Goose floaters

R

rob_g

Active member
Getting interested in making my own goose decoys to add to my rig. I've never carved anything before so I'm looking for info on what books you guys would recommend to get started. Just want something that will last. I recently moved back to NJ and there are an obscene amount of geese around here.

I have a bandsaw so I think I'm part of the way there. I'm thinking that the burlapped decoys will be the best to start with. Hopefully someone can post some pics for some reference.

Thanks

Rob
 
.Rob~

I will send some pics of some of my Canada Goose floaters later today. They are Herters Model 81 (their smaller foam goose) bodies with pine heads.

I am guessing you have not yet gotten info or advice from other because your question is so broad.

There are lots of ways to get patterns. You can copy others' birds - either from individual carvers or from factory birds. Many of today's plastic decoys are based on sophisticated masters from great carvers.

Since you mention burlaped decoys, I presume you will make the bodies from foam. If so, it's best if you can find some dock foam - because it's made in large thicknesses and so you can avoid laminating - which can be a little tricky.

You also have to decide on size. Mine are, I think, 21 inches long. Many make geese much larger. You have to think about how big a rig you want and how you'll get it to your gunning spots.

Will you be carving your own heads? Being in Jersey, you can get some good Atlantic White Cedar. Others on this site have recommended Schairer Bros Sawmill, 254 Bremen Ave, Galloway Township (Egg Harbor City), 609-965-0996. I buy my eyes from Van Dykes Taxidermy Supply. My preference for Goose eyes is size 10 or 11 in black - their # is T1SP. And, I just ordered some 6" SS screw eyes from Decoy Rigs at 219-659-8371.

I have just started to make a few foamers - I have not done any burlaping. Instead, I coat bird with epoxy; one straight coat to seal followed (after curing) by a second, thickened coat onto which I sprinkle fine sawdust (from my bandsaw). Probably not quite as tough as burlap but still pretty tough, with a great base for painting.

View attachment Black Duck Foamer - March 2013 - vs.jpg

This Black Duck is an 18"L x 9"W x 5" H foamer I made from styrofoam insulation and epoxied as described above. I use a 1/4" AC plywood bottom board and a plastic tail insert. The head is cedar, fastened with a long screw eye and epoxy. Paint is latex from Home Depot and some tube acrylics.

Hope this helps!

SJS
 
Rob~

Here are my floaters based on Herters Model 81 Canada Goose. I was wrong about size. They are 18"L x 9"W x 5"H.

View attachment Sanford Canadas - 4 Postures vs.jpg View attachment Herters Model 81 Canada Goose vs.jpg

View attachment Sanford Content Goose vs.jpg View attachment Sanford Swimmer Goose vs.jpg

View attachment Sanford Feeder Goose vs.jpg

Another great place to look for reference material is Google Images. Just search for Canada Goose for live birds (and alot of clothing, as it turns out) or Canada Goose Decoys.

Note: For all but the Feeder, I glued plastic (you want something about 1/8" thick but flexible when cold) inserts into the tails because the foam had gotten beaten up over the years/decades. I defer to others whether an insert is necessary/desirable for burlaped birds.

All the best,

SJS
 
There simply aren't a lot of goose patterns out there. Most guys didn't make them, because it take a big block of wood. Those blocks are expensive now. However, foam opens up the door to an affordable goose decoy.

I think I have a couple reference books with goose patterns, if you are interested, I can take a look to see which they are.
 
The original decoy carving book by Bruce Burke had a pretty classic looking Canada Goose pattern, you'd just have to size/scale it up. PM me with your email, and if I can find his old book on my shelves, I'll copy the goose pattern and send it to you as an email attachment.

If you don't know how to scale up a pattern, PM me, and I'll try to talk you through a simple method to do it. Since you are doing a goose, you cannot usually find a copier that produces big enough copies to size up a smaller pattern just enlarging in the copier, like you can do with duck patterns.

If you are interested in a more classic/antique style of goose pattern, check out Keith Mueller's last book. As I remember, he had patterns for brant and geese.

Mike
 
I know I shouldn't be posting this on the forum, but a year or so ago I placed in the classifieds an ad for Al McCormicks plans of Geese, Brant, Black Ducks and Broadbills. They're still available
 
Thanks for the replies. After I thought about it, I pulled out some of my ghg geese for reference. Just curious, how should I be attaching the heads since they are much longer then a duck so they don't break off?

I'd like to make 2 dozen I think. I have both the magnum ghg floaters and the regular size ones but I think I'm going to stick with the life size ones to start.

Thanks again.
 
Rob~

re Fastening heads: The 6" SS screw eyes I mentioned in my first msg would do the trick. They need to bear on either a bottom board or a keel.

SJS
 
Rob,

1st, email sent.

2nd, head attachment. I'm assuming your going with burlap covered foam. I would do the same as I did w/ my BS cork Brant, I drilled a 1.25" hole through the body to the bottom board, then epoxied in a piece of closet rod, cut to sit just below the surface of the body. Then attached the heads through the rod, pulling the neck down tight against the body. I used 6" flat head SS screws from McMaster-Carr (mcmaster.com).

Scott
 
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