When setting up goose decoys for hunting, a common question is whether the decoys should face into the wind or away from the wind. There are pros and cons to both setups, and experienced hunters debate which is better. Facing decoys into the wind can make them look more natural as they blow in the breeze. However, facing them away from the wind can make their profiles stand out more to geese flying overhead. There is no definitive right or wrong answer, and the best option may depend on factors like wind speed, surrounding cover, and personal preference. This article will examine the reasoning behind both setups to help hunters decide what will work best for their situation.
Reasons to Face Decoys into the Wind
Here are some of the main benefits of facing goose decoys into the wind:
- Mimics natural movement – Geese on the water naturally turn their heads into the wind. Facing decoys this way makes them rock and sway in a lifelike manner as the wind hits them.
- Avoids unnatural spinning – If decoys are set up downwind, the wind can make them spin unnaturally fast. This may alert geese that something is not right.
- Blends with natural motion – Decoys facing into the wind blend in with motion of surrounding vegetation blowing in the breeze.
- No silhouette effect – With the wind at their backs, decoys do not stand out in stark silhouette to geese approaching from downwind.
- Works in high winds – Decoys are less likely to blow over or become displaced when facing into strong winds.
Overall, facing decoys into the wind often creates a more natural setup. Geese are used to seeing other geese gradually turn their heads downwind on the water. Mimicking this natural movement and avoiding any unnatural spinning can help decoys look more realistic to passing birds.
Reasons to Face Decoys Away from the Wind
Here are some potential benefits of facing goose decoys away from the prevailing wind:
- Increased visibility – With the wind at their back, the decoys’ full side profiles are exposed to geese approaching from downwind. This can make the spread more visible.
- Deflects wind – The decoys’ rear ends act as sails that deflect wind over the spread. This can prevent decoys in the middle from spinning.
- Shows movement -Even with the wind from behind, decoys will still rock side-to-side and bob up and down on the water. This movement can still help attract birds.
- Eliminates head swinging – Without heads turned into the wind, decoys won’t swing back and forth unnaturally if there are gusts or swirling winds.
- Simpler setup – It can take less time and effort to set decoys pointing downwind.
Setting decoys to face away from the wind offers the advantage of maximizing visibility to geese approaching from downwind. It also eliminates excessive head swinging in swirling winds. The tradeoff is decoys may not mimic natural motion quite as well.
Pros and Cons of Each Setup
Here is a quick summary comparing the potential pros and cons of facing goose decoys into and away from the wind:
Facing Into the Wind
Pros:
- Mimics natural movement
- Avoids unnatural spinning
- Blends motion with surroundings
- No silhouette effect
Cons:
- Heads may swing in gusts
- Less visible profiles to downwind birds
- Can take more time to set up
Facing Away from the Wind
Pros:
- Increased visibility to downwind birds
- Deflects wind from middle of spread
- Still shows some movement
- No excessive head swinging
- Simpler setup
Cons:
- May not mimic natural motion as well
- Can cause decoys to spin
- Creates silhouette effect
As shown, both setups have some advantages and disadvantages to weigh against each other. Hunter preference and specific conditions will help determine which works best.
Other Factors to Consider
Beyond wind direction, there are some other factors that can influence which way to face goose decoys:
- Wind speed – In very light winds, the direction decoys face may not matter much. In strong winds, facing them into the wind helps avoid spinning and displacement.
- Swirling/shifting winds – Facing decoys away from the wind can work better if winds are variable. It prevents excessive movement as winds shift.
- Nearby cover – Decoys facing into light cover or vegetation can blend better. Facing away works in open areas.
- Blind location – Positioning the blind upwind with decoys facing away can draw birds toward the blind as they approach into the wind.
- Landing zones – Leaving gaps in the spread downwind can create landing pockets for incoming birds.
- Type of decoys – Wind-powered decoys work well facing downwind. String decoys often face upwind.
- Hunting pressure – In heavily hunted areas, facing decoys away from the wind can offer something different than the norm.
Considering these additional factors will enable hunters to make informed decisions about which direction to point their decoys.
Best Practices for Decoy Direction
Based on the pros, cons, and other considerations covered, here are some best practices to keep in mind regarding goose decoy direction:
- In light winds, direction matters less – focus more on spread shape and patterns.
- In stronger winds, face decoys into the wind to prevent excessive movement.
- Put wind socks and other lightweight decoys on the downwind edge to absorb wind.
- Angle decoys slightly away from perpendicular to deflect wind from anchors.
- Leave landing pockets downwind between decoys for incoming birds.
- Set decoys in natural postures – don’t force all to face one direction.
- Use decoy setup to steer birds toward your blind location.
- Experiment to learn which works better for specific hunting spots.
Following these guidelines will enable hunters to use decoy direction strategically based on conditions. The most effective setups use direction intentionally to create natural movement, landing zones, and proper angles.
Real-World Examples
To further illustrate how decoy direction can be utilized, here are two example scenarios with different winds and cover:
Light Wind, Open Water
- Weak wind of 5-10 mph blowing diagonally across open water.
- Set decoys in loose groups and rows facing multiple directions to mimic birds milling about.
- Leave decent gaps on the leeward side for landing pockets.
- Use decoys with different postures – don’t force all heads downwind.
- Focus more on spread shape than perfect decoy alignment.
With light erratic winds in open water, direction matters less than creating a relaxed, natural spread for geese to settle into.
Steady Wind, Light Cover
- Steady wind of 15-20 mph blowing straight down corn field edges.
- Set decoys to face directly into the wind to avoid excessive swinging.
- Place decoys among corn stubble to blend with natural vegetation.
- Leave opening on far side of spread for birds to land into the wind.
- Set wind socks and lightweight decoys on the downwind edge to absorb gusts.
With strong steady wind and cover, facing decoys into the wind simulates how live geese would orient. This setup uses direction to create a natural landing zone.
These examples illustrate how hunters can adapt decoy direction based on conditions to achieve a realistic spread.
Conclusion
Determining which way to face goose decoys is one of the key decisions when setting up a spread. Facing them into the wind simulates natural movement, while facing them away maximizes visibility. There are valid cases to be made for either approach based on wind, cover, and hunter preference. By accounting for conditions and intentionally using direction to direct birds, hunters can create decoy spreads that appeal to geese whether they approach from upwind or downwind. Careful testing will show which direction works best for specific hunting locations. With practice, hunters can learn to quickly set decoys in the optimal direction for every hunt.