Homemade decoys

[Craig]

I was wondering if aynone out there has made some effective homemade geese decoys.

I have made some rather decent duck decoys, at least decent on land that have worked rather well for me.
However I have become pretty lost as to how to make a decent goose decoy.

A few things I have tried.
Paper Mache. Actually this works rather well. Simply use a store bought decoy as a mold, put a plastic bag over it and then papere mache the bag. Once dried you get a fragile, but very workable decoy. All thats left is painting it. I think this would work rather well, untill the first time it rains.

5 Gallon Bucket.
I was out this year with someone who has made a bunch of decoys out of buckets. Simply cut them in half, from top to bottom. The bottom of the bucket becomes the front of the goose and the open end the back. Narrow down the open end to make a nice looking tail, and paint it. Stacks nicely and it cheap/free to make. Definatly somthing I will have to try.

Anyone got any better ideas?

 

[meskinner]

have made goose decoys out of old auto tires. cut in two pieces [sounds easy] use a piece of plyeood for neck and head. another problem is they are heavy. it is an idea.

 

[grinr]

did the bucket dekes have a head/neck of any kind,or just bodies??A buddy of mine used to use 2lt. plastic pop bottles painted flat black for duck dekes.He had a dozen or so "regular"decoys and would "beef-up" his spread with 2-3doz pop bottles.cheap and effective.another freind has plywood silhouettes for goose dekes.They look pretty good painted for 2D.you can make them 3D by cutting out a body(top view,looking straight down),and notching the 2 pieces so they slide together.with the price of plywood these days,it may not be such a bargain unless you can scrounge up some free stuff.Good Luck,Grinr