How to Make Moving Duck Decoys
Duck decoys can trick ducks into thinking that they might have new friends. Instead, a decoy will lure a duck into a vulnerable shooting area so that you can kill it and have your dog run into the water, swim over to it, grab it by its lifeless neck and bring it back to you so you can put it into a bag and have it for dinner. A moving, motorized duck decoy does an even better job at tricking the luckless duck.
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Things You'll Need
- Aluminum duck mold
- Cotton swabs
- Two-part urethane foam
- Waterproof gloves
- Protective glasses
- Liquid car wax
- Plastic container
- Assorted paintbrushes
- Wood paint stirring stick
- Assorted paint colors
- Flat-head screwdriver
- 3M Rocker Panel Spray
- Long screws or nails
- Foam carving knife
- C-clamps
- Motorized decoy unit
- Nylon cord
- Batteries
- Rubber cement
- Lead weight
Instructions
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1
Secure your protective goggles to your face.
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2
Pour liquid car wax in your aluminum mold. Swab wax into the nooks and crannies. This will allow the foam to come out freely.
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3
Pour two-part urethane foam into your bucket. Mix it well with the stirring stick. Be careful not to poison yourself with the fumes. Ensure you do this in a well-ventilated area.
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4
Press the sides of the mold together. Secure it with a few C-clamps at the areas where the aluminum is flat.
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5
Pour the urethane mix in the open spots of the mold. There should be several areas to pour it into, as the decoy molds usually have a head and keel that is separate from the body. Pour generous amounts in and don't fret about overfilling. Let it sit for a minute. Bump the mold and shake it to extract the bubbles.
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6
Wait overnight for your urethane to dry. Remove your C-clamps. Pry open each half of the mold with the screwdriver. Pop out the foam pieces with your screwdriver.
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7
Shave off the excess foam from the mold spouts with the carving knife. You'll only need to make a few quick strokes with your knife.
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8
Jam the metal screws about halfway into the base of your head piece. Connect your duck's neck to its body by pushing the other half of the screw into the body.
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9
Fit another metal screw to the duck's keel. Push it halfway down. Push the corresponding back into the other end of the screw.
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10
Carve with your knife a rectangular hollow under the duck. Fit the propeller in and ensure it fits snug, while allowing for movement. Remove the propeller. Spray 3M Rocker Panel Spray into the hollow area to provide a seal.
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11
Apply 3M Rocker Panel Spray to seal the decoy. It will be preserved by doing this, and it won't become waterlogged and sink. The paint will also be protected.
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12
Insert batteries in the propeller unit. Test it before you apply the rubber cement. Put a healthy portion of the cement into the motor crevices. Avoid the propeller. Fit the unit into the hollow part and allow it to dry.
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13
Tie onto the ring or notch the nylon cord. This is at the front of the propeller. Fit the other end with an adjustable lead weight. The weight will keep your decoy turning randomly instead of in a constantly straight motion.
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Tips & Warnings
Motorized propellers and carving knifes can be purchased from a hobby shop.
Duck molds are available at well-stocked sporting stores. They are also available on the Internet.
References
- Photo Credit bufflehead duck decoy image by Julianna Olah from Fotolia.com
