Texas Goose Rags

 this is reprinted by permission of the author who created it. 

"Texas Rags" have been around a long time in South East Texas and are now a favorite for goose hunters all over.  The guide who wrote this posted it on a public forum and has given me permission to share it.

This will be real elementary to a whole lot of ya'll but it may help someone out. I am hoping some folks will post up and add their little tricks, too. I'll start by saying there are many different ways to do this, this is just the way I do it and it is an easy quick way, at least for me. When applicable I will note different ways you could do things.

First, the materials needed. You'll need rags, stakes, staples, stapler and strapping tape or hog rings and hogging pliers or zip ties.

 First carefully tear off a rag and unfold it.

Next you fold it lengthwise from corner to corner dissecting the tail, I do this inside out for a reason I will point out in a minute.

Next you tie an overhand knot in the tail. I tie mine to where there is probably 5" of tail past the knot.

 Next I turn the rag right side out and tie the front corners in an overhand knot.

Now you staple the bottom. I like to fold both edges of the rag inside so I am stapling thru a double thickness of rag. By making the first knot with the rag inside out it makes this part go much quicker and easier for me because the rag wants to go that way.  Be sure you leave about a 6" vent at the tail of the decoy and a 1-2" hole at the front for the stake to go thru.

Now you insert the stake thru the hole between the stapled portion of the rag and the front knot. Slide the stake all the way in and then you make the knot at the head. It is just an overhand knot around the stake. I usually tie mine to where there is around 9-10" of rag above the knot. If you tie it too short the windsock will be big and fat, too long it'll be too skinny.

Now you secure the head. There are three major ways to do this, strapping tape, hog rings or zip ties. To use tape, which is what I show here, you fold the tag end of the rag down and around the stake, wrap the head with tape but don't stick it to the stake and then put a staple thru the tape, rag and into the stake. To use zip tied you need to make a crimp or groove into the stake so the head won't pull off. With hog rings crimp them so they bite into the stake so the heads don't pull off. By using tape but not sticking it to the stake you can easily remove a damaged rag and replace it. Not a huge concern in you don't use your rags often but if they see heavy use it is.

 I tie about 50 an evening without killing myself. When you first get set up it seems like it takes forever but once you get set up you just add a few hundred a year and it's no big deal. I'll probably tie around 600 this season. I lack about 150 to finish the sling I am filling now.

It's not so much that they will change directions with the wind, 'cause they won't, as it is the bottom needs to be loose on the stake so they will inflate easier. I taped the bottoms on some of my earlier socks and it works Ok so long as you get the proper amount of slack in it so they will puff up in a light breeze. I just think it's better to tie the knot in front of the stake so it'll slide up and down on it's own.

I think the hog rings are great.  I am setting mine up now to where they can easily have the old rag removed and a new rag added. So far I think it's going to work out fine.

Texas Goose Hunting Leases