Whether you're hunting duck or goose, we've got decoys for both. Learn More . I have quite a pile of leaky plastic decoys (G&H M4Ms). How To Mold Foam Duck Decoys - playassustentable DIY Foam Decoy Tutorial - SCDUCKS.COM This allows the carver to have a better bill-to-head size reference and the head shape to be representative, allowing the bill to essentially flow out of the head. Youre now ready for the field. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. What makes HEYDAY decoys unique is the HydroFoam construction. Some sealers may raise the grain slightly, so make sure to knock it back down with small-grit sandpaper or even steel wool before priming. You can attempt to keep the wings attached to the entire skin or remove them prior to skinning. By utilizing pre-made cutouts or kits, you can make decoys with minimal tooling investment, allowing anyone to whittle out a few special blocks for the upcoming season during drab summer months. Slowly and meticulously, begin separating the skin from the meat. | Anyone here make/carve DIY styrofoam decoys? - Trapperman Forums If you removed the wings, glue a few wing feathers at appropriate locations. Learn more . How To Make A Turkey Fan Decoy | Field & Stream The economy is bad, but the duck hunting this season should be goodreal goodif you can afford to hunt it. So clear your Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Be sure that the parting line is drawn along the exact center of the decoy. Cost: $9 per decoy for a dozen or more You need: Pink insulating foam board, epoxy, burlap, mastic, basswood, furring strip How-to: Laminate the foam boards into a duck-sized block and start carving until it resembles the shape of a resting bird. I also have my own magnum mallard mold that could be trimmed to more accurately depict a diver shape. Sunday is gonna be good. If you remove the wings, you can pluck a few major wing feathers and attach them to the foam decoy when you drape it with your skin. I want to start building a foam decoy spread and steadily replace my plastic decoys with them as I get groups of them completed. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Duck hunting decoys dont have to cost you $150 per dozen. In order to make a decoy that doesnt look like a head and body were just screwed together, make sure that, during carving, you frequently mock-fit the head and body together to ensure their profiles are suitable matches for one another. Best Turkey Decoys of 2023 | Field & Stream How to Make Your Own Turkey Reaping Decoy - Ani-Logics Outdoors You will see it change from an amber brown to a light yellow. First, hit the craft store and get a Styrofoam ball about the size of a deer's head. :thumbsup: I do own a few dozen foam filled decoys, they are in the shooting pocket, all the rest are elsewhere, seems to be working well. Learn More Spring By Email: [emailprotected] Feb 3, 2019 - Explore Colin Davis's board "Foam decoy carving" on Pinterest. A good way to avoid the bill becoming disproportional is to carve the majority of the head before even rounding the ends of the bill. | With a roughed-out or cutout kit, most of this work has been done for you. Regrettably, taxidermy-quality decoys cost nearly as much as a finished mount youd display in your trophy room. You are creating a parting line, which marks where the left and right sides of the mold will come together. First, drive the -inch conduit into the ground until sturdy. Once the pattern is ready, trace it onto the decoy and carefully start cutting off excessive material with a band saw. Wrap a layer of burlap over the foam. Gee String Those are some sweet looking decoys! The main thing to remember is that ALL details should be symmetric, and the decoy, if cut in half down the length of the body, should be a mirror image. Published Apr 3, 2012 11:50 PM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. After the glue and dust harden. Carve a duck head from the basswood or find a plastic head online. Quick Paint Touch-Up for Mallard Decoys | Ducks Unlimited These centerlines keep things proportional by providing a good reference line so parts dont become asymmetric. No chipping or peeling. Ten dollars apiece, and ultra-realistic true-to-life faux hens costing $130 or more. Like I said I have never made any decoys with it but I think it should work just fine. One of my friends that learned how to make foamers here at my shop won a decoy competition at rappahannock this year with his 20th foamer decoy. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! Pour salt or borax onto the butt end to preserve the fan. The goal is to have an all foam spread within two years. Lance shows how to paint decoys to bulk up your spread for the fall. Once it's mixed you'll have a few minutes before it starts to go. 1. It is still plenty workable as it starts to expand. Carved from foam. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. They make incredible Halloween decorations and are perfect for scaring away specific birds that can harm small pets and gardens. It doesn't take as much as you'd think either. Another advantage of Heyday's HydroFoam construction is the fact that, unlike plastic, the foam allows for dimensional, carved-in detail. Homer Decoys gives you a step by step how to burlap foam decoys. Heydays symmetrical dual-keel hull allows decoys to deploy on the hard ground of a river bank, field, ice, or sand as tides let out without the lean you get from a single keel decoy. Join PopSci+ to read sciences greatest stories. http://www.amazon.com/Pourable-Flotatio B0047R4AQW, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. Once you get the amounts dialed in you should be able to mix and pour and have it out of the mold in 30 minutes or so. Overall, have fun, get creative, and work to get better. Once the head is nearly complete, using Apoxie Sculpt, set the eyes and then finish smoothing the head and blending transitions. I was wondering if anyone has done this and how it worked out? Comments on this site are submitted by users and are not endorsed by nor do they reflect the views or opinions of COLE Publishing, Inc. Foam board; A realistic 13"x17" strutting tom picture; Two 1/4" wooden dowels; Gorilla glue/X-treme Elmer's glue; . Items included are: flocking, applicator, brush . The cost of buying molds and the foam is going up everyday, but the cost of making your own carved foamers is still relatively inexpensive and for the most part can be done with materials you can buy or acquire locally. Ended up turning out pretty well. Sign up for our newsletter and receive insider only updates and special offers. (3) $54.99. (2) Ask 10 different carvers what type or brand of paint they use and you will get 10 different answers. Dixie Decoys Drifter Sport Shirt. By utilizing pre-made cutouts or kits, you can make decoys with minimal tooling investment, allowing anyone to whittle out a few special blocks for the upcoming season during drab summer months. Strutting gobbler decoys are hot items now, and for good reason: They work. Spray Foam Decor Is Having a Moment Among Designers and DIY'ers This is also a good time to at least begin fitting a keel, if desired, to the bottom of the decoy. HydroFoam Duck Decoys | HEYDAY Waterfowl Hunting The steps below are suitable for either wood or cork decoys, and even foam, with some nuances. Primos Photoform Leading Hen Decoy. Mark Kayser Homer Decoys - Foam Decoys and Decoy Heads - Made in the USA Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tips, tricks, optics, hunting, gunsmithing, reviews, reports, accessories, classifieds, and more! I'm with Wildlifer about the foam though. Start off by taking minimal material with each pass, and increase this amount as confidence builds. Decoy Flocking Kits allow you to minimize glare, creating a realistic look from the sky. This is a cheap way to reuse old. You are using an out of date browser. Chris Philpot [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. I put coat of titbeond 3 on the foam, and a few sifted coats of sawdust. The splashing element, created by a hidden bilge pump, is adjustable via control flaps. Model: 69070. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. She used the cover of a grass waterway in the field to help hide her outline, and stalked 250 yards to . UpDate 3 on the "MINI" ScoterZillias: Something new, something different for the 2020-2021 Special Seaduck Hunting Season here in Maryland Seaduck Duck Hunt. Here are step-by-step instructions for how. A single 1/4" hole under the tail feathers. All media carves differently, with cork being the easiest for newcomers to start with, and foam being the cheapest but requiring the most work after carving to create a rugged outer shell. Cut one end at a 45-degree angle so you can easily drive it into the ground. Decoy Flocking Kits - Flocking Unlimited Power is provided by a rechargeable battery with a run time of up to 12 hours. Dixie Decoys FrogSkin Camo Timber Hat $29.99. We set the decoys in a warm well ventilated area, and let them set and dry for 48 hours. This texturing creates realistic shadowing for a more natural looking decoy. Welp, go to Big lots in the summer and buy a case of the pool noodles, bundle them together and VOILA safety at its finest. Hardens nicely and makes them very durable. | Heres how to put a birds tail feathers to work for you. For a more pleasing look on the water, the decoy should be rounded at the bottom, starting up about 2 inches from the bottom. Probably saved me from ruining a couple dozen decoys. A forum community dedicated to duck hunters and hunting enthusiasts. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. To find decoy blank cutouts, parts, components and other items, check out the theduckblind.com. Be especially careful when carving the head, especially around the bill, as it can easily start to look odd and can turn from duck bill to crow beak in just a few quick passes. I am trying to think about the time it will take to get the top placed on the mold. How to Make Your Own Ultra-Realistic Turkey Decoy Using three long heavy T-pins, tack the fan onto a large cardboard box, and push the pins all the way through for a secure hold. While experts can make the details look easy, novices will find that painting intricate detail can be frustrating. :beer: I've also seen the $3 regular spray can foam from Walmart used. Most of the difficulty in making your own hand carved foamer decoys is in the knowing how, you can find that at ded outdoors. FEATURED PRODUCTS Out of stock Puddle Duck Decoy Kit $ 150.00 - $ 165.00 Details Out of stock Goose/Brant Decoy Kit $ 156.25 - $ 171.25 Details Super Magnum Decoy Kit $ 156.25 - $ 171.25 Proprietary Photoform process using actual imagery of a turkey. You can shoot it, step on it, run it over with your truck, and our HydroFoam duck decoys will NEVER SINK because, unlike other decoys, every decoy in the HydroFoam line is hollow and does NOT rely on an airtight seal to stay afloat. Cut along the underbelly, making a slit from the anus to where the feathers end just below the beak. [2] Drill four 1/8-inch holes in the butt end. Make Your Dove Decoys Really Stand Out | Field & Stream You just mix it 50/50 and pour it in and the stuff goes a long way. 2023 Heyday Outdoor | All Rights Reserved. Having the same tin soldier look in a spread can leave it looking lifeless, we call it a "dead spread". Start this step by using 80- or 100-grit sandpaper to smooth the decoy, making sure to get inside all the nooks and crannies to contour the decoys shape. DIY styrofoam decoy - aminate the foam boards into a duck-sized block and start carving until it resembles the shape of a resting bird. http://www.nchuntandfish.com/forums/showthread.php?111654-Freshly-painted-redheads&highlight=foam+decoys, https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rctVw5MkgvUkskrRtid5TA00Q&bvm=bv.137132246,d.eWE. That doesn't sound like much of a big deal, but if the wood expands, it can cause the decoy to split, crack, or even rot depending on how much moisture finds its way inside. Think about a Croc that you can hunt over. Tighten securely and wrap joint. Published Mar 8, 2010 9:02 AM EST, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. A two-part urethane foam decoy is derived when the two liquid parts are mixed, poured into a mold, and allowed time to expand and harden. Johnson BB - one of the best canvas decoy makers our state has ever known was Dr. Chuck May out of Murrells Inlet. Start by attaching the head to the body in a predetermined location by using a screw or screws and some wood glue. Sign up to receive Popular Science's emails and get the highlights. Give 'em the ol' Texas trash bag treatment. The problem with the mold release is that it gets into the foam and makes it impossible to get the glue to stick. Whether it is the first time applying flock to the decoys or to complete touche ups, these kits will meet your needs. Pretty Crafty there. With over 20 years making decoys the hard way we understand what is it takes to create and make a durable economically priced foam duck decoy the right way. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It should be dry and ready for Steps 2 and 3 in two weeks. Homer Decoys are designed and built to last a lifetime and withstand the harshest of hunting conditions. The shape of the keel can be as basic as a rectangle or as detailed as a half-moon, but the important thing is that its size fits the bird. Collapse it, fold it, carry it. With an emphasis on traditional style combined with modern decoy technology, Dixie Decoys brings you waterfowl hunting gear that connects you with the past while providing all of the advantages today's sportsmen demand on the water. I was thinking about filling some decoys with foam. Once the head and body are carved to your liking, it is time to fit them together for final blending/finishing. wide). DIY homemade duck decoys can do the trick - Farm and Dairy Molded entirely from EVA foam, our HydroFoam line pulls double duty as both the LIGHTEST and most DURABLE decoy on the market. Ask Gabe Jerome. Thanks. I thought about doing this sometime to make Crow decoys since for whatever reason I hate to spend money on a decoy for a black bird. If you want to use the mold you made it will either need mold release or to be super smooth. Foam filling decoys | Refuge Forums Foam filling decoys. Gee String We create working decoys of style, character and durability that will be worthy of passing down to the next generation. I plan to burlap these before painting and will attach a small keel just for a little weight. Start by taking off small amounts of material, remembering that once it comes off, it cant be replaced. I am considering . 1can does about a dozen and it seems to hold up pretty well. Its just $1 per month . If you have a streak of Bob Vila in you, then this next option might be more your style. For many waterfowlers, carving their own duck decoys is something they have contemplated but never put into action. Laying out decoys properly is imperative to the finished product actually looking like a duck. When working with the two part foam, how long does it take to start expanding. Banded Birds - Black Ducks - 6, Mallards 19 (3 Jack Miner) BW Teal - 2, Wood Ducks - 1, 1 Ross and 1 snow Goose (Both reward bands) , Canada Geese - 15 (2 neck collars), Morning Dove - 1. You would probably still want to burlap the finished product just for extra durability. Trim the flesh and fat, being sure to remove the milky-white oil glands. Waterfowl Hunters are extremely hard on Decoys and Homer Decoys has tested our foam decoys beyond any condition you will ever use them in to ensure theyre the strongest most durable decoy available on the market today. If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. Not long. Dixie Decoys - Investment Grade Foam Decoys and Sporting Apparel Be like shooting any other foam filled decoy. http://workingdecoys.net/workingdecoysforum/index.php, Shotshell, Reloading, Ballistics, & Chokes. 2. Sanding can really make features stand out by creating sharp, precise transitions. Using mostly garage or shop items, most carving newbies have everything they need already, keeping initial investments to a minimum. How to Make Your Own Duck Hunting Decoys - Pinterest Plus, every Heyday decoy is painted in a photorealistic manner based on aerial images taken of real ducks. Hunting. 1st coat of titbeond 3 and sifted sawdust. If desired, additional and reference lines can be added to make it easier to keep things equal, especially in areas where rounding will occur. DIY Foam filling decoys | Duck Hunting Forum Moisture can seep in, leading the wood to expand. Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. They also clean up with water, making them easier to deal with, and mistakes can be easily wiped away. The decoy doesn't move, making it slightly less appealing to real crows than motorized ones. www.foamdecoys.com We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. The Fora platform includes forum software by XenForo. Turkeys dig them. It may not display this or other websites correctly. I am looking at buying molds for making my own foam decoys. It is much harder, thus more durable. Web: https://homerdecoys.com, 2023 | Homer Decoys | All Rights Reserved. With over 20 years making decoys the hard way we understand what is it takes to create and make a durable economically priced foam duck decoy the right way. Spring gobblers acute vision is legendary. Blending coats and white. Save money by making your own waterfowl decoys. If you run gang rigs and one sinks no biggie its attached to the line. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community. The mold only cost about $12 to make and the cans of spray should give 1.5 or more decoys per can and each can was less than $4. See more ideas about decoy carving, decoy, carving. Great stuff is open celled foam and will eventually absorb water no matter how you cover it up. How To Take Care Of Your Decoys | BestHuntingAdvice Duck Hunting - FOAM FILLED DECOY ( DIY ) - YouTube Not only will they never sink, but HEYDAYs HydroFoam makes for a lightweight duck decoy that is more durable and quieter than any plastic decoy, thus making it easier and more enjoyable to transport, deploy, and pack up. For new carvers, acrylic paints are the cheapest and easiest to work with, as oils require mixing, cutting and other aspects that require more extensive knowledge. Cool you put some thought into it cant wait to see finished product. Motion. Once you get onto the process the carving part, basically the artistic part will take about 15 minutes per decoy, the rest of the process is more or less just knowing how and doing it. Every Heyday Decoy comes with a pair of UpRight weights which can be installed into the bottom of each decoy. Drape Cape If you like easy, simply plunk down a credit card at a major sporting goods store for a Turkey Skinz. And, even with the weights, a Heyday Decoy is still lighter than a traditional decoy. Homer Decoys are designed to withstand the harshest conditions possible. How to Make Homemade Goose Decoys - Gone Outdoors Turn a Heyday floating mallard decoy over and you'll immediately notice the HollowCore body. Retail price is approximately $45. These five homemade decoys are perfect for the waterfowler on a budget. How to Make Your Own Duck Hunting Decoys | Outdoor Life I've got guys I've helped making some pretty incredible stuff after just a few months. This ready-to-use cured skin wraps around most foam decoys to give any faux bird the look of a shimmering, fully feathered hen or gobbler. Next, add white paint on the upper rear tail feathers. 2 part urethane used for molding decoys. I have never used any two part foam to make decoys, I carve mine from foam and then burlap them. Extra Features. Pretty neat project Henry! Cut a keel from the furring strip and epoxy in place. For the stake, use an 18-inch length of 3/4-inch PVC pipe. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Published Jul 7, 2020 1:46 PM EDT. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Store your decoys in temperatures between 56 F and 72 F. Shave down the decoy equally on both side and use calipers to ensure dimensions are duplicated on both sides of the decoy. Here are several options to save you cash, yet give you the astonishing results a feathered decoy can offer. Most of the difficulty in making your own hand carved foamer decoys is in the knowing how, you can find that at ded outdoors. Extremely lightweight, flexible, and portable. A real gobbler fan costs nothing and packs easilyand can be as effective as the full-blown fake. Even the best carvers started out with basic decoys, so dont get discouraged if your first bird looks more cormorant than canvasback. It also holds paint well. Float the decoy in a tub and add weight to the keel until the bird looks like it ought to in the water. By Step 1. This is the same material (a closed cell EVA resin) used to make Crocs. How to make effective duck hunting decoys for under $10 Drape Cape While fine feather details are great in hand, from a distance, they make absolutely no difference to the birds so dont get hung up on them if things arent perfect right away. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Joined May 14, 2001 Messages 540 Reaction score 160 Location Chillicothe, MO. HydroFoam Mallards - Light as a Feather, Lasts Forever $149.99 - $299.98 HydroFoam Flocked Mallards - Light as a Feather, Lasts Forever $159.99 - $319.98 Get a large metal rod, about 10 to 12 inches in length and inch thick. However, I work at a taxidermy supply company and we make forms from two part expanding foam and the stuff is pretty easy to use. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. If you have been hunting long enough you probably have some old decoys laying around. Haven't done it myself but a hunting buddy hasn't had any problems with it.