Swan decoy floaters?

Huntindave McCann

Huntindave McCann

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For those that use swan floaters in your spread; What brand do you have? How well do they ride the water? Keeled bottom or flat suction style? Body size? (I see them from 23 to 34 inch body length)
Thanks

PS: Good to go out of the box or do you have to tweak them a bit, to get true square and perpendicular to the water? If you have to tweak them, do they stay in adjustment? How easy was it to make said adjustments? Seem's like they should come "ready to go", straight from the box. 😎 😎 :rolleyes:
 
HDave I had the suck duck type before I made a wire/canvas rig. They worked fine except in high (really high!) wind where they (all- plastoids and canvas) tipped over. I'm talking big wind in flat country ..say 30 with gusts higher. But to your Q killed birds over 3-6 plastoids with 6-8 silos in the spread. BTW all on water hunting. Right out of the box .. Flambou? I'll go measure them if you need actual size.

I see I missed the intent of the OP. I was referring to my experience with swan decoys in a swan rig for hunting. My only exposure to them as a confidence decoy was before I ever hunted them. A guest hunting with me brought one to our hunt. Was a diver hunting with long lines. My memory was that the swan decoy was pulled after it appeared to be keeping the divers from finishing in the rig. Which it was. Never used one again as a confidence decoy.
 
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Brad F said:
HDave I had the suck duck type before I made a wire/canvas rig. They worked fine except in high (really high!) wind where they (all- plastoids and canvas) tipped over. I'm talking big wind in flat country ..say 30 with gusts higher. But to your Q killed birds over 3-6 plastoids with 6-8 silos in the spread. BTW all on water hunting. Right out of the box .. Flambou? I'll go measure them if you need actual size.

I see I missed the intent of the OP. I was referring to my experience with swan decoys in a swan rig for hunting. My only exposure to them as a confidence decoy was before I ever hunted them. A guest hunting with me brought one to our hunt. Was a diver hunting with long lines. My memory was that the swan decoy was pulled after it appeared to be keeping the divers from finishing in the rig. Which it was. Never used one again as a confidence decoy.
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Brad,
Yes the Flambeau model is a suction style and listed as 36 inch body. Several sources show this model available, yet it is not listed on Flambeau's web site. go figure 🤷‍♂️
I could have been more clear in regards to usage. Yes I'm planning on a couple swans decoys set just off the side of my goose spread. This arrangement works well for my BIL however he puts out 4 to 5 dozen goose floaters. I don't have the capacity to carry that many, my spread is only 12 to at most 18 goose floaters. I am also hunting smaller waters than my BIL.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Jason,
Those are very nice looking birds. I assume you bag them individually to preserve the finish?
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I've never bagged a decoy in my life. Don't wrap cords either. I think every boat I've ever hunted out of was standard procedure to just stack decoys and lay the line under it. We've always used heavy tarred crab pot line and pyramid weights that really take effort to tangle up.

Those 3 have actually only seen the water 3 times. I made them season before last hunted them 3 times killed a swan the first hunt. Did not get a permit this year so they never came out the garage attic.
 
Huntindave McCann said:
For those that use swan floaters in your spread; What brand do you have? How well do they ride the water? Keeled bottom or flat suction style? Body size? (I see them from 23 to 34 inch body length)
Thanks

PS: Good to go out of the box or do you have to tweak them a bit, to get true square and perpendicular to the water? If you have to tweak them, do they stay in adjustment? How easy was it to make said adjustments? Seem's like they should come "ready to go", straight from the box. 😎 😎 :rolleyes:
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My friends and I used Super Magnum snow goose shells with the beaks painted black, such as those used in the field, as floaters by zip-tying a foam pool noodle along the inner perimeter of the shell. They work very well and are stackable, and kept in a large bag.
 
Dave

I have two in the basement collecting dust, I would be happy to loan to you indefinitely, but getting them to you would be the catch.

While I think they are a duck magnet, I have seen geese shy away from them.

Chuck

PS these are 35-36" breast to tail, one is a feeder and it is 48ish bill to tail
 
Chuck J said:
Dave

I have two in the basement collecting dust, I would be happy to loan to you indefinitely, but getting them to you would be the catch.

While I think they are a duck magnet, I have seen geese shy away from them.

Chuck

PS these are 35-36" breast to tail, one is a feeder and it is 48ish bill to tail
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Chuck,
I'd be tempted to take you up on that offer however, (a) you are right about getting them here (b) I might be rather rough on them after they got here. I have no idea how Jason keeps his in such pristine condition. I do have a certain canvas goose decoy that has seen some field use and is, as yet unscathed. :cool: thanks
 
Huntindave McCann said:
Chuck,
I'd be tempted to take you up on that offer however, (a) you are right about getting them here (b) I might be rather rough on them after they got here. I have no idea how Jason keeps his in such pristine condition. I do have a certain canvas goose decoy that has seen some field use and is, as yet unscathed. :cool: thanks
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Probably because they've only been used 3 times and that picture was taken before they were even rigged. If I hunted them much I have no doubt they'd be beat up. I'm sure they've got a few battle marks on them now. I'm not easy on anything I own.
 
I've hunted some of mine in past years. Trouble is they are really popular with friends and relatives so I keep giving them away and making more. ;-). Some now get removable head/neck with the idea they'd be easier to transport but I have t hunted them yet.


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Brad F said:
I've hunted some of mine in past years. Trouble is they are really popular with friends and relatives so I keep giving them away and making more. ;-). Some now get removable head/neck with the idea they'd be easier to transport but I have t hunted them yet.


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That is beautiful Brad!

All my decoys were made to be used, they come to me with an unlimited repair or replace warranty, but that is not transferable to the second owner...
 
I made a couple floater swans out of super mag canada shells by putting pool noodles around the bottom. They are super light weight. Not good in wind but for potholes in ND the are perfect. Killed a swan 2 years ago over them.
 
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