henry d Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 This months Sporting shooter has an interesting article on making decoys out of foam.It also includes a pattern and if someone out there with the technical know how and the mag could post the templates then we could make them for our own use(therefore no copywright infringement,as they tell you how to do it etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 You can buy foam decoys now and I bought two with outstretched wings ages ago, for my rotary . On the rotary, or on the ground, they don't like the wind. As they are so light, they want to bend into all different shapes and you spend a lot of time chasing them across the field. The colours are not very convincing and fade quickly. Which is not suprising , as foam does not give a very good surface for paint. The ones you speak of may be entirely different, but if they are made of foam and they are light, I expect they will have the same drawbacks as the ones I bought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 Don`t shoot the messenger(unless it`s Melinda) I just thought that those with a tight budget and spare time could give `em a try.In the mag they have wings and are said to be best used on stakes 2" above the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted January 9, 2005 Report Share Posted January 9, 2005 henry d, I ain't into shooting messengers (and certainly not Melinda). I'm just recounting me experiences of wasting money on what I thought was a good idea. Something I have done plenty of times. Ern and I will tell you about the hide poles one day, or perhaps the Advantage camouflage material , or the .................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete evans Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 i didnt like the look of the flimsy foamy jobs so made some out of full bodies and cut slots to take the wings and tail. the base colour of the rubber is grey so no need to paint just black magic marker and a splash of white dulux. dont know what the doos think yet. regards pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.Shuter Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Have you ever sat in your hide in winter on a rape field employing all manner of decoy tackle which is either whirling round or flapping, only to see one pigeon arrow down like a stuka into the crop completely ignoring your ploy and way out of range? Remember that old guy - Archie summat or other - he advocated throwing out a dead pigeon from the hide in an attempt to draw the attention of passing pigeons. Well guys, I've been experimenting with his 'technique' and, believe it not, there is some mileage in it. However an additional component was required, I fashioned a large strong catapult from a forked piece of hazel with a span of approx 24cm / depth of fork approx 30cm, handle to suit and using a strip of tractor innertube approx 3cm X 460cm. Test firing a dead pigeon ('percy') in the back garden proved useful as a few adjustments were needed but once I had made these I was confident of both a pretty straight trajectory and consistant range - approx 25 metres from 65 degrees. Once out in the field it works perfectly, I can fire a 'percy' right out among the decoys just as if it is landing, it really looks authentic. The dog also plays a main part in things by retreiving 'percy' so to speak thus enabling it's ('percy') continued use. I am not sure as yet just how much mileage there will be in one 'percy', but obviously I will confirm this when tests have finally been completed. The first test came, for my new 'percypult', when out on the rape between Xmas and New Year, from my hide, for real. Wow, it sure brings in the pigeons and once I became proficient at judging the time span from seeing passing pigeons to launching 'percy' to picking up gun and shooting, I was able to make a respectable bag of pigeons. The main benefit of a 'percypult' is clearly there for everyone to see, you can leave your battery powered gizmo's in the garage, just take a handfull of shell deeks, at least two 'percys', a bumstick (just in case) and instantly you have reduced your equipment weight by at least seventy five percent! GREAT NEWS: Make your own 'percypult' I've given you the rough dimensions above and for those of you who are not creatively gifted you don't have to take out a mortgage to get a 'percypult', the large 'bait launcher' (catapult) is avaiable from most US angling catalogues for about $2.50 + carriage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Do the wings come out mate? Or does it just go with wings against it's body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete evans Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 who is this question directed at? if its me i dont understand pete Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millo2 Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 who is this question directed at? if its me i dont understand pete for p.shuter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pete evans Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 he has got to be taking the ****. right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.Shuter Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 TO MILLOMITE. No - the wings don't come out. But its best if, before you launch it just set the wings out slightly and when it arrows down they appear to tuck in just like the real thing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.Shuter Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 TO PETE EVANS. If the cap fits....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 I promise you that this is true, but my old West Midlands FEO was called Pete Shuter. Great bloke, who enjoyed his pistol shooting before he had it taken away along with the rest of us. G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.Shuter Posted January 10, 2005 Report Share Posted January 10, 2005 Hey Gemini you old scrote! No seriously I have not the faintest clue just who is hiding behind 'Gemini' Cheers, Pete. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemini Posted January 11, 2005 Report Share Posted January 11, 2005 There cant be two Pete Shuter’s can there? Were you a West Mid’s FEO? G.M. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henry d Posted January 12, 2005 Author Report Share Posted January 12, 2005 A variation on P.Shuter`s theme is to insert a pointed stick into the vent(butt) of the doo and flick it into the pattern.I have mixed results,but if it`s a slow day anything is worth a try! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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