Lots of duck experience but we have hunted geese only two times-both times were guided hunts. The new duck pond we just leased has a 100 acre pasture that the landowner says holds geese every year. We are getting ready for a few goose hunts next season, but on a tight budget.
Everything I read recommends lots of rags but shells or full bodies around the X. One of the team already has about 15 dozen snow and dark rags. On impulse I bought 2 dozen Canada shells on clearance at Academy for $72 a dozen. Will they work or will they need a paint job to work well?

I wouldn't invest the money in a snow goose spread unless you had access to more acreage. Snows are the most frustrating birds to chase. I would focus on the dark geese when there present you have enough decoys to do that. If there a bunch of snows just call a guide and ask him to bring his decoys and he can hunt your field with you there.

Or shoot me a pm I have a about a 1000 socks and a few dozen full bodys I would gladly share..

15 dozen rags is a great start. Unfortunately, full bodies/shells help make the spread look more realistic and are the most important part of the spread. But, with a field that size, it will get shot out quickly, and investing in decoys for a couple hunts may not be what you want to do.

The Canada goose shells will work, but recommend snow shells/ full bodies to make the spread more realistic. If you can't afford more, try with what you have, and hope for the best.

Are you going to target Canadas or Snows? If you are going after Canadas a dozen or two will work if your in a location with no competition. I hunted geese for a lot of years back in Illinois, PM me if you have any questions.

Whatever you do, make sure you listen to everyone on this forum. They all have been duck and goose hunting for at least 5 years!!

Thanks man. I really appreciate that!

Thanks for all the advice guys. I don't know if they see alot of Canadas in Eagle Lake. The two hunts we went on a few years ago we killed only specklebellies. Guess we have a good start and will just have to see how it goes. We can see the field from the duck blind and will give it try we we see things moving in the fall.

Just to answer your question, you can hunt all year down there and not see a single canada goose on the whole prairie around eagle lake. A few get shot every year, but the lease I was on, with many other groups, killed thousands of geese, and less than a half dozen canadas in a season.

You've alwasy got a change at a specklebelly, even while duck hunting. If you learn to call, and have a few floaters, the singles are super easy to work if they are lonely.

All true

These are verry expensive but will work!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb-MjtHCJLM