FB Snow Goose Question??

[Cody Frazier]

Alright guys, I am looking at buying 6 FB Snows and 4 snow goose floaters to put out at our lease in AR. We consistently see thousands of snows flying about 100 yards up. We usually kill 1 or 2 everytime but they are just one's that got a little too low. There are some specks mixed in, but not as many of them as snows.

I am looking to add a few of these to put on the levees and in the shallow water. I want realism so I have a few quesitons.

-Is 10 snows my best bet? Any specks? Keep in mind I am only buying a 6 pack of FB's and a 4 pack of floaters.
-Where should I put them in relation to my duck spread? Just downwind or what?
-Would you buy actives or feeders to put on the levees and in shallow water?

I plan on taking these decoys up after each hunt and deploying them each time so the geese don't get conditioned to seeing them. I am gonna use a 6-slot bag for this.

-Is this small group of 10 white geese gonna help or hurt my duck killin? Is it gonna make a significant improvement in the number of specks/snows that drop down low enough for a shot?


Sorry for all the questions guys, I am just looking to add some realism to my setup this year. This is your typical flooded rice field pit blind setup.

All comments and suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks!

[Keath Wetovick]

My luck has been to put the snows upwind of your spread, so if they decide to flare or what not, there right over the blind.

[Rick Frisch]

I agree, you need to get them up wind to shoot the incoming snows. Is 10 as effective as a couple hundred? Probably not, but you are getting a good start. I would rather go with realistic decoys than rags.

Thanks,

[duckboy1]

it will help your duck hunting. they can see those from a long ways! i dont know if it will help much with the snows but it will help with specks! learn how to blow a speck call and you should do fine with singles and small groups. i run a couple dozen snows and just a few specks and most of the time they are down wind but sometimes i have them upwind. depends on how the birds want them. that being said i target specks and only get a couple snows a year. the specks love white decoys!

[Cody Frazier]

Thanks for the input so far guys and keep it coming.

So even though it will work good on specks you reccomend the snow decoys and not specks?
-Would you even fool with the floaters?

[duckboy1]

well it depends how deep is the water? my self i would rather have floaters. unless it is shallow. you can have some specks but the snows show up from along ways and gets the attention of specks and ducks. or if you want to and i do this also is to take some goose shells if the water is not to deep and put them in stakes and put them at water level. works just fine. more decoys without the price and still look great!

[Eric Larsgaard]

I have killed many Snows by just setting up in the middle of large groups of birds. When they start trading back and forth that is when the small spreads turn out deadly. We normally only put out about 2-4 Dz when we can find a good snow line and many birds in a general area.

Eric

[SwampHunter]

If your watr is not any deeper than three foot I would use fullbodies and put them on dowels. When I say this I mean take a dowel rod and drill a hole in the top to accept the stake for the fullbody. Then place these upwind of your spread just a bit. It gives the illusion of shallow water plus the fullbodies are something that has not been utilized much in this way here, thus making for a deadly spread.
As for numbers.... hard to say. I would suggest saving up for at least a couple dozen Snows/Blues and at least 6 Speck. With a water spread, you don't need alot.... or at least we don't.

[Christian Curtis]

This is just an opinion so take it for what it's worth. Forget the Snow Goose decoys and buy your self Specks instead. My reasoning:

1. You already kill "one or two" Snows every day and I don't think that 10 Snow Goose decoys will improve those numbers.

2. You hunt in Arkansas and depending on where you are, Specks are normally real plentiful.

3. 10 Speck decoys is more than enough to put the hammer down on Specks. I use between 6 and a 12 at each pit and have great success.

4. Not much out there prettier than watching a couple of Specks "bow up" and do it right!

There is my reasoning...

[Cody Frazier]

thanks for the input Christian and others.
Would you even fool with 4 floaters?

Still sayin put them upwind and a little seperated from the duck spread?

[Rick Frisch]

I am still trying to picture Eric finding a snow line to snow goose hunt? What is your weapon of choice again - a Canon or a Nikon? I can't forget how you and Jim put it to me on that deal.

[Scott Moates]

Cody, I would have to totally agree with CC on this. I know you would have better succes by adding some Full Body Specks to your spread than that amount of Snows. If you don't already know how to, I would learn how to call Specks. You will increase your chances of killing more geese and with the Speck decoys out and you will get an occasional juvie snow or blue to come in. Plus, if you have never eaten a Speck, you will love it.

I have hunted in AR a little bit and have had great success by adding half a dozen to a dozen Specks out. They work much better to a call than the snows will and it will really add to the hunt. What part of AR is your lease in?

[Cody Frazier]

Scott, the lease is in Harrisburg.

So, Final Question

-12 Shells on motion stakes or 6 Speck FB's on motion bases?

-If FB's would you say actives or feeders?

Thanks Scott and all others! :)

[duckboy1]

-12 Shells on motion stakes or 6 Speck FB's on motion bases?

-If FB's would you say actives or feeders?

as for the decoys both kinds will work and kill geese if you go with full bodys i would go with actives. and when you do set your decoys out (specks) i would always have atleast 2 that are clsoe by as caller geese the specks really home in on that calling and i have allways found that is better to have a couple near you.

[TxHonker]

If I was carrying them in I would use the speck fb's. They will be lighter for sure. You can get a dozen in the big 6 slot bags or the new six slot bag for them is awsome to.The realism is unbelievable. As said earlier if your water is to deep for the stakes just add some rod to them. Good Luck !