Goose decoys-foamers and canvas.

[Yukon Mike]

These are some old foamers I made out of styrofoam SM many years ago, still going strong. Remember the old days when you couldn't even buy GHG decoys? I think Carrylite had the best looking goose decoys at the time I made those foamers out of scraps from the construction of the Canada Games Center here in town.

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These canvas guys have been years in completion but managed to get out for the first time this week.

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What have you guys got for vintage plastic goose decoys?

Mike

 

[Steve Sanford]

Mike~

Those canvas birds are gorgeous - worth the wait!

My vintage plastic geese are all Herter's - Model 81s and 92s. I carved wooden heads for a dozen of the 81s - because they started out as Brant. I repaired and repainted these - which include birds from 2 of my gunning partners as well as my own. Close inspection of the paint jobs shows I had some "help" from some young enthusiasts

I remember when my Dad bought these 2 Model 92s. There were 3 originally, and I clearly remember him opening the carton and removing the excelsior in which they were packed. It was probably the late 50s. We bought the dozen Brant in the late 60s. (I also still have the predecessors - 8 Herter's Model Perfect Balsa geese - painted as Brant). They needed major reconstructive surgery - thanks to some hungry mice.

All the best,

SJS

 

[Yukon Mike]

I always liked those Herter's decoys but never have seen any in Canada. They have a very nicely shaped head and neck don't they?

That's quite the spread you've got there!

 

[Vince Pagliaroli]

Mike

I'm likin' those Canvas geese a lot, and the foam ones as well, that's a good rig. I have old Herters plastic & Carrylite, Canada Goose decoys. They always worked just fine, except in Very high wind.
They haven't been in the water in years, but are still rigged and in the bags ready to go. G&H were good, but the necks broke when it got real cold.........

What kind of wood did you use for bottom boards & spines, on your canvas decoys?

 

[Tim Caplinger]

I have several dozen old foam Herter's (Model 81 and 92), 15 LL Bean cork Canadas, 1 old balsa Herters, and a not quite ready Wildfowler Canada Goose. Always room for more, hopefully my other 24 LL Bean cork Canadas will be ready next year.
I don't know how to post up pictures or I would....

Tim

 

[Chuck J]

These canvas guys have been years in completion but managed to get out for the first time this week.

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What have you guys got for vintage plastic goose decoys?

Mike

Dang Mike, they turned out great, but I do remember when you first posted pictures of that pair...worth the wait?

As for 'vintage plastic'...I've got none...nothing but canvas in my goose rig, here's most of it. It's squirreled away in my dad's brooder coop.

Hope all is well,

Chuck

 

[Nick Buda]

Been a long time since I've posted something here...but Mike, them geese are nice! A couple shots of my own rig in action. Five to date, planning on a few more next winter as I learned a bunch on the first batch and want to make some changes. I love your swimmer pose. Mine are roughly life size, next ones I'll do a bit larger.

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Unbelievable how satisfying it was to shoot my first limit on geese (ever) over them last year. Every time I think I might do some from foam I start sketching out canvas ideas.

 

[Yukon Mike]

Lovin' the canvas guys.

Vince, I have used big 1 x 12 red cedar boards as well as those project panel laminated pine boards too. Either way I seal them inside and out with multiple layers of varathane.

My oldest canvas decoys are maybe ten years old, still watertight after all those seasons. I think its important to put a bead of silicone on the edge of the bottom board before the canvas gets tacked on, and then I put another bead of silicone or marine Goop or whatever along the outside seam after everything is trimmed up.

Mike