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Step 1
Decide where you are going to hunt, over land or water. Decoy spreads over land are often much larger than decoy spreads set up over water.
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Step 2
If you are hunting over land, take into account how large the flocks of live geese are. The decoy spread should look as natural as possible, so small flocks equal small spreads that include anywhere from about a dozen to 36 decoys. If the flocks of live geese contain hundreds of geese, a larger spread of a hundred or more decoys is better. Geese tend to flock in smaller groups when summer begins turning to fall and the air temperature begins cooling. Later in the fall, as the birds are on the verge of migrating south or are already in the process, they group into flocks of hundreds or thousands.
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Step 3
Please the decoys on the ground in front of the blind in which you are hunting. Make sure the decoys are facing different directions. Having the heads of some decoys facing downward, to mimic an eating goose, and some facing upward helps to create a spread that looks realistic. Spread the decoys no more than about 75 yards out from your blind. You want the live geese to feel comfortable landing in the decoys but do not want them to try landing outside of shooting range.
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Step 4
Experiment with spread patterns. Sometimes, groups of decoys set up in a pattern that resembles a half moon work best, while other times random groups of decoys work better. Also experiment with the number of decoys you use.
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Step 5
The decoy spread is different if you are hunting geese over water. In this case, floating decoys should be placed in areas near shore that geese are using. Again, the decoys should be placed in a variety of positions to create the most realistic scene possible. If possible, it also can be helpful to have some of the decoys on the shoreline near the water-bound decoys.
