for Canada. We always drive through the fields. All we hunt in is stubble and the farmers don't mind. I don't see myself carrying my blind around much. Time will tell I guess. Most situations up there we get to drive right up, unload, then set up. So I really think they are going to work. I will let everyone know after trying them out. As all ways, thank's for the input. BC

[Rost]

The sales guy told me to set it up, throw some decoys in it and use it as a sled....don't do this! It wears holes through.

[iamgmc]

For you guys that are either big or tall I would recomend going to your favorite sports shop laying the blinds on the floor and climbing in.Would'nt hurt to bring along the heaviest hunting jacket you have,it will make a differnce,I myself use Avery finishers.Faboric has held up well,hardware could use some tweeking new models probably already made modifacations,

[wooduck26]

Well I am no Snowgoose expert but I have hunted them enough to know this much.............They will pick out a layout blind quicker that you can imagine! We used to uise the FA blinds and have all switched to X'Landers, they are the lowest profile and hide the best........also they are thin enough to fit between the rows in a corn field wich makes them virtually invisible! I have actually "lost" my blind in the decoys! Also a thing to think about it portability........they are very portable and lightweight.......thats my .02!

[jda53]

FYI-If you are planning on adding "color" blues, juvies etc in Sask you can not run your e-caller-IMO much more important than thousands of dekes. As far as lay-out blinds have 2: FA xlander-too small, gooseview xterminator-too big profile and cheaper made so post up on the SUB- Check out Knutson's collapsable snow goose dekes have been pleasantly surprised. We leave to eradicate snows in 59 days...if I was counting

[wooduck26]

Quote:

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As far as lay-out blinds have 2: FA xlander-too small, gooseview xterminator-too big

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The X'Lander is small, but thts the point insnt it? to be able to HIDE a blind, if you wanna be comfortable get a Pro Guide, and shoot less birds its up to you.............I guess if I wanted to be comfortable and in a roomy blind I would use a Legacy...............Use an X'Lander you wont regret the hiding capabilities!

[stayman79]

X-lander is the way to go. Lowest profile, narrow and comfortable. Unless your over about 6'3", then it gets a little tight, I hear. I hunt with jda53 and he owns 2 of them, I just got one from santa, so our group uses the x-lander almost exclusively. When he said they are too small it's only because he's 6'6".

[jda53]

Hey Stayman thanks for pointing out that I am freakishly large. I do love the profile of the Xlander but after only 2-3 hours my knees are killing me. I often have to unzip the footbag and stick my size 14s out the end. I was responding to Big Country--it sounds like he would have similar problems with the "X". I do think they have made the X bigger-the 2 my party runs are +4 yrs old, but I have gotten in a "newer" model and it does seem roomier.

[Big Country]

Thanks to all who have responded. I am happy to report that my two cousins who are as big as I am (and about as crazy as I am might I add) set their new F/A SUBS up in the living room and drove their families nuts by laying in them and trying out their snow goose calling techniques. They reported plenty of room. I talked to them about all the discussion here on the forum. We feel that after the snows are pounded this winter in the south then take another pounding on the way back north, they will have plenty of time to chill out all summer until we meet them this fall. The birds have not seen a single hunter for many months and up where we hunt in Saskatchewan we may be one of the first that they see. With that being said, we feel these layouts will do excellent for their intended use. This year we are taking four dozen shells much like the ones jda53 suggested, two dozen sillosocks, two dozen sihlouettes, and plenty of rags, only if we need them. We are mixing blues and juveniles into the decoys. We have never had to use electronic callers, but may some day. It's a long time until that day comes fella's, but rest assured, I will report on our findings. Thank you again for all the comments. You're ideas have pointed us in the right direction BC