The Best Goose Decoys for Hunting: A Comprehensive Guide

The Best Goose Decoys for Hunting: A Comprehensive Guide

When it comes to hunting geese, you need the best gear possible to ensure a successful hunt. Among the important pieces of equipment are your best decoys. There are several different types and styles of goose decoys reviewed on the market today, so it can be very difficult to decide which ones are right for you. Whether you want to use EVA plastic or White Rock decoys, knowing what to use is important before going on the field. In this blog post, we will discuss the different types of goose decoys and recommend some of the most popular and best models available on the market today. Let’s get started!

Our staff went out to choose and review the most popular goose decoys on the market this season, as resident goose hunting began for many waterfowl hunters. This list of top picks is guaranteed to put a few more birds to rest with entire bodies and silhouettes, floaters, and motion-makers.

The Best Goose Decoys for Hunting: A Comprehensive Guide

Avery/GHG – Pro-Grade Silhouettes


The silhouette decoy is one of the most popular current trends among goose hunters. There’s nothing new about the concept; goose chasers have been using silhouettes constructed from all kinds of materials for decades. What makes this generation so appealing is carrying it anywhere and still looking realistic.

Greenhead Gear has created a new line of light, stackable, and very realistic decoys. They use photo print technology to make the decoys look like real birds. The decoys come in packs of 12, with six feeders and six active decoys.

Tanglefree – Flight Speck Floaters


What do speckle bellies enjoy? Water, of course! As a result, no self-respecting speck hunter can be without floating decoys in his or her arsenal. These are some fantastic ones from Tanglefree that look good and withstand heavy usage. The Flight Speck Floaters mold them from Michael Braun’s world-famous one-piece carvings. Each active posture decoy has a weighted keel, lifelike feather detail, and color-correct paint scheme (whether you chase specks in California, Louisiana, Arkansas, or anywhere in between). Similar to the Dakota Decoy Signature Series, these decoys perform their job whether you’re looking for specks in California, Louisiana, Arkansas, or anyplace else!

LSP Webfoot – Pro Series Silhouettes II


The Real-Geese silhouettes were the first to be mass-produced for the marketplace in the goose decoy silhouette area. They began to appear on Wildfowl pages back in 1991, with advertisements touting them. Silhouettes were previously handmade versions constructed of whatever flat material was available and then hand-painted.

Today, Real-Geese silhouettes from LSP Webfoot are still popular. They started with Canada goose decoys and have now expanded to include snows, specks, sandhill cranes, and ducks. But the Canadian models are still the most popular. The Pro Series II is their best model. These are big, beautiful silhouettes that are about 15% bigger than a 10-pound honker. They have a patented, textured, non-reflective surface that makes them look real. They also come in 12 different poses for an even more realistic effect.

Dive Bomb Industries – V2AF Silhouettes


Silhouettes save room, weight, and set up time while also creating the stunning illusion of motion for circling birds, so what’s not to like? It’s the age-old silhouette problem: they’re two-dimensional. Dive Bomb Decoy is a major silhouette maker in today’s market, and some fantastic ones are available. They even have

The company came up with a new type of flat decoy. It is called the V2AF, and it is two geese standing side by side and overlapping. This gives the illusion of 3D depth. The design is realistic and lightweight, making it challenging as well.

Big Al’s Silos – Ken White Super Speck Pack


The Super Speck pack, which Big Al’s Silhouette Decoys make in conjunction with former World Speck Calling Champion Ken White, is a great option. Ken has spent decades hunting specks on his home turf in California, perfecting decoying skills that bring specks close to the guns. These highly portable and lightweight decoys have photo-print realism, fluted plastic bodies, ultra-flat low-gloss finish, and two basic or spring steel stakes options. Hundreds of them are available, containing dozens of searcher, feeder, and alert body postures.

Final Approach – Live Full Body Specklebelly


Only the white-fronted goose, known as the specklebelly, rivals them in terms of numbers and popularity on the dinner table. They’re not just great to hunt and call; they’re also a lot more willing than Canada geese or snow Geese.
With their Live Full Body Specklebelly, Final Approach has entered the speck decoy industry. 

Only the white-fronted goose, known as the specklebelly, rivals them in terms of numbers and popularity on the dinner table. 

They’re not just great to hunt and call; they’re also a lot more willing than Canada geese or snow Geese. With their Live Full Body Specklebelly, Final Approach has entered the speck decoy industry. 

Dave Smith Decoys – Juvenile Snow Full Body


There are two types of decoys: realistic and Dave Smith decoys. Dave Smith is a man from Oregon who makes very lifelike decoys. He is very careful with the details, making sure that the feathers and colors are correct. This year, DSD has introduced a juvenile snow goose to the DSD snow and blue goose lines, as well as a new double down decoy style.

These decoys give this snow spread even more realism, with their incredible body detail and detailed paint jobs by DSD, one of the best in the business. Each decoy is equipped with extra-large motion cones for simple deployment and 20” stakes (30” versions available), color molded in leg stubs, and tail loops for easy pick-up.

Mojo Outdoors – Mini Flags


The spinning wing decoy was supposed to rain down money as it does with ducks, according to live geese hunters in the late 1990s. Sit back and enjoy while the snowflakes and specks rain down from all directions! Wrong! Spinners are bad news for geese because they don’t appreciate them. When hunting mixed fieldsets, remote-controlled spinners are a must.

The Mojo Mini Flags, a modification of the classic goose-hunting big attractant flags, are available. They distribute motion throughout a decoy set rather than concentrating it on one spot, much like the Flock-A-Flickers. They come in four different colors for versatility: light and dark flags.

Best Goose Decoys

There is a lot of gear and equipment you need for Goose hunting. One of the most important things you need is decoys. You need to know what the best Goose decoys are for the conditions you will be hunting in. To help you, we have put together a comprehensive list of Goose decoys for every type of hunting situation. We looked at each decoy’s manufacture, quality, price, and realism.

Goose hunting is a great experience when it comes to waterfowl. However, getting all the gear you need cannot be easy. We recommend working with a close friend or family member to help you get started in your goose hunting spread. If you work together as a group, you will have more decoys and will be able to pull down any migrating goose this fall.

What To Look For

When choosing a goose decoy, it is important to think about where you will be hunting. If you are hunting by a river or lake, you will need different decoys than hunting in a field or meadow. It would help to think about how easy the decoys are to carry. They should be durable and realistic, and they should also be affordable.

Durability

It is important to think about how durable they are when choosing decoys. Decoys need to stay in good condition for more than 60 days during each hunting season. I have always felt that “quality over quantity” is the best option, especially for the greatest geese decoys. If forced to pick between a small spread of durable and high-quality decoys and a larger spread of “cheap” decoys, the higher-quality goose decoy spread is the superior choice for two reasons:

  • First, increased durability means they will maintain their genuine appearance and be free of flaking paint, fractures, and chips.
  • Second, quality decoys will last for four years or more, saving you money in the long run.

Can use different materials to make decoys. The best material to use depends on how easy it is to get to the spot you will be hunting. It is easy to get to the spot, molded plastic is good. If it is a long way to your spot, foam or mixed materials would be better, so you don’t get tired of carrying them. Foam decoys also move more like real geese, which can help you catch one for dinner.

EVA plastic decoys are the most popular type of decoy for the most seasoned geese hunters. They last longer than other decoys and come in various weights and sizes. Plus, the technology has advanced to the point where the details on the decoys are very realistic, and they move in the wind.

Realism

Hunting geese can be very challenging. Unlike fool birds, they are smart birds and can be hard to fool. It would help if you had realistic decoys and a durable hunting setup to be successful. If just one goose senses something is wrong, they will keep flying away, and you will not catch anything.

It is the hardest to put in a decoy bag a beautiful bird near the end of the season. The birds have become very wary, and their senses are high alert. If you can perceive anything that does not appear natural or realistic, geese will perceive it better.

Realism in duck decoys refers to the level of detail in the paint job and the different motions that the decoys can make. Some flap in the wind like they are landing, others flap their wings like eating, and many other positions are available. Many hunters use two or three different duck decoys, sometimes more. The key is to make your decoys look like a real flock of ducks.

Portability

People who hunt geese for a living will tell you that it takes a lot of patience and being able to move around quickly. What worked yesterday could not work today. You also need to be able to set up decoys and take them down quickly.

Bulky and heavy, hard plastic goose decoys. They might be challenging to erect and dismantle. However, they are extremely durable. The majority of hunters favor them since they are the most durable. People invest a lot of money on these decoys, so they naturally want something durable.

If you can reach your blind through a four-wheeler or other mode of transport, the mode of transport you choose is irrelevant. But many places are only accessible by walking, and many wetlands are protected from vehicles. Taking a mix of decoys is recommended, but not necessary.

The Best Goose Decoys Reviews

Big Foot Full Body Goose Decoys


Numerous hunters prefer these strong plastic polyethylene decoys. They are durable and will survive for years, even when subjected to the abuse that many hunters, including myself, are infamous for. They can be thrown into the back of a truck or kicked across the ice without compromising their detail.

Big Foot decoys use a special technology that mixes the paint with the plastic body instead of painting over the top. It prevents cracking and chipping of the paint. They are built with the most realistic measurements on the market today.

Remember that we are talking about hard plastic decoys here. They are bulky and harder to move around, but they are not as heavy as some older decoys. They make a great addition to a basic spread. These decoys are expensive, but you don’t want to trade in quality for quantity. The “Big Foots” is one of the best full-body goose decoys for the money. You get four decoys with this pack.

Pros

  • Very durable molded plastic
  • Fully flocked heads
  • Realistic movement
  • Molded-in paint

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Heavier than other decoys

Hard Core “Full Body.”


The full body decoy comes with TruMotion stands. Those stands can be removed for use in other spreads. The realistic appearance of these decoys will fool geese even wary, end-of-the-season flocks that are flying through. Hardcore uses an armored paint system to prevent chipping and cracking.

The six-pack comes with two hungry feeders and two active feeders. The bases make them move around in the water, making them look real. You can use them in the water or on the ground as a lay-down set.

These goose decoys are full-body, making them heavier and bulkier than other decoys. This set will add depth to any spread or work as a starter pack for beginners.

Pros

  • Very Durable armored paint technology
  • Six pack
  • Three different stances
  • Trumotion stands to give them realistic movement
  • Removable flocked heads

Cons

  • Full body is harder to transport
  • Heads can be hard to move
  • Price is a little high

Primos Final Approach Last Pass HD Field Honker Decoy


The anatomy of these decoys is just like custom decoys that are much more expensive. The realistic detail is amazing. This six-pack has six unique postures, which makes it look very realistic. The bases let the bodies swivel so you can place them in different positions.

The Sculpture flock comes with a heavy shock cord that makes it look like the birds are moving. It also has realistic feathers and an intricate head design. The Sentry, rester, walker, and three feeders are all in different positions.

The price of these is high, but the quality is worth it – just like a Dakota decoy; Dakota decoys offer high-quality products at a high price. The Sentry and rester are on static stands, while the feeders and walker are on motion stands. They are made with hard molded plastic that will last in the field for many years.

Pros

  • Lifelike detail
  • Anatomy is close to perfect
  • Six decoys with unique postures
  • Swivel heads give more freedom for placement
  • Hard molded plastic
  • Heavy shock cord mimics leg movements

Cons

  • Highest price yet
  • Bulky, not easy to transport

Greenhead Gear Pro-Grade Life Size Series Canada Goose Shell Decoys


It would help if you usually had multiple packages of decoys to make it look like you have an entire flock of geese. Geese can be smart, and if they see only a few decoys, they might not want to come near.

Greenhead Gear has a product if you want your flock of fake geese. You can buy a twelve-pack of Canada geese decoys in different poses. There are six feeders and three to the right and left. Some versions have eight feeders, which is an excellent choice for larger flocks. 

Of the six geese, two are awake and alert, two have their active heads down as if they’re sleeping, and two have their faces buried in their feathers.

The variety of decoys is useful because it helps to avoid detection by real geese. If too many decoys are in the same pose, it becomes easier for the geese to spot the fakes. However, the molding and coloration on these decoys are very accurate, making them harder to detect. In addition, these decoys also come in flocked versions, though they lack feet. They are still designed for use on land or ice.

Pros

  • It comes with a dozen decoys to mislead geese more effectively.
  • Some of the most precise feather coloring available.
  • These decoys are easy to store and transport due to their detachable heads and stackable design.

Cons

  • The paint may fade over time due to vigorous treatment or exposure to severe weather.
  • Even though they are marketed as “full size,” these decoys are quite small.
  • Rain can impart a lustrous sheen to the paint. This reduces the decoy’s accuracy.

AvianX Top Flight Goose Honk Floater Decoys


Not all decoys are designed for land use. Because geese enjoy swimming, the greatest decoys are frequently those that float in the water. Avian X decoys offer a four-pack of decoys painted to resemble Canada geese.

Canadian geese do not spend their days floating around and eating. Occasionally, they are assigned a task. That duty entails keeping an eye out for any danger. These geese, dubbed sentries, will honk if they detect something they don’t like approaching.

This pack of decoys includes fake birds that look real. One of them even sounds like a real bird to lure in other birds. This can help you get more geese because it looks like there are no threats around.

The decoys are made of plastic, and they have a head and a body. The head must be attached to the body. The decoy company says that the molding is “anatomically perfect.” This can help draw in careful geese and won’t be fooled by other, simpler-looking decoys.

The weighted keel on the bottom of the decoys keeps them upright. Additionally, the motion of the decoys gives them the appearance of real birds. This enhances their likelihood of attracting living geese.

Pros

  • The head is integral to the body.
  • The feathers have an extremely authentic color.
  • Due to the weighted keel, they resemble genuine geese swimming in the water.

Cons

  • The paint is not very durable and readily rubs off.
  • If the wind is stronger than a moderate breeze or even the slightest breeze, they may require additional weights.

Sillosocks Snow Goose Feeder Decoys


On the other hand, geese are not the most demanding of birds. They may land alongside another goose, even if it is of a different species. This is not always true, particularly when hunting different kinds of Geese.

For example, you might want to buy snow geese decoys. These are perfect for attracting snow geese. They are not full-body decoys, so they take up less room. This makes them easy to store and transport. They also look lifelike from all angles because they are not silhouettes. The decoys consist of a plastic head attached to a Tyvek body.

The Tyvek is designed to move like a windsock, and it catches the wind and moves it around. This makes the decoy lighter than silhouettes!

A stake is attached to the decoy so that it won’t blow away. The wind won’t hurt the decoy because it is made of Tyvek, resisting rips and tears.

Pros

  • A dozen of these decoys weigh a total of one pound.
  • The body is attracted to and moves in the direction of the wind. This gives them a very realistic movement.
  • Sillosocks combine the best features of full body and silhouette decoys.

Cons

  • Each posture is the same.
  • Stakes might be difficult to drive into freezing ground. Because they do not resemble feet, wary birds are occasionally startled by their absence.
  • They may be harmed by ice if allowed to freeze while still wet.

Big Foot Canada Goose Floater Decoys


Big Foot makes both ground decoys and water decoys. The Canada geese floater decoys they sell are just as good in quality as their field decoys. They are made from molded polyethylene, which means the color is built into the material and will not chip or wear off. Additionally, polyethylene is resistant to dents and scratches, making it an extremely robust material.

The head has been covered in textured material. This provides several benefits. The first benefit is that the head appears to be more realistic. The second advantage is that glare is reduced. Sometimes, Canadian geese will be fooled by decoys. They decide to join them. But as they land, light glares off the head, and they realize it’s not real.

Geese, don’t glare at people like that! If they did, it would scare the geese away. The flocking prevents this from happening. Additionally, the heads are available in four distinct positions. This prevents the decoys from seeming identical.

By now, various decoys have added to the flock’s lifelike appearance. The weighted keel aids in the decoy’s appropriate flotation in the water. When you purchase this package, you receive four decoys.

Pros

  • The dark black flocked head looks very accurate.
  • Though only a four-pack, each decoy has a different pose.
  • The color is molded in and will not chip, scratch, or wear off.
  • Very durable, it will last many seasons of hunting.

Cons

  • Installing the heads can be difficult because they are very tight and might crack.
  • The wind can blow the decoys away from where you want them. You can add more weights to keep them in place.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Best Goose Decoys

Should goose decoys face into the wind?

When you are in a real flock of geese, most of them will be facing the same way. This is usually into the wind. But you might have some that are feeding or moving around, and they will face any direction. Geese usually try to land in an opening in the decoys. So always make sure you have an opening well-defined and on the downwind side of your blind.

Why are goose decoys so expensive?

“It doesn’t usually occur to people that they can get so much money for decoys,” Guyette explains. “The majority of the decoys I encounter in appraisal are worth around $100.”

Are goose shell decoys good?

“In my opinion, the most successful decoy available is a shell decoy. Let me rephrase that. It’s the most realistic decoy you can have, in my opinion,” said Hudnall. “And to take it to the next stage, the sleeper shell is the most lifelike decoy you can get when it comes to what it means.”

Do big decoy spreads work?

This past season, Powley set up a large standard decoy spread of duck decoys, Canada goose decoy floaters, and field Canada decoys. This was to attract more ducks and geese. He also said that most hunters could not put out such a large spread because it’s very expensive and takes a lot of effort.

Should you mix goose decoys?

I usually mix decoys when I’m hunting flight birds or migrators. This is because they are not used to seeing this many decoys at once, and it will confuse them. However, on a regular hunt, I do not mix them. When geese come into a spread of silhouettes, shells, and full-bodies, they quickly realize that all three types of decoys are fake.

Is 6 duck decoys enough?

You will only need 6-36 decoys for smaller and more confined waters. For bigger waters or open fields, you should use as many decoys as possible. I have never heard of someone scaring away ducks or geese with too many decoys. In fact, the more decoys you use, the better your chances are of getting them to stay.

Does goose decoy size matter?

I mix smaller and regular-sized full-body decoys together. This works well, but I want to mention that geese can see bigger decoys from further away. If you only use smaller decoys, the geese might not notice them from a distance.

Do goose silos work?

I have shot many geese over silos and found that they are very effective. I stopped using them when our geese started to figure out what was happening, but only because so many other people were using them. In my opinion, if you are in an area where not many people are using them, they work great.

Can geese see 3d?

Geese have great vision and can see things that we can’t, like glare and frost on decoys. Even though they only have one eye, it helps them see a lot more than we can. Mallard ducks can see all the way around their head, while we can only see 260 degrees.

How many goose floaters do I need?

You don’t need 100 decoys to kill geese on the water. I set 3-4 dozen bigfoot floaters in group settings. They are better than decoys because they can attract the geese to you. You can also call good, which is worth more than the decoys.

Will geese land in duck decoys?

Normally, geese will attempt to land between two groups of imitation ducks when hunting with decoys. Wettish also claims that where you position your decoys is critical when hunting in a small pattern. You can let your decoys sit straight and wait for the waterfowl to come near them. “On ponds and in little farms, you must keep an eye on the birds before shooting them,” he adds.

Can you mix duck and goose decoys?

He said that he puts duck decoys in with the goose decoys, but he keeps them all together. He does this because ducks sometimes mix in with the geese when they are feeding, but he wants his spread to look like the ducks just landed.

Do geese fly on windy days?

Geese will never migrate against a strong wind. They wait for the wind to come from the right direction, and then they fly with it. Geese use updrafts of wind to help them fly, and this makes it easier for them to get to their destination. When hunting snow geese in the spring, A SOUTH WIND is essential because that’s when the geese will be migrating.

Who is Tom Taber?

Tom Taber is the author of thirteen books. He has also generously given the right to republish these books to various historical societies throughout the region. In 1962, Tom Taber married his wife, Barbara.

Do sleeper decoys work?

Sleeper decoys can help you get the birds you want to your spread. When you are in a field, put them around the blinds to hide them and also make the birds come right to where you want them.

How do you hunt geese without decoys?

Hide close to a feeding area to get birds that are flying low. Sometimes you can use a call to attract geese (especially if there is only one), making them fly directly overhead.