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Category: Duck Hunting

Quick Paint Touch-Up for Mallard Decoys

Posted by – June 29, 2010

Decoy PaintingI seen this article and though it would be great to share this tip about doing a quick paint touch-up for Mallard decoys.

Most decoys can take on a dull, unnatural look after a few seasons of hard use and if your looking for realism you’ll have to do some basic touch up’s. Exposure to sun robs their luster and the decoys look dull not to mention the bumping and rubbing against other decoys and ice causes paint to chip off. Aslo dried mud can leave a grimy film over decoy bodies.

In these days of increased hunting pressure and wariness on the water fowls part, hunters should do all they can to keep their decoys fresh and natural looking. Clean decoys with crisp paint jobs will invariably pull more birds than those that are grubby and dull. Here are some easy tips for paint touch-up for Mallard decoys, a little pre-season maintenance to ensure a brighter, more realistic spread when ducks head south.

First, wash decoys thoroughly to remove last year’s grunge. Bag them in mesh decoy bags, and take them to the local car wash. Wash them while in the bags, spraying through the mesh with hot soapy water under high pressure. After a few minutes of washing, dump the decoys out, rebag them, and wash again to spray from a different angle. After washing, take the decoys home, and hang the bags so the decoys can air-dry.

Next, do a simple paint touch-up to restore the decoys’ bright look.

Permanent decoy PaintPurchase one small- to medium-sized can of satin finish black latex paint and another can of satin-finish white latex paint. (Be sure to purchase satin finish, not gloss or semi-gloss. Satin finish has just the right sheen for painting decoys.)  Also, buy a small assortment of brushes 1 inch wide or less. Brushes with exploded-tip nylon bristles are best. Artists’ brushes are usually too soft to work with the rough finish on decoys.

You can also get Do-It Quick-Coat Paint Markers that can help for the small touch up jobs.

Separate decoys according to sex, and work on the hens in one session and the drakes in another session.

To touch up a mallard hen, use a small brush to lengthen and widen the two white wing bars on each side of the body (bordering the speculum). Paint these wing bars so they are approximately twice as wide as their original paint job (i.e., 1/4 in. wide instead of 1/8 in. wide).

Next, add white paint on the upper rear tail feathers. The best way to do this is by dry brushing. Load a small amount of paint on the brush, then make repeated light passes over the tail feather area to impart streaks, not solid white. These two steps alone will add brightness and contrast to mallard hen decoys.

For drakes, paint the top of the head and down the back of the neck with satin black. Dry brush the edges to feather the black into the green along the upper sides of the head. Paint the rump and tail feathers with satin black paint. Then set the decoys aside for the black paint to dry.

After the paint dries, use white satin paint to enlarge and define the neckband (on live mallard drakes this white ring is incomplete at the back of the neck) the wing bars bordering the speculum, the crescents behind the legs, and the upper rear tail feathers. Again, upper rear tail feathers should be dry brushed, so they are streaky rather than solid white.

Take a black permanent magic marker to highlight the nail (bump on the tip of the beak) and the nasal openings on the upper bill. Also, the black marker may be used to add thin wing bars inside the white wing bars. Real mallards have two sets of color bars bordering the speculum – white on the outside and black on the inside.

Use model builder’s black lacquer marker to add a gloss finish to the eyes.

Finally, to brighten faded breast or back areas, daub Vasoline onto a soft cloth and rub chalky areas as though polishing. The Vasoline will renew colors almost to their original brightness. Wipe off all excess after “shining.”

Touching up decoys in this manner is a time-consuming process. Mallard drakes require approximately twice as much time as hens, because more detail is required.

But the rewards of this work more than justify the efforts when the first flight of ducks comes into your refurbished spread. There is a sense of satisfaction in a job well done, whether camouflaging a blind, training a retriever, or touching up last year’s decoys to give them a new look for realism and a new degree of persuasion.

Author: Wade Bourne

I hope you found these quick paint touch-up for Mallard decoys helpful. Also here are a few cheap books on how to paint decoys.

Decoy Carving Painting Series One
The Decorative Decoy Carver”s Ultimate Painting & Pattern Portfolio, Series One

The Decorative Decoy Carver's Ultimate Painting & Pattern Portfolio, Series Two
The Decorative Decoy Carver’s Ultimate Painting & Pattern Portfolio, Series Two

Finding Out The Dos And The Donts In Boar Hunting – Crucial Things Hunters Should Know

Posted by – April 27, 2010

Boar hunting is conducted to reduce the damage these animals cause to forests and crops as well as to get their meat. Yet, there are hunters for whom hogs or boars are hunting trophies. Hunters usually assume great risks with boar hunting, because of the possibility to miss the shot and be attacked by the enraged animal. Moreover, boars use very thick hides from where they can attack their aggressors. Animal rights supporters claim that there are other ways to solve the problem of crops without having to hunt these animals. This would also eliminate the risks to which boar hunting exposes people.

Among the states that offer good areas for boar hunting we can mention Ohio, Texas, Tennessee, California, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas and Kentucky. For Canadian territories, Alberta is the state that allows for advanced boar hunting. There are organized trips or guided hunts offered by lots of hunting associations, and you can contact them online or on the phone to request detailed information on their services. They also offer tips and suggestions for the preparations necessary for such hunting expeditions. You can get all the necessary supplies in the package depending on the company you choose to work with.

More advice comes from the guide you hire for the trip: he will tell you what to wear and what equipment to take to the area. Poor equipment equals a failed hunt, therefore, choose your garments to match the weather and the climate. On organized hunts, you will get recommendations and suggestions for the hunting wear too. Find out whether the organizers use bait to lure the boars to a certain spot. The use of feeders is condemned by lots of hunters. This is usually specific to skilled experienced hunters who prefer to handle things traditionally.

Find out about the don’ts of a boar hunting trip. Don’t urinate in the hunting area, don’t smoke and don’t wear cologne because the animals will catch the smell and won’t approach. Keep quiet on the hunting grounds and stay alert because wild hogs can be very dangerous at times. You could put yourself in great danger by lack of attention and vigilance. Therefore, make sure you meet all these conditions for a very successful expedition. Sometimes you can have great fun even if you get back with an empty bag.

I hope you can get useful information from this boar hunting info. Now, If you are interested in other information especially about special product, you can visit the particular website on welding respirator where you can get half mask respirator and related information.

Duck Hunting Tips For Novices

Posted by – April 25, 2010

Duck hunting is considered a lot more rewarding on private and club lands than on public areas, because of the number of issues and the vagaries that come with water-fowling in such conditions. One of the variables that cannot be controlled here is the number of birds using a certain area because this can change really quickly, and the hunting pressure is high. Don’t get discouraged by the fact that private properties seem more attractive, because duck hunting also bears the influence of the birds-per-hunter ratio.

Duck hunting is theoretically possible in all states if there is enough water and good conditions for waterfowl. What hunters should learn how and when to hunt in such places, because there are rules and regulations that can’t be broken. Coastal marshes, river areas and public reservoirs are among the favorites. The management of such areas is the responsibility of special commissions that handle all the wildlife issues that duck hunting generates.

You can check with the state refuges and management areas to see where duck hunting is allowed and whether there are enough waterfowl concentrated. Restrictions abound on certain locations because the risk of hunting pressure increases alarmingly. Visit the Internet websites of state fish and game agencies for duck hunting solutions, analyze site maps, harvest figures and the rest of the details. For expeditions on navigable rivers, find out where you can enter on foot and where there are access points for boats.

Satellite images and aerial photography are sometimes used by hunters to identify the wetlands hidden inside public wildlife areas. You can organize an expedition to such places after heavy rains when the humidity and the water levels attract the waterfowl. There are many Internet websites that provide suggestions and tips for duck hunting on such lands.

You’ll thus be able to determine which is the best time to hunt, how mobile you have to be in order to move with the birds and what additional gear you may need besides the basic equipment. Mention must be made that hunting needs may differ according to the season, the climate and the wetland conditions where you choose to practice this game. Both skilled and less-experienced hunters may find such web resources fun and practical at the same time.

I hope you can get insight into usable and reliable information from this duck hunting topic.

Humorous Opinions On the Topic of Duck Decoys

Posted by – April 12, 2010

Humorous Opinions On the Topic of Duck Decoys. Just before starting any from the fix techniques detailed below wash the decoy by using a scrub brush plus a mild cleaner such as Simple Green or perhaps a natural citrus cleaner. Allow the decoy to completely dry. This stage is important for right repair and for that adhere to up primer and paint to adhere.

To most duck hunters the use of duck decoys can be a supplied for nearly each hunt with the season. As duck season approaches most duck hunters expend time repairing and rigging their decoys in preparation for opening day. This really is just the initial step inside many hours invested hauling decoys to a hunting location most likely to keep ducks and also the work put forth to carefully set them into a pattern that mimics live ducks around the water.

Adhesives – Adhesives that can be used in decoy fix include: Sportsman’s Goop, Guerilla Glue or Elmer’s Polyurethane glue. The disadvantage of this repair process is the extended cure time in the adhesives listed above. The extended cured time is due to a chemical reaction-taking place.

Use these drippings to fill holes brought on by pellets. Due to the fact it can be tricky to control precisely wherever the rope drips around the decoy, you might want to make use of a piece of paper with a tiny hole in it as a stencil held directly more than the pellet hole. Gloves are suggested when performing this process to stay away from burns. This is often a efficient and fast method to correct pellet holes however it is not recommended for repairing cracks.

Hot Glue – With a extremely quick cure time and good strength, we extremely advise making use of the warm glue process not only to repair pellet holes, but also cracks close to a keel. The glue cures as it cools and is relatively inexpensive. A warm glue gun and sticks of glue is usually bought for about $10. This can be a reputable and rapid process to correct pellet holes, and it is the second finest procedure for repairing cracks in the decoy.

This approach is significantly like welding steel, except that you’re welding plastic. This really is the most challenging with the restoration strategies detailed to perform. This approach is performed by making use of the iron to smear current material (plastic) into the restoration area and then permitting it to cool. Be careful not make an present hole bigger or push the iron by way of the plastic. A piece of comparable plastic-type can be utilized as filler if necessary. Gloves are recommended when performing this process to stay away from burns. Most soldering irons will heat to approximately 700 degrees Fahrenheit. This could be the most reliable procedure for all plastic decoy repairs, nonetheless it is also the most time consuming.

The most aggravating thing which could occur to a duck hunter is tangled up decoy anchor lines when attempting to set out a decoy spread.

Expanding Foam – Filling the complete decoy with expanding foam such as Great Stuff has been tried several times, but has never provided us favorable results. Even though this method sounds beneficial we do not advocate it based upon our past experience.

I would also suggest you read additional info on Buy Duck Hunting Land For Sale as well as Buy Duck Eggs.

How To Use Duck Decoys

Posted by – March 30, 2010

Decoy PondHow to use duck decoys is really a popular query that comes from duck hunters each new and old. No matter whether you have just taken up the sport or whether you happen to be a grizzled veteran that has been through several wars out around the marsh (or for that matter, everywhere in concerning!) this age good old query has persisted within the psyche of waterfowl hunters everywhere. The truth is we won’t ever know to some extent, but there are a few guidelines that certainly aid sort out what’s the course of goodness.

Understand the location you’re duck hunting.

If we’re referring to a backwater slough that is certainly only 35 yards throughout there exists proceeding being no reason to load the spot chock entire of eight dozen decoys. Within this scenario a smaller spread consisting of as handful of as 6 decoys could work good. However, if you’re planning on hunting a huge lake, river or coastal waters setting only 6 decoys will probable be a way to ensure you receive small shooting. In these instances a huge distribute that will command awareness from passing ducks stands out as the ticket. This really is on the list of major explanations that the gang lines were produced such that persons wouldn’t need to hand place so many decoys an individual by an individual. With a massive lake putting out 8 to 10 dozen decoys could possibly be jus the factor to obtain the birds up and as part of your encounter for large top quality shots.

Match the way the ducks are relating to one another in character

Possibly much more significant, though, is always to match what you happen to be viewing out and about scouting. If you’re driving all-around scouting the location and detect a lot of modest loved ones variety groups and pairs and singles, putting a large propagate of ducks over a preferred position is possibly to stick out like a sore thumb. To that similar end, if you will be seeing ducks rafting together feeding using a lake and very few singles or modest groups, placing a tiny multiply of three pairs of ducks is likely to acquire you each day of watching flock right after flock glimpse for some large bird concentrations no where in close proximity to your duck blind.

Complement your decoy propagate towards the time from the duck year or so

By the identical token, early inside the year the ducks are a smaller amount wary about what ought to and need to not be taking place to your decoy pass on. At this stage in the year a large propagate is usually really valuable to get you observed by passing waterfowl and afford them an excellent explanation to take a closer seem. Later inside the year or so, however, these identical birds have likely witnessed the same huge decoy propagate time and once more and won’t readily decoy to such a area. Below good tuning your spread to mimic reality can really pay out off. Will not be afraid to go modest in terms of the multiply for big benefits.

As can be noticed you’ll find several approach to skin a cat (or I guess on this event trick a duck into landing inside your decoy propagate!). Employing the above suggestions you are able to make your pass on more attractive for the ducks that repeated your hunting places and let for much more birds to get to the frying pan this fall.

The Exciting Sport of Duck Hunting

Posted by – March 29, 2010

Duck hunting is probably the most well-known hunting sports on the planet. It really is as very much a social calling as it will be a hunt, the fact is, representing a entire set of cultural standards and etiquette guidelines that numerous consumers tend not to even give consideration to. It carries a total culture all its unique, from your right dress code to duck hunting dogs and assistants. The community of duck hunting is ripe with cultural significance, but can be features a dark facet and represents a less than desirable element of human nature. Regardless with the stage of view, there does exist a little something to become discovered about duck hunting that may very well shed some light on either facet of the ethical quandary.

Duck hunting is generally a sporting activity approximately the world now, as commercial duck hunting has considering that been banned in most of the made countries. Duck hunting is, in fact, as old as time itself. You can find early indications that ducks and geese had been somehow hunted through the Ice Age. Cave drawings indicate that duck hunting was a sound exercise early on in human existence, providing solution to ducks and swans appearing on cave paintings in Ice Age Europe. There is certainly also evidence of duck hunting in Egypt, as being a mural to the tomb of Khum-Hotpe displays a guy capturing ducks in the stream. Ducks have been also possibly hunted by early guy within a Americas, as earlier Peruvian art indicates.

With this international history, duck hunting enjoys a recognition that spreads around the earth. It is actually particularly trendy in North America, the place the largest number of localized ducks may be located. Most ducks use the Mississippi River like a migratory manual, many duck hunts consider spot along the river make use of it being a guidebook for discovering ducks. Arkansas is mostly a big hotbed of duck hunting, with Stuttgart staying considered the “duck hunting capital within the world”.

Duck hunting is regularly deemed common on the grounds that of its simplicity. The tools belonging to the trade are simplistic adequate, coming from a decoy set to some shotgun and duck phone. The essence of duck hunting is centered close to the trickery of working with the decoy and also duck call in tandem to lure the ducks out and in the air in direction of the decoy. Right after this takes destination, the ducks are in open variety for that hunt and also the firing starts. These hunts consider position all-around rivers, streams, lakes and almost every other bodies of water exactly where ducks is often observed.

There are a lot features that stand in contrast to duck hunting, not surprisingly. Most waterfowl conservation experts agree that the hunting of any method of waterfowl does small to help any circumstance. The reality is, most marsh and wetland places are shrinking at tremendous prices, providing rise the the criticism that duck hunting efficiently diminishes an already diminishing habitat. One can find various organizations that continually spar with duck hunters over this reality.

An individual corporation often is the well-liked Ducks Indefinite. Ducks Unlimited is definitely an international group that stands as the leader in non-profit marshland safety and also the safeguard of waterfowl. Ducks A large number at times works with hunters to safeguard the marshlands and take care of the hunter’s way of existence. The major purpose of Ducks Lots of will be the conservation of localized habitats wherever ducks is usually established, enabling hunters to proceed protected and logical hunts of ducks and enabling the survival of far more ducks by building better spots for them to stay.

However, some hunters overlook this philosophy and also have no interest in any safeguard of habitats. They, instead, pillage the duck locations and hunt ducks that should not be hunted. Duck hunting remains a controversial sport due to the fact of this aspect, however, and will keep on to possess a dark part as extended as hunters stay blissfully ignorant regarding the realities of organizations just like Ducks Unrestricted. Devoid of the cooperation of hunters and marshland protectors, duck hunts might be a thing within the previous.


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