decoy questions

[gdolby]

Good day, the honkers are finally here and I have a few questions . when hunting over crop fields how do you set your decoys up(pattern)? some of my decoys are getting scratched and faded. Is boat paint usable? having a hard time finding flat paint. Last question, anybody ever use flocking? If so is it worht the trouble. Thanks and good shooting to all...Bill

[Specklebelly]

Good day, the honkers are finally here and I have a few questions . when hunting over crop fields how do you set your decoys up(pattern)? some of my decoys are getting scratched and faded. Is boat paint usable? having a hard time finding flat paint. Last question, anybody ever use flocking? If so is it worht the trouble. Thanks and good shooting to all...Bill

Bill

We put are decoys between 25 and 35 yards from the blind, then 25 yards left and right from the middle (30 yards).  Hope this makes sense.  Then we put the geese in family groups of 2-6 with a space between the families, usually a hole in the middle for landing.  We currently use 10 dozen shells plus six of those giant decoys spread around the edges.

The boat paint will work as long as it does not shine.  I never have used flocking and do pretty well without it.

Hope this helps.

Speck

[gdolby]

specklebelly,
 thanks for your reply. I hunt with only 2 dozen of the super mag shells. But I kind of downsized your advice and it worked. By the time I could get out the majority of geese had left but still got my limit in about 2 hours of fun. Hearing the wing beats and seeing them come in is good as getting one. You said boat paint would work I know cabelas has a kit and wondered if you are familiar with it or do you have a suggestion as to where I could get some that will. Thanks and good hunting.....Bill

[Specklebelly]

specklebelly,
 thanks for your reply. I hunt with only 2 dozen of the super mag shells. But I kind of downsized your advice and it worked. By the time I could get out the majority of geese had left but still got my limit in about 2 hours of fun. Hearing the wing beats and seeing them come in is good as getting one. You said boat paint would work I know cabelas has a kit and wondered if you are familiar with it or do you have a suggestion as to where I could get some that will. Thanks and good hunting.....Bill

Glad you had some success this morning.  I agree nothing beats the sound and sight of geese flying by and seeing them in action.  Last time I went out we (3 of us) limited out on Canada's in a little over an hour.  It was one of those once in a season days that won't happen again until next year.  We stayed around about four more hours waiting on snows and specks to get close enough.  In that time we had hundreds of Canada's fly over within range and it was an awesome sight.  We had some land and even sleep in our decoys.  I love the goose fields more than any type of hunting.

On your decs, I have never used the Cabelas kit but I did buy one from Herters quite a while ago and it worked fine.  I would give it a try as I am sure the paint is field tested.  One other place I just thought of and would try is G&H decoys.  They are in eastern OK and may sell you some paint as well.  Their website is http://www.ghdecoys.com/ and phone number is 1-800-GHDECOY.

Good luck