Decoy question

T

Tom Ryan

Member
I've decided that I want a rig of wooden Common Goldeneyes to hunt over next season. Would really like it to be from different carvers, so I need some help. Who carves an amazing goldeneye decoy? Suggestions needed!!!!!! let the games begin.
 
For hunting decoys these two brothers from Crisfield Md. did a pretty awesome job. There pretty hard to come by now though.



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I would get on one of the Work Bench threads and take a look at who is carving what.
My first impression is get in touch with Pat Gregory, Yukon Mike, Geoff Vine, John Unruh, MLBob Furia, George Williams, to name just a few. There are so many talented carvers on the site that it would be hard to chose.
 
Tom a cork bird would be better for dings and dents as it would bounce back where as wood would stay dented. Handmade decoys do usually require a little extra care in storage in and out of the boat.


Eddie
 
Certain years, in a couple of spots, we get a "huntable" number down here in Coastal AL.
By "huntable", I mean you have a good chance of shooting one or two if that are here and you put in the effort to hunt them.
Most I ever killed in one season was 4. If I average all my 18 years of hunting down here, I would think I average 0.5/season.
Haven't gotten one in 10 years but I missed two years ago last year and they year before that I saw a couple but they didn't come in.
Saw a bunch last year but the spot they were hanging out on is big open water with lots dangerous shallow oyster beds and there is only very few days a season where it might be safe to hunt them. I simply don't want to chance it.
 
Bomber it varies from year to year. some years they are everywhere and other years we wont see a single one. Whenever they do come down they are usually close behind the seagulls. we've noticed over the years that when the seagulls start showing up on the lake/river that the goldeneyes are right behind them. We can't explain it but it is a good indicator of things to come. Whenever I can find huntable numbers of the whistlers I always drop everything else for them. There is something about the sounds they make and the challenges they present that drives me crazy.
 
Years ago there was an article in one of the Alabama outdoor magazines about hunting GEs & Buffies on Pickwick. I wish I still had a copy.
 
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