Setting out an effective snow goose decoy spread is one of the most important yet least understood aspects of snow goose hunting. Hunters want to find that magic shape that will bring down every flock they see. This is far from reality.
What a snow goose hunter can do is quickly set up an effective snow goose decoy spread that will funnel decoying flocks into predicted areas of the decoy spread given any wind condition.
By using the following tips you can set out an effective snow goose decoy spread.
Efficiency:
The first thing your hunting group should do in the morning is decide how you will be setting up your decoy spread and stick to it until the spread is complete. Second guessing oneself half way though your setup will be wasting valuable early morning shooting time. This is especially true when hunting in a feed field for refuge orientated birds.
Shape:
There is no magic shape for an effective and natural looking goose decoy spread. What does exist is an effective funneling system that is very forgiving of changing wind conditions. This shape is a large ball with four little balls 20 or more yards off to the sides pointing in each direction. This way there is a nice funneling channel for snow geese to follow no matter what the wind conditions.
Blind Placement:
I am assuming you are using some type of blind or natural camouflage that allows you to move throughout the decoys when needed. If you use the general shape described above, simply place your blind in the middle of the big ball on non-windy days pointing towards the down wind edge (snow geese ten to decoy toward the middle or top edge of a spread on light wind days). This will put you in perfect place to shoot those decoying birds. If you are hunting on a windy day, place yourself on the downwind edge of your large ball to shoot at the decoying birds (snow geese ten to decoy to the most downwind section of a spread on very windy days).
By following the tips above your snow goose decoy spread will be more effective. For more goose and duck hunting tips please read other articles located at duck and goose hunting tips.