White Balloons for Snow geese

[Canadasnowman]

Hello Goose hunters.

Any of you ever use white balloons on stakes for snow geese to add to your numbers White garbage bags ?. You would think they can wiggle in the wind nice too.

Your input is appreciated

Csm

[JustBen]

Never tried it, but can't see why it wouldn't work.

[BuckCuller]

Giver a shot might be worth it.
Don't know how the glare would be on sunny days.

[tikka250]

would be worried about glare and stubble popping the balloons. not to mention is it worth blowing up 400+ balloons for one goose hunt?

[BuckCuller]

Originally Posted by tikka250

would be worried about glare and stubble popping the balloons. not to mention is it worth blowing up 400+ balloons for one goose hunt?

Easy storage and a 12v compressor would do the trick. Have high enough stakes to keep them out of the stubble.
But the glare thing I don't know.

[bobalong]

Out of the two I would go with the bags, bit of time making them up but you can use them over and over. They pack really small to. I made about 10 dz. a couple of years ago.

[IronNoggin]

When I lived in the Arctic, we simply used white plastic garbage bags for decoys. Worked every single time.



Cheers,
Nog

[Pikebreath]

yes,,, balloons and garbage bags have been tried,,, 30 -40 years anything white worked until the snow geese figured it out about 20 years ago,,,

but you can always try it again,,, the birds educated on newsprint, diaper cloth, white grocery bags, white banquet table plastic etc. have likely died of old age by now!!!

[BuckCuller]

Originally Posted by bobalong

Out of the two I would go with the bags, bit of time making them up but you can use them over and over. They pack really small to. I made about 10 dz. a couple of years ago.

You would make stakes that pinch the opening closed then just pull them out and deflate when your done.

[Canadasnowman]

Trying to build numbers ...... Unsure what to use but as others have said, the glare is a concern.

Thanks for the replies.

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by Canadasnowman

Trying to build numbers ...... Unsure what to use but as others have said, the glare is a concern.

Thanks for the replies.

I tried white balloons from the dollar store and they did glare. Not sure if there are some matte ones you can get?

[tikka250]

Originally Posted by Canadasnowman

Trying to build numbers ...... Unsure what to use but as others have said, the glare is a concern.

Thanks for the replies.

for the price just buy econo socks for $55 a dozen and then you have something to re-sell if you decide snow goose hunting isnt your thing.
if you reeeaally want to be cheap you can make some chloroplast silhouettes from old signs.

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by tikka250

for the price just buy econo socks for $55 a dozen and then you have something to re-sell if you decide snow goose hunting isnt your thing.
if you reeeaally want to be cheap you can make some chloroplast silhouettes from old signs.

Yea elections are coming up and that means free sillouhette decoys!

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by gloszz

Yea elections are coming up and that means free sillouhette decoys!

Use NDP signs painted white

[The Spank]

Get on Wholesales flyer mailing list. Twice a year for the past two years they have put Tanglefree Pro Grade socks on sale for as low as $169 for a 48 pack! Last time they had them on I walked out with 16 dozen for under $700
tax in and a free decoy bag from a promo Tanglefree was running. Thats cheaper than the econo socks and they are much, much nicer socks! My hunting partner and I are now at 42 dozen, we just watch for the sales and keep building.

[Habfan]

Originally Posted by Canadasnowman

Trying to build numbers ...... Unsure what to use but as others have said, the glare is a concern.

Thanks for the replies.

White soaker pads, put on welding rods and tied with kite string to form a neck, head. No glare and a good filler.

[Pikebreath]

Originally Posted by Habfan

White soaker pads, put on welding rods and tied with kite string to form a neck, head. No glare and a good filler.

Pardon my ignorance,,,, what do you mean by white soaker pad?

[Habfan]

Originally Posted by Pikebreath

Pardon my ignorance,,,, what do you mean by white soaker pad?

They are used for oil spill cleanup. 18x 18 in. White cotton, they come in bundles of 50 or 100. I don't know how to post pics but if you send me a pm with your number I'll send you a picture.

[Pikebreath]

Originally Posted by Habfan

They are used for oil spill cleanup. 18x 18 in. White cotton, they come in bundles of 50 or 100. I don't know how to post pics but if you send me a pm with your number I'll send you a picture.

Thanks...Like Terry Cloth then? (sorta fuzzy) or is it a tight knit (smoother texture)?

[gloszz]

Originally Posted by Pikebreath

Thanks...Like Terry Cloth then? (sorta fuzzy) or is it a tight knit (smoother texture)?

I think they may be something similar to what painters and mechanics use; the white scrap clothes. I bought a 20lb bag at Ackland Grainger for $18.

[Habfan]

Actually made with polypropylene fibre, smooth, not fuzzy. Can also buy in rolls that you cut to size. The pads are a perfect size though. If you do a Google search of soaker pads it comes right up. Universal Sorbent Pads, 100 for $80. They rip in 1/2, so 200 decoys for $80 plus what ever you use to put in the ground, eg. tomatoe stakes, welding rod, whatever.

[andy1]

Great ideas!

[Pikebreath]

Originally Posted by Habfan

Actually made with polypropylene fibre, smooth, not fuzzy. Can also buy in rolls that you cut to size. The pads are a perfect size though. If you do a Google search of soaker pads it comes right up. Universal Sorbent Pads, 100 for $80. They rip in 1/2, so 200 decoys for $80 plus what ever you use to put in the ground, eg. tomatoe stakes, welding rod, whatever.

Thanks,, I get the idea now.

The polypropylene might be similar to Tyvek in sheen,,,, one of the reasons Tyvek works is it apes the natural sheen of a real snow goose about as good as any snow goose decoy material used.

[Canadasnowman]

I've made 6 doz chloroplast snows in six positions, have anther 6 doz in same but Canadas ........ Their a lot more work then the plain snows lol.

Looking to build numbers at a low cost ....... Great suggestions by several.

Thanks

Csm

[mgvande]

Originally Posted by Pikebreath

Thanks...Like Terry Cloth then? (sorta fuzzy) or is it a tight knit (smoother texture)?

Think of king kongs sisters maxipad.

[Canadasnowman]

well Ive been real busy and made 5 Doz Canada's and 7 Doz. Snows from Chloroplast , so my spread is half Sillouettes ........ I plan on making more to build numbers but have various types if deeks now. I don't think I'll use the white balloons but am intrigued by making home made wind sox too.

Thanks for the ideas guys, greatly appreciated.

CSM

[58thecat]

Used a stick and white kitchen garbage bags before they worked great, balloons would too but look at all the work involved on top of the setup!

[EZM]

Originally Posted by reddeerhunter

Use NDP signs painted white

You could but the authorities might charge you if you start shooting liberals or lefties.