How important is decoy conditon ?

[5keepers]

I just got through sorting and changing out decoy cord on my decoys. The stuff got brittle last season and several broke on me. These are GHG that are going on their 5th season. Some have paint scraped of heads and all are stained with mud and muck. Lets here some opinions as to how important yall think clean well painted decoys are.

[simmy]

Don't know how important it is, but I wash mine with some warm soap and water with a soft bristle brush. Then I use some armor all wipes on em. Makes em look new for about half the season.

[Dux Be Us]

Roll em in mud and toss em out...I find it more important that they float good and dont touch

[quack_a_tack]

I just dunk mine opening morning, a brush and soap, really? They are just gonna get nasty on the first 4-wheeler ride.

[Wingman]

I've never seen a dirty duck. They keep themselves immaculate. I try to at least keep the mud off of mine.

[arduckslayer]

I've never seen a dirty duck. They keep themselves immaculate. I try to at least keep the mud off of mine.

+1 on that. We clean ours in the off season as needed with just a bucket of water and a brush. Warm water and armor all??? That is a little too much, especially when you've got 1200-1600 decoys to deal with.

[ScottyLee]

way back when, they would use milk jugs and 3 liter bottles painted black and gray. i don't think it matters that much.

[Trip]

Just washem halfway decent before opening day and you'll be fine.

[StraightUp]

I don't know the answer to the question, but back to the armour-all. I lay mine out on the ground and give them a good spraying with armour-all every now and then. It gives a little shine like they had when they were new. When you call like I do...you need your blocks to look their best.

[gator]

i think ya'll are thinking too much

gator

[Anatidae]

I agree - I haven't even gotten teal decoys out yet to see what kinda shape they're in - I'll worry about it the night before.......or maybe not........depends on how muddy they are.........or how much paint's missin'.........maybe just knock the dirt-dauber clods off..........or I could wash'em off when I git there...........or change focus and think about what chokes and loads to use..........

[Denduke]

Since deer hunters spray their stuff with UV killers due to washing detergents and fabric softeners, is anyone spraying their decoys with fabric softener???? "Soap and water" ...Seems like UV paint is the new fad; endorsed by the Crockett boys and accepted around here now.
Later DL

Brake out the old black lights...
http://www.google.com/products?hl=en&q= ... CDAQrQQwAg

[Wingman]

I agree - I haven't even gotten teal decoys out yet to see what kinda shape they're in - I'll worry about it the night before.......or maybe not........depends on how muddy they are.........or how much paint's missin'.........maybe just knock the dirt-dauber clods off..........or I could wash'em off when I git there...........or change focus and think about what chokes and loads to use..........

Oh don't you go acting like you don't care about your decoys. I've seen how you handle them with kid gloves. I think I even heard you growl at me one time for wrapping the string clockwise instead of counter-clockwise.

[Lodi Rebel]

For me it all depends on the birds. If I feel the mass migration is here, duck size chunks of old logs will work. LOL Topwater Delight, because they think they've got duck hunting down during this time. Hunting pressured birds that's been in the same general area for awhile, it comes to woodsmanship and experience in the field... Decoys are just an additive!!!! Don't get me wrong, I use deoys. I don't go to all the trouble of cleaning, when I throw them out opening morning I see what needs to take place.... I use to hunt with a guy about five years ago, he was 72 when he had to quit. Never used decoys, he hunted in timber, tupelo brakes, and buckbrush cypress sloughs. All he did was some great calling and alot of kicking in the water while keeping ducked down in the shadows. He would go through so many sounds of a duck, boy was it some sweet music. He would find what they wanted for that particular morning. He used to tell me--If they reacted to sharp long high pitched greeting calls we had a new batch (what he called later migrants in a new location), if they liked soft greets and quacks mixed with some feeding calls they were swingers (migrants that have been in the new area for a week or two), last was just the ole soft quack (migrants that a topwater will never kill)... He had three of the oldest calls I've ever laid eyes on for all three situations. He could flat put ducks in your lap..... Also said American Greed and the Mighty Dollar was gonna change duck hunting forever!!! Every year I hunt, I understand just a little bit more of the words he spoke... Moral of my story, some people like bread with their steak and some don't. Hunt every chance you get and find out what you like, how it workes, and why it works. When you have gratitude of the hunt, reguardless of the number of kills, decoys don't seem that important and learn from all your mistakes.

[Roach]

Ask yourself, do you care what "she" looks like?