Goose Hunting has risen substantially in popularity over the past decade for good reason. Today there are more birds than ever to shoot and the bag limits are larger than ever. Sitting in a layout blind in a field or a camouflage blind near the water and calling a flock of geese in is great fun and excitement. The equipment for the modern day goose hunter is much better than ever and can help to achieve great success. One of the pieces of equipment that has changed tremendously in the past decade is goose decoys. Today there are many types varieties and purposes for goose decoys. This page will outline all of the various types and companies that produce goose decoys in the marketplace today.

When starting goose hunting it can be very daunting to begin the process of determining what styles and types of goose hunting decoys do I need. To determine what types of goose hunting decoys you need as a hunter, it is important to understand the differences between goose decoys. Essentially goose hunters do two forms of hunting for geese:

• Field Hunting
• Open Water Hunting

Field hunting geese involves setting up a large decoy spread in a freshly picked or harvested stubble field of corn or other grain. The goal is set up a decoy spread that resembles geese feeding in thier migration route. Hopefully a masterfully created decoy spread will lure a flock or two of geese into your goose decoy spread.

Open water hunting geese is much different that field hunting. The goal is to attract geese to the water to rest, feed or roost for the evening. The decoy spreads resemble ducks, geese and other waterfowl in a natural spread setting on the open water. Rather than attract huge flocks of geese, open water goose hunting usually attracts a smaller flock of geese.

As the video previewed above their is an a method to the madness when setting up a goose decoy spread. It is important to remember many factors when setting up the goose decoy spread. One of the challenges is filtering your way through all of the goose decoys that are available.

Here is a list of the goose decoys for field hunting:

1. Feeders (Full Bodied)
2. Feeder (Shells)
3. Goose socks
4. Goose flags
5. Spinning Wing

Feeder Decoys are great decoys to use in both the water and the field. The full bodied goose decoys as shown in the video above give great realism to your decoy spread. Feeder decoys are primarily used in the field and create the image that geese are feeding. The full bodied decoys which include the feet, and not just the shell, help to give the illusion that the geese are moving. Feeder decoys can be used in the water as well in the shallows. It is a little used technique that can be deadly. Most of the major manufacturers make full bodied feeders including: Greanhead Gear, Flambeau and Big Foot.

Shell decoys are exactly that - a shell of goose. They do not include legs and many of the extras that the full bodied decoys do. The primary advantage of the shell decoy is that they are inexpensive relative to the full bodied goose decoys. Shells can be used in combination with the full bodied feeders to fill out the decoy spread and give the appearance of many geese feeding. The other advantage is that they can be set up in volume relatively quickly, a simple post and placement of the decoy is all that is needed. The most common shell decoy is the Carrylite decoy.

Goose Socks most commonly sold by Silosock goose decoys, are decoys that help give motion to your decoy spread. Essentially they are lightweight shell decoys that move in the wind. The body of the decoy fills when the wind moves and gives a appearance of geese feeding with movement in their bodies. Using Silosocks with other decoys often yields deadly results.

Goose Flags are not decoys, but a kite like flag that a hunter can waive on final approach. The flag looks like wings flapping in the air and can be very useful for geese that are shy to landing in your decoys. Goose flags are a great technique for late season geese that are gun shy.

Spinning Wing decoys are motion decoys where the wings spin in the wind or via battery power. The spinning wing decoy, much like the goose sock and goose flag gives necessary motion to the decoy spread. Not a primary component of many hunters decoy spread, but can be useful in creating a unique presentation to geese.