Best Birds for the Magnet

[FreshFace]

Hi guys, I have done a search and couldn’t find anything current relating to my question.

Having just dusted down the pigeon shooting kit and carried out a few repairs to crappy wing nuts etc, I thought I’d ask as to what you guys recommend for starting off the magnet without having real birds to hand.

I have a couple of flocked full bodied decoys but the wings are static and some Sillosocks that add plenty of movement but seem extremely fragile with the easily lost or damaged wing bar.
What are your recommendations, the enforcer mk2 look good but from my limited search, I’m unsure if they will work with my magnet. Looking for movement and a quality product.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Old Boggy]

I find that when I don't have real birds (normally keep two breasted birds in the freezer) or when I forget to defrost the frozen birds, then sillosocks hypa flap work for me. I think that the bit of movement of the wings seem to do the trick. 

Not tried any other type of artificial so cannot comment on their suitability.

Whilst the sillosocks appear fragile, mine get stuffed in bags, thrown about etc and appear none the worse for it.

OB

[FreshFace]

Thanks OB, I don’t manage to get out as much as I like, but with number one son now showing a keen interest, it was time to make sure the kits ready when needed.

My sillosocks are a few years old and both have developed the same knackered wing nut issue, of which I made a bit of a hash of repairing one yesterday as the bolt would actually unscrew from the brass ferrule... hence why I was looking to replace.

Thanks again.

 

[Shotguneddy]

I just painted some Tyvek roofing felt , stapled some supports underneath for my flat plastic wing spreaders, added the white wing bars with glue-onto a flocked full body from a spinning decoy, hours work for 2 to go on my magnet

[FreshFace]

Thanks Eddy, they look pretty robust have you actually used them on the magnet yet? How did they go.

[Shotguneddy]

They work ok I was only able to test them down the field due to space, there not obviously as good as store bought ones but it past a tiny bit of time for me during lockdown I’m going to have a bit of a better fiddle and see what I can come up with, I will be using them tomorrow again will let u no how they hold up on a strong wind tomorrow thanks

[oldypigeonpopper]

Hello, pro flap decoys from A1 decoys work OK, just make sure you assemble correct and I strengthen the wings with grey duck tape, they are quite bulky to carry, or you can get some Eva foam wings a whole body decoy and a screw on rod holder gadget from A1 like in edds top photo, just need to make a slot for wings and screw on rod holder in correct position

Edited July 27 by oldypigeonpopper

[WalkedUp]

This is an Enforcer flying decoy (used on a bouncer) the right hand wing is temporary cardboard and the left is the real EVA foam version. These were a birthday gift for me that my boys have had hours of fun playing with and I’ve used to start the bag on shoot days. Any wind and they swoop convincingly. Once a few fresh birds are killed and are on the magnet I spread the floaters wider as ‘approaching birds’. Not sure if it is more for me or the pigeons....

As for a repair wing cardboard (cross ply PVA laminated) makes a reasonably robust wing set. 

Edited July 27 by WalkedUp

[Old Boggy]

1 hour ago, WalkedUp said:

This is an Enforcer flying decoy (used on a bouncer) the right hand wing is temporary cardboard and the left is the real EVA foam version. These were a birthday gift for me that my boys have had hours of fun playing with and I’ve used to start the bag on shoot days. Any wind and they swoop convincingly. Once a few fresh birds are killed and are on the magnet I spread the floaters wider as ‘approaching birds’. Not sure if it is more for me or the pigeons....

As for a repair wing cardboard (cross ply PVA laminated) makes a reasonably robust wing set. 

When I first opened your post, I thought, crikey, that decoy is massive, then realised it was your young lad holding it 

Mind you, in comparison, that goose decoy by his right foot is a bit small 

OB

[WalkedUp]

11 hours ago, Old Boggy said:

When I first opened your post, I thought, crikey, that decoy is massive, then realised it was your young lad holding it 

Mind you, in comparison, that goose decoy by his right foot is a bit small 

OB

🤣🤣🤣

[Balotelli]

Anything wrong with the Air Pro spinning wing decoys?