Interested in purchasing snow goose windsock decoys in order to build up your hunting spread this season? Here are a few things to look for that will help you choose the right ones.
Snow goose windsock decoys are the most popular type of decoys used to hunt snow geese each year in the U.S. They are super lightweight making them easy to haul into muddy fields and their windsock design helps add movement to the spread to simulate waddling or feeding geese.
Windsock decoys are also a great way to add numbers to your spread since snow geese tend to decoy better to larger groups of birds where they feel comfortable. In this review, we’ll look at the top snow goose windsock decoys on the market today and what makes them so effective.
These are the Top 3 Snow Goose Windsock Decoys currently available:
With at least 10 manufacturers producing snow goose windsock decoys, it can be difficult to narrow down the choices, especially if you’re just starting out. Do you go with the cheapest Texas Rags you can find, or windsocks with the latest collapsible stakes and high definition feather detail?
Below are the 3 snow goose windsock decoys that I’ve found to work best for fooling one of the hardest birds to hunt.
These are the three Snow Goose Windsock Decoys you should consider:
Why I Picked the Sillosock Snow Goose Windsock Decoys
When you sit down and compare the Sillosocks to the Whiterock Decoys and Dakota Windsocks, the differences are noticeable.
- Sillosock Snow Goose Decoys are based on a simple design that requires very little maintenance going forward.
- They are way more affordable than other snow goose windsocks and even have an economy version that comes unpainted for the DIY’er. It’s the cheapest snow goose decoy on the market that I have confidence in.
- The spring stake allows for the extra movement and Sillosock snow goose decoys can be special ordered with longer 24-inch stakes to get the socks above stubble.
- Sillosock Snow Goose Windsocks are constructed out of durable Tyvek that won’t rip.
- Inner bags and backbone support arm keep the windsock bag supported and open even in calm conditions.
- Sillosock snow goose decoys are stackable and work well with Jet Sleds that can hold up to 30 dozen decoys stacked two rows high.
- Chloroplast heads make for a lightweight decoy that can be packed into muddy fields easily.
- Sillosock snow goose decoys dry quickly after hunting in the rain.
- It’s easy for one person to set out 500 or more Sillosock decoys in under an hour.
- Realistic feather detail and movement, along with good calling, helps fool even mature snow geese.
Here is a great clip of what you can expect to achieve with good snow goose windsock decoys.
Features to look for in quality snow goose windsock decoys:
Snow goose socks come in a wide range of designs and dimensions, but the overall premise remains the same; a windsock bag attached to a stake. From the early days of Northwind windsocks and Texas Rags to the present, windsocks for snow geese have constantly improved to the point where they not only look realistic, but they are easier to set out and pick up than ever before.
Features to look for when selecting a good snow goose windsock include:
- Lightweight design
- Backbone support
- Durability
- Ease of storage
- Affordability
Snow goose windsocks that are lightweight and collapsible can free up a ton of room in an enclosed trailer. Hunting over a thousand or more full body decoys is not an option for most hunters, but windsocks make hunting over large spreads a reality.
Backbone support systems are a must have in a snow goose windsock since you can’t always count on wind to fill them up. This ingenious design keeps the windsock extended and looking as realistic as possible, even on calm days.
Most snow goose windsocks are constructed out of Tyvek material that has proven to be durable for harsh hunting conditions. Wear occurs where the butt of the decoy rubs on stubble, so extra-long 24-inch support stakes can elevate windsocks to where they won’t rub on vegetation.
About Snow Goose Windsock Decoys
The first snow goose windsocks were made by Texas Hunting Products in the 1980’s. Dubbed “Texas Rags”, they were made from a thin plastic material that wasn’t exceptionally durable, but they were lightweight and waterproof which worked perfectly at the time for getting hundreds and even thousands of decoys into a field on a budget.
Texas rags came packaged on rolls of 100 decoys per sheet with no stakes. Stakes could be purchased separately, but they were wooden and usually didn’t last very long. Snow goose hunters customized the stakes using bamboo rods and fiberglass stakes which proved to work better and last all season long. While Texas Rags were the new mouse trap of the time, hunting geese in high winds usually meant collapsed or broken windsocks and large amounts of noise.
In the 1990’s, Northwind and other early windsock decoys were developed to not only provide a better looking and more durable decoy, but to also provide something different that the geese hadn’t seen much of, since most people used Texas Rags at the time. They also held up better in windy conditions.
The early 2000’s and beyond brought improved windsock decoys and designs that were not only easier to deploy but pick up and store as well. Manufacturers such as Sillosock, Tanglefree, and White Rock all have great looking decoys that perform better and last longer than what was available when windsocks first started to gain popularity for snow geese. 100+ bird hunts are still not out of the norm on good weather days with an e-caller and a good snow goose windsock spread.
Why should you purchase snow goose windsock decoys?
- Lightweight – Windsocks are constructed out of lightweight Tyvek material which means you can handle hundreds at a time by yourself.
- Durable – Windsocks are constructed in a way that require little maintenance and can last years before needing to be replaced.
- Movement in the wind – Windsocks for snow geese provide unmatched movement in windy conditions that other types of decoys just can’t match.
- Affordable – Snow goose windsocks are a budget friendly way to hunt over 1000’s of decoys.
- Ease of Storage – Snow goose socks are easy to stack and store. Collapsible stakes fold up and can be packed in carrying bags.
Snow goose windsocks are the perfect way to build your decoy numbers up to something realistic that a snow goose would decoy to. They are durable to last 5+ years under normal conditions and work just as good as fullbodies under the right circumstances. If you’re limited on storage space and budget, windsock decoys are your best bet.
Loading ...Bottom Line
Snow goose windsock decoys are a great way to build a huge snow goose spread on a budget or add movement to a fullbody decoy spread. They add movement on windy days and can give the appearance of geese feeding.
Sillosock snow goose decoys are one of the most popular types of windsocks and are currently being used by snow goose hunters across the US and Canada with great success. They are easy to set out and pick up for those that hunt frequently throughout the season and they look realistic enough to fool even the wariest of snow geese.
White Rock decoys are another snow goose windsock option that come with a collapsible stake which helps reduce storage space needed when not in use. The 24-inch stake also prevents wear and tear that can arise from the sock rubbing against grain stubble on windy days.
Whichever snow goose windsock decoys you choose, you can’t go wrong with the three choices mentioned in this review. They are all durable and capable decoys worthy of building a large spread with, but ultimately the Sillosocks are the top pick after years of hunting with them and seeing what they can do.
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