How to Make Your Own Goose Decoys

If you enjoy hunting geese, you can improve your odds of attracting birds by using decoys to assist you. They can be expensive if you buy them at a sporting goods store, so if you are on a budget you may want to make your own decoys. All it requires is some cheap, easy to find materials and the time it takes to assemble them. With a little effort, you'll soon be attracting geese with your own homemade decoys.

Things You'll Need

• Large block of Styrofoam block
• Heavy canvas sheets
• Black magic marker
• Hot glue gun
• Sandpaper with fine grit
• Scissors
• Knife
• Black, brown and white paint (flat finish)
• Waterproofing spray

Instructions

1. Measure the Styrofoam and cut it into 1 foot-by-1 foot blocks. Cut out one block for each decoy you will be making. These blocks are the basis for your goose decoy bodies.

2. Draw an outline of a goose body directly onto each Styrofoam block with your magic marker. It doesn't have to be perfect, just recognizable as a goose. Using the knife, trim each foam block into the goose shape that you have just outlined.

3. Touch up the shape of the goose body by using your fine grit sandpaper to smooth out the edges. Be very careful not to take off too much foam or you can ruin your decoy body. Using fine grit paper helps you avoid mistakes by not taking off too much at one time.

4. Set the sculpted Styrofoam body on the canvas sheet, and cut out a large piece of canvas with your scissors. Leave about 4 inches of extra material all around the body because you will need enough material to completely cover it.

5. Flatten the piece of canvas you just cut out and use your hot glue gun to apply a layer of glue. Set the foam sculpture onto the material and quickly stretch the canvas over the body. Smooth out air bubbles or other lumps so the material is flat on the Styrofoam. You need to finish this process before the glue cools down. After you attach the canvas to the decoy, carefully seal all of the edges with globs of hot glue.

6. Use your brown, black and white paint to paint the canvas-covered shape in a pattern that approximates a live goose. You don't have to get it exactly right, but it should be close enough to fool geese that are flying over head in order to get them close enough to be shot before they realize that the decoy is fake.

7. When the paint is completely dry, finish the decoy by applying a layer of waterproofing spray. This will allow the decoy to float in lakes or ponds without becoming damaged. When the decoy body has completely dried, it is ready for use.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't use glossy paint on your goose decoys because it can reflect the sun and won't look natural to geese flying overhead. Flat paint will appear to be much more realistic to your prey.

Resources

• Goose decoy forum