| The majority of goose decoys on the market | | | | Silhouettes can be made yourself from ¼" |
| today are capable of helping you harvest more | | | | mahogany (luan) plywood or purchased from |
| geese, with some decoys being much more | | | | several different manufactures. When purchasing |
| realistic than others. With that being said probably | | | | silhouette decoys try to avoid smooth plastic |
| the bigger decision is what type of decoy should a | | | | decoys are this type of surface tends to shine on |
| hunter purchase, or own to have at his disposal to | | | | sunny days. Decoys with a layer of fabric applied |
| match the conditions he faces through out the | | | | before the image of a goose will have a textured |
| season. | | | | surface and will not shine even in bright sunlight |
| Full Bodies | | | | when goose hunting is often the best. |
| Without a doubt the most realistic goose decoy | | | | Shell Decoys |
| type is the full body. These decoys are also | | | | Goose shell decoys are a three dimensional decoy |
| constructed of very durable polyethylene plastic | | | | like a full body, but with the belly missing. Unlike |
| and are an exact replica of a live goose, even the | | | | silhouette decoys shell decoys remain visible to |
| feet in most cases. Over the years | | | | above and approaching geese at all times. Modern |
| manufacturers have also added several different | | | | shell decoys are constructed from very durable |
| postures to their line up. As with the shells, full | | | | polyethylene plastic. From overhead shell decoys |
| body decoy bodies have excellent feather detail | | | | look very realistic due to the feather texture |
| molded right into the plastic and feature detailed | | | | molded into the plastic and detailed paint work. |
| paint work, some more so than others. One | | | | Shell decoys are also very portable as the missing |
| limitation of the full bodies versus the shells is | | | | belly portion allows the hunter to stack the |
| motion. Full body decoys are typically built on | | | | decoys. By being stackable 3-4 dozen decoys will |
| stands including the big black feet, because of this | | | | fit easily into most decoy bags, versus a hunter |
| there is no motion. A hunter can modify this | | | | only being able to carry maybe 6 full bodies. |
| setup by detaching the decoy from the stand and | | | | Another option possible with shell decoys is the |
| using a motion stake. Because full bodies are not | | | | use of motion stakes. With a light breeze the |
| stackable permission to drive a vehicle, perhaps | | | | decoys will wobble and turn slowly giving the |
| with a decoy trailer, is almost a must. | | | | illusion of real waddling geese. Another advantage |
| Silhouette Decoys | | | | of any stake is that it gets the decoy off the |
| A very simplistic design first used by early goose | | | | ground so that it becomes much more visible to |
| hunters, this decoy remains a very viable option | | | | passing geese. |
| for goose hunters and also remains the most | | | | In Conclusion |
| portable option for hunters. Because geese | | | | There really is no one best decoy. It depends on |
| generally fly and circle a spread of decoys lower | | | | your hunting style and the conditions you hunt in. |
| than ducks, this type of decoy silhouettes are | | | | For example during a wet hunting season no |
| much more effective for geese than ducks. While | | | | farmer is going to let you drive a truck and |
| some hunters may say silos don't work near as | | | | decoy trailer on his fields, so having some shells |
| well as full bodies they may not setting up the | | | | and silos at your disposal is a plus. And of course |
| silos in the best fashion. When geese are directly | | | | every hunter's individual budget is also going to |
| overhead of silhouette decoys they will disappear, | | | | play a significant role in what decoys they decide |
| because of this the hunter needs to put more | | | | to purchase. Also, if you only hunt geese a few |
| distance between groups of silos than let's shells | | | | times a year why purchase the most expensive |
| or full bodies. By doing so the hunter can actually | | | | decoys? I would recommend you purchase the |
| creates the illusion of movement. While decoys | | | | best you can comfortably afford. Remember |
| directly below disappear, others remain visible, and | | | | there's a lot of other gear and even gas to buy |
| then seconds later, the decoys that once weren't | | | | through out the hunting season. |
| visible now become visible again. | | | | |