hoggysreels Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Could someone explain the basics regards "starting " with pigeon decoys. I'm unsure as to what plastic decoys l would best start off with. Some appear a full pigeon others just the top half ... l'm only thinking of buying a dozen and giving it a go ( there are hides setup on the farm and lve been told l can use them. All lve ever done really is rough shoot ( once spent a day out decoying, and thouroughly enjoyable it was ) ... basically what dozen or so decoys would l be best off buying ? I might buy a few Crow decoys as well ... any help/advice appreciated .... cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 (edited) If you wish to shoot through the winter months you will need more than if you just shoot in good weather! Another consideration is how far you have to carry your equipment. SPORTPLAST make the best decoys whether they be full bodied or half shell. Don't bother with flocked versions. Edited March 6, 2013 by TIGHTCHOKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 The half decoys as you described are commonly known as shell decoys. These are more popular than the full body decoys because they stack and take up less space when transporting. Flocked are the best type of shell as they have a velvety finish so they don't shine like plastic ones. Look at FUD decoys too, these are excellent in my opinion. A dozen to start with is enough most the year round then you can add dead birds to your pattern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telf Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 dont mean to butt in but i too am just stating in the pigeon game,so would a dozen pigeon fuds do as well as a dozen crow fuds or are there better crow decoys cheers dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TIGHTCHOKE Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Fuds are just another newish gimmick, spend your hard earned on some good old fashioned half shells! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stovepipe Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Fuds are just another newish gimmick, spend your hard earned on some good old fashioned half shells! but make sure they ARE flocked! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Half shells ... now would l be right in thinking some are static and some can move by the draft of the wind ? .. or are the half shell all the same but there are different mounting sticks/rods etc. ... sorry if the questions seem dumb, but l'd sooner look the fool on the forum than in the field .. cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lakeside1000 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 absolutely, you can get solid sticks usually plastic which don't allow movement, the best are the mounting sticks with springs built in or the special ones sold on ebay etc which have a spring steel top, these allow the decoy to move about in the wind, invest in a turbo flapper as well, you need to get movement into the pattern to really fool the birds, don't forget to add your dead birds into the pattern preferably on wire mounts to make them look more realistic, best of luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoggysreels Posted March 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Cheers its all coming clear ... lm going to get the kit asap ... many thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian28 Posted March 6, 2013 Report Share Posted March 6, 2013 Look for somewhere bricks are being delivered that boa band makes good spring pegs adds loads movment to shells. Where abouts in wirral are you ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 7, 2013 Report Share Posted March 7, 2013 Movement in the decoy pattern is not essential. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Movement in the decoy pattern is not essential. If you are trying to represent a group of pigeons feeding, then it certainly helps. You don't see many flocks of pigeons on the ground sitting perfectly still. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
motty Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 If you are trying to represent a group of pigeons feeding, then it certainly helps. You don't see many flocks of pigeons on the ground sitting perfectly still. I agree, you don't. But i also believe it doesn't make as much difference as some people maintain. For instance, i know a chap who never uses anything but static decoys (dead birds) and shoots big bags regularly. When using other decoying aids (magnet, flapper etc) the movement is provided by them, negating the need for any other movement. I'm also not sure that a pigeon is clever enough to realise that his mates are a little bit on the still side. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Movement in the decoy pattern is not essential. I don't think we have different opinions, I just thought your comment above was literal. I use dead bird decoys a lot, especially in the Winter and they are static, but I always put a couple of floaters out, with or without a flapper. When using "artificial" decoys, I have to use some sort of peg, so it might as well be a spring peg to give them movement. Any sort of movement can attract birds from a distance and as I predominantly shoot wide open spaces, it works for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
karpman Posted March 8, 2013 Report Share Posted March 8, 2013 Fuds are just another newish gimmick, spend your hard earned on some good old fashioned half shells! Well said that man, don't use flocked here well have a couple. No idea how much difference they make to be honest. Confidence is big thing for me and I'm confident in what I'm doing even if I have a rubbish day. There more factors at work than flocked or not. Get ya self a dozen shells and get cracking, best way to learn is to get out there. Karpman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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