There are some basic fundamentals to use when placing goose decoys. To start with you should always try to mimic a realistic pattern to get the waterfowl to land but also make sure your goose decoys are realistic looking in size and color. Below I will describe the most common goose decoy placements. Also wind direction and blind placement are key factors.

The most common Goose decoy placements are the J pattern (Hook), The V pattern and the U pattern (Inside hole). Be sure you have the opening on all three facing the wind.

The J pattern for goose decoy placement is simply placing the goose decoys in the shape of a J of course, but you have to make sure that the opening or the hook of the J is facing the wind. This is commonly used if you only have a few decoys. Still try to make sure there is an obvious landing zone as much as possible.

The V pattern for goose decoys seems to work very well but the Geese really look for that landing zone so you need lots of goose decoys to make it obvious. I’ve seen me come back with my fill of geese and other buddies come back with nothing and I feel this is directly related to there not being an obvious landing zone and they are not decoying enough. You should use at lease 60 goose decoys to start with but I’ve known hunters to use up to a few hundred.

Remember not to put your decoys too close together most should be at lease 5’ to 10’ apart, this works. Most hunters I’ve hunted with like to spread their decoys 3’ to 10’ apart. You will get this allot where there are different hunting preferences but I know what works for me on a consistent basis. When decoying in a pond you only really need a dozen or two goose decoys to do the job but field decoying takes a larger number of decoys. The opening of each pattern should face the wind. The point of the "V" or turn of the "U" should be into the wind. The opening of the "U" or "V" will be the landing zone for geese. Make sure your goose decoys are facing different directions so the geese see the spread of your decoys from all directions. All Geese land into the wind so more of your decoys should be broadside to the wind. The general guidelines suggest 50% of your goose decoys be broadside to the wind, 30% at 45 degrees to the wind and the rest parallel to the wind.

To understand how waterfowl see decoys, place one decoy on the ground and walk around it from 100 feet away. You will notice that the decoys do not completely disappear until you are looking directly at the decoy's edge. It is the size change, appearing and disappearing that gives the decoys the illusion of movement to circling waterfowl. Movement in your decoy spread is critical because live birds on the ground move. Motion decoys can help and there are quite a few to choose from now days.