Hand carved decoys
 

I'm almost finished with my first decoy. Here it is. http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...29382331_n.jpg

Buffleheads are a fun bird to hunt and they like decoys specific to their species. If you want to shoot more drakes use mostly hen decoys. The drakes are very harem oriented, even in the winter. A bunch of ladies will draw the drakes a lot better than a bunch of what they consider competition.


Destry

Hmm... I didn't know that. It was going to be a teal but the blank I got had a diver profile, so I made a bufflehead. I plan on putting it off to the side of the mallards, between the mallards and the blacks. Maybe toss him in the landing zone to look like a new arrival. We don't have too many here, but I have killed one. I figure the black and white would make a nice contrast and add visibility.

You can never go wrong with white in a decoy spread. Even marsh hunting, I always put out a few ringneck decoys just for color. Same deal with them, they love shallow water but will usually only buzz a mallard rig. You get a few of their own kind off to the side though, they'll come in feet down. They aren't so worried about drake decoys though, 50/50 for them is just fine.

I remember a particular hunt when ringneck decoys made for a quick shoot. Dad and I were gunning on Mermet Lake one opening day and the lake was black with them. All the other hunters were picking up a few but just shooting them on the fly by. Dad and I had a limit down in 20 minutes, every one shot right in the blocks. I had half a dozen of my ancient Herters tenite bluebills off to one side that I'd repainted as ringnecks years ago.

It was one of the few times in my life I couldn't seem to miss with the gun. I think I killed my five ducks in 6 shots. Dad was on them that day too, I think he shot maybe 10 times. Good memories.....


DLH

Thanks for sharing that story, sounds like you had a great time! :)

Here's a set of birds I made about 30 years ago

very nice birds...i have a few old wood decoys given to me by my dad they came from wisconsin. they look like like your decoys there they are real lite dont know what kind of wood but they are lite... charlie

For wooden decoys, these are relatively light - white cedar bodies and basswood (Linden) heads

I was reading a decoy book from the 1940's and was surprised to find advice regarding shiny bright decoy paint. It was said that high contrast and brightly colored was desirable, but then, a few paragraphs later, the author proceeded to describe hanging decoys outside for a few weeks to 'dull 'em down' before the season opener.

What gives? Can both be accurate?

Oh, almost forgot....nice decoy and really like the photograph. Is that an old duck boat in the background?