[skier2215]

Our group is starting to get a pretty good number of full-bodies but I'm thinking we might be getting a little heavy on one body style.

What does everyone use for full-body goose decoy ratios when field hunting? For example, I heard the other day you should only have 1 sentry per dozen. Is that true for the actives also? What about feeders? Does it change throughout the season?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[bullcan]

Our group is starting to get a pretty good number of full-bodies but I'm thinking we might be getting a little heavy on one body style.

What does everyone use for full-body goose decoy ratios when field hunting? For example, I heard the other day you should only have 1 sentry per dozen. Is that true for the actives also? What about feeders? Does it change throughout the season?

Thanks in advance for any help.

I know guys that use nothing but sleepers late in the year.

 

[mallard26]

I actually just figured the numbers today...My group just upped our full body spread from 10 to 15 dz this year... 3 of us split up the cost for 5 more dz...

To give an example: out of 5 dz, 2.5dz were feeders, 1.5dz were actives, and 1 dz sentries for extra measure

out total FB spread looks like this:
8z feeders
5.5 dz actives
1.5dz sentries

1/4 of our dekes are ffds

Not to mention the 3 dz shells that we have that have a mix of head positions

 

[mallard26]

As for # of sentry theory... It depends... Watch/listen to the birds in the field... I use no fewer than 2 regardless.... And have use as many as 8 with only 2 dz other dekes... If the birds are vocal I'll use more... If not I'll use fewer.... You geese that call at birds in the air are not actives all the time and def not feeders... I personally have no experience with the number of sentries hurting our groups success

 

[TheDuckSlayer]

well we were in a field this morning, and I had 37 out for 2 of us, and 400 to 500 came at us, so more..is what i learned much much more

 

[Rankin]

I try to have at least 2 sentry per 5 feeders, I also have mostly Bigfoots but just got 2 dz full flock tangelfrees I mix in.

 

[Gude]

Is there going to be a test at the end of the season? Seems like a lot of math and theories to remember.

Use more feeders (a lot more) than actives/sentries then shoot em when their feet drop. If youre not killing birds, it won't be because your ratios are off.

 

[Condn]

If youre not killing birds, it won't be because your ratios are off.

x2

 

[skier2215]

Thanks for the advice guys. It sounds like go heavy on the feeders and after that quit over-thinking it!

 

[Oscar]

Out of my approx 15 dz FFD's I think I Have 4 Lookers/Sentry.

I would say out of my FB spread I have 85% feeders 13% "others" and 2% lookers

 

[Iowa_Ducks]

Watch live geese sometime in a field and that should help personally I think people get carried away with to many feeders. I have more actives then I do feeders just for the fact usually out of a flock of a dozen or so birds there is usually only a few eating at a time while the rest look out or are milling around the field in search of food. Another thing with allot of feeders scattered around it can make it look like there is allot of feed in the field.

 

[mallard26]

Watch live geese sometime in a field and that should help personally I think people get carried away with to many feeders. I have more actives then I do feeders just for the fact usually out of a flock of a dozen or so birds there is usually only a few eating at a time while the rest look out or are milling around the field in search of food. Another thing with allot of feeders scattered around it can make it look like there is allot of feed in the field.

1) Alot of feed is a good thing
2) If there is alot of feed or isn't, the geese will also be the judge of that. They can see grain suprisingly well.
3) you hunt fields to catch them as they come into FEED.

Be on the x and you won't have problems. Period. With 1 or 100 decoys.

(Here's is your post and my response)

 

[J. Abbas]

70% Feeders 30% active................Until the snow flies then we are opposite with the actives feed pulled up (depending on the time of day). The game is too big to type it on a forum.

 

[Iowa_Ducks]

As long as your on the X I wouldn't worry about the ratio.

 

[J. Abbas]

As long as your on the X I wouldn't worry about the ratio.

HUH?????

 

[Iowa_Ducks]

The landing zone where the birds wanna feed and be.

 

[ringbill]

I grab every decoy I have when I head to the feild. Ratio's don't mean squat to the geese I am killing!

But, I will say I have more feeders than actives or lookers.

When you scout geese, do you look for geese that are feeding in a feild, or geese that are just standing in a feild?

 

[J. Abbas]

The landing zone where the birds wanna feed and be.

Yeah, Got the X thing. But you would suggest all sentry even on the X?

 

[Iowa_Ducks]

Where are you coming from on this???? I never said anything about all sentries.

 

[J. Abbas]

As long as your on the X I wouldn't worry about the ratio.

This was your suggestion?

So I ask would 100% sentry and 0% feeder work. Ratio does matter, always will matter. Not ripping you just informing you your suggestion was incorrect. You can shoot birds with anything every once in a while, for consistancy this is one of the big highlighted areas guys over look.