Have you ever wondered how to start a duck decoy collection but don’t know where to start? Look no further, this article will explain the principles behind the hobby of collecting duck decoys and start your collection today!
The story behind the duck decoys:
Native Americans used cattails, reeds, and other aquatic plants to mask floating lures to attract ducks for a kill. Ducks were an important game bird for early Americans. The Indians established their home camps around lakes, ponds, and rivers to have a duck hunting area nearby.
A duck decoy was a necessary aid in attracting birds in a range close enough for hunting with a bow, spear, or net. Archaeologists have found dozens of ancient duck decoys in caves dating back thousands of years.
Where to buy duck lures:
Online websites offer a great place to start a collection of duck decoys. They offer quiet shopping with a wide variety and easy shipping options.
Auction websites are another good idea for where to buy duck lures. You will find antique duck decoys that are considered ancient folk art. Handmade wooden duck lures would add value to your collection.
Be on the lookout for:
Check your local gambling laws before using duck decoys to make sure they are legal in your state. One key to a successful duck decoy collection is to select decoys that represent the live ducks in the area you are hunting. Ducks have keen eyesight, so it’s important that your lures be like life. Male ducks tend to have more colorful feathers than females.
Low water conditions and changing weather patterns have been attributed to poor duck hunting seasons. Staunch hunters who would never stoop to electronic decoys in the past are testing tech toys. These battery operated duck lures create real movement, inviting the duck into your sight. You control the duck lure with a remote control.
Some lures have been banned for being unsportsmanlike, so be careful before taking yours into the water. With its realistic wings flapping, your duck decoy may be in danger of getting shot!
Legal in most states is the Wing Magic Decoy. Plant the magic wing model on a pole where you want to draw the wild ducks. A string is attached to the wings, which when pulled creates a flapping and splashing motion. Ducks fall in love with this right and left.
When the shooting begins, the ducks are careful to fly close to the ground. The Wing Magic Decoy gives them a false sense of security when seeing other ducks, and BAM!
Best of luck in starting your duck decoy collection. John James Audubon’s last words were, “Go over to the Long Pond side, Billy. I’ll go this way and we’ll catch the ducks!”
