Glad you got the tails figured out. They can be tricky. We would always get the mold filled & clamped shut, then tamp the tail of the mold on the ground really good to make sure that the beads fill in the tail void. Then continue stuffing the mold with more of the pre-expanded beads. You need sturdy tails too because you'll handle the decoys by the tail, plus if you're using a slotted bag the tails are going to be the first thing loaded into the slot. I always felt that it was better to go heavy on the beads to make a sturdier body, then to try and go on the lighter side and not have the body turn out as durable. Boiling's the way to go. The only down fall is that the bodies absorb water, so you need to let them dry out completely before you burlap them.