# of dekes

[Goosin VA]

I just wanted to know what size spread anyone uses. To pro-staffers and regular message board users.
Connor Mulherin
Powhatan, Va

[Kyle Scott]

Connor,

90% of my hunting takes place in the Mississippi Flyway. The number of decoys that we use in our spread depends entirely on the birds that we are hunting. There are days that we hunt over 12 to 18 full body decoys and there are days that we may hunt over a spread of 150 to 200 full body decoys. We generally spend more time scouting and watching birds than we do hunting them. We gauge our spreads by what we observe. If I had to guess an average spread size that we use, It would be between 75 and 100 full body decoys.

[Rusty Hallock]

Connor,

Diver Rig: 5 dz. GHG Bluebills. I will be adding 2 dz. GHG O.S. Cans this season.

Puddle Duck Rig: 2 dz. GHG Mallard Decoys - Mixture of Life Size and Over Size. I always use a few O.S. Goose Floaters with my puddle duck rig.

Goose Floater Rig: 2 dz. GHG O.S. Goose Floaters

Field Rig: 8 dz. GHG Full Bodies and 5 dz. GHG O.S. Shells. I will be adding a few dozen GHG Pro-Grade and Lesser Full Bodies and Full Body Mallards this year.

Like Kyle said, my spreads will vary in size determined by the birds.

[Mark "LA CROSS" Hoke]

CONNER IT SOUNDS LIKE RUSTY AND KYLE COVERED MOST OF THE BASES. WATCH THE BIRDS IN THE AREA YOU ARE HUNTING AND WEATHER THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE EDGE. SOME DAYS LESS IS BEST. :cool:

............................
MARK HOKE
AVERY PRO-STAFF
ZINK PRO-STAFF

[DeWayne Knight]

It really depends on the circumstances. I have a saying: "There is alway a group of geese that are the first ones to the field". By that I mean the first birds could be a group of 5 or 100. You don't always have to run dozens of decoys. We have shot limits of honkers over as few as 8 Greenhead Gear Fullbodies. Their realism makes sheer numbers less important. That being said, it is a unique situation when you can run very few. Depending on the number of blinds we are deploying, it may be 8 - 9 dozen decoys.

[Paul Cupka]

Connor,
I think you are talking about goose spreads, from the info I've gathered from talking to you in the past. Correct me if I am wrong. The trailer currently has 7 dozen GHG Fullbodies, 1 dozen Big Foots w/ GHG Flocked Big Foot Replacement Heads, and 2 dozen GHG Oversized Shells. I think I have like a dozen Pro-Grades and a dozen Fully Flocked Elites on order. Water rig consists of 3 1/2 GHG Floaters. The determining factors for how many are employed is much the same of what has been said. Scouting, the total number of birds I see in the area, the size of the area I am hunting (don't want to choke the area up) and how the birds are using that area. As you know, the fields and pastures around here vary from a few acres to a few hundred, so I try to match what I saw in the area I am going to hunt. For the small farmland that may be 18-24, and for the bigger areas (Lake Anna Region) every decoy we got. Also, the point of how many blinds will be out also affects the numbers we employ. Do your homework and set up how they were the day before. It has been said, there is always a first group into the area, be it 5 or 100. Good luck this year, and thanks for your interest in Avery products.

[Paul Cupka]

Rusty,
I know this guy from VA that has a pretty big diver rig that would look real good mixed up with yours on that big pond you guys have! Let me know I could probably hook you guys up :D

[Paul Cupka]

Conner and fellow VA hunters,
FYI, Rob just called and said that Greentop's shipment should be in sometime next week, so make sure to give them a shout if you are looking at adding to your spread!

[Cryfowl]

Depends what I'm hunting for:

Ringnecks--------4 doz
Bluebills--------4 doz
Cans/Redheads----7 doz
Seaducks---------5-6 doz
Mallards---------2 doz
Wigeon-----------6+ doz
Pintail----------6+ doz
Bufflehead-------1-2 doz
Teal-------------2 doz
Goldeneye--------1 doz
When I used to goose hunt I used 12 dozen Silouettes, a dozen Supermags and about 6 dozen shells, not including the windsocks/rags and 3 doze floaters if needed.

[Cory Niccum]

well like everyone said it all depends on what part of the season it is. I hunt alot of public ground so:

mallards: 13 doz ghg
pintail: 2 doz ghg
teal: 3 doz ghg
gadwell: 2 doz ghg
woodys: 1 doz ghg
wigeon: 2 doz ghg
spoony: 1 doz ghg

for geese:

GHG Floaters: 7 doz
GHG Shells: 5 doz
GHG Fullbodies: 8 doz

when we hunt snows we put out up to 2500 rags, shells, silos, basically anything thats white.

[Rob Jepson]

Canada Goose rig to date consists of 9 dz L/S GHG FB's (Feeder, Active, & Looker Styles)and 5 dz O/S Shells. All of this in a 6' x 10' trailer w/ blinds, etc. Wow! I am adding a few dz. of the new L/S Lessers and FFD Elites as well as 3 dz L/S FB Mallards.

Does 10 lbs. of potatoes in a 5 lb. sack sound familiar?

Rob Jepson
Avery Pro-Staff Relations Manager

[Scott Turpen]

You must just throw it all in there and slam the door and hope it doesn't bust. I was worried about my stuff fitting in a 6x10 v-nose. :rolleyes:

We run about 5 dozen fullbodies and 2 1/2 dozen floaters. Just depends on what we are seeing in the area.

[Paul Cupka]

TN Hunter,
So you know Rob? Or atleast you have seen his trailer. :D Sorry, Rob, I couldn't help myself.

[imported_Derek Rambo]

I sure would like to see Rob's trailer stuffed in person...oh...wait....I was not invited even though I was told I would be after a pretty good Texas hunt!!!
:D

meow

[imported_Derek Rambo]

Typical set up for me...

Ducks:
3-6 dz GHG LS Mallards. Adding 2 dz LS Mallard Fullbodies this year!
Dz GHG LS Wigeon
Dz GHG LS Gadwall
2-14 GHG Canada Floaters

Geese:
2-7 dz GHG Canada Fullbodies(feeders, actives, lookers)adding 2 dz lessers this year!
3 dz GHG shells(late season during real cold days)
3-7 dz silos

[Paul Cupka]

Rambo,
It's tough to get in w/ them MD guys!! If you do get the invite, be sure to wear a helmet when the doors open on that trailer. :eek:
Oh, I know I'm in for it when Rob reads this!!!

[Goosin VA]

Thanks for all the replies guys, I was just curious because where I live and hunt the more the better in most cases unless I'm hunting small farms which I do alot.

I really enjoy hearing from other Virginians and the Maryland boys.

Thanks for the Replies!
Connor Mulherin
Powhatan VA

[Paul Cupka]

Conner,
Keep up the homework, it's the only way to get better. You have an open invite to join us anytime.

[Rusty Hallock]

Paul,

I do not even think a helmet could protect you from Rob's trailer. Rob is going to add a few more dozen GHG Pro-Grades and Lessers. All I can say is stand clear. :eek:

[Robb Nicolay]

Be aware of the number of birds in your area. I know in the area that I hunt in Wyoming if the birds are flying in big numbers I try to hunt over a bigger spread of around 10-12 dozen. Later in the year when everyone is still using a big spread, I tend to cut down on my spread to 4 dozen to give the geese a different look. The birds are the masters they will tell you what to do.