Converting Floating decoys to Field decoys

[CP]

I had a few old leaky duck floaters that I have been meaning to throw out.  That is until I looked at the cost of adding to my Avian-X field decoy collection.  For the price of a wood stick, a finishing nail and literally less than 5 minutes of labor, I’ve converted the leaker to a usable field decoy.

 Here’s how:
1.   Cut the keel off the leaker – I used a sawzall but a hand saw will work.
2.    Find the balance point by pushing the decoy slowly over the edge of the workbench; when it starts to tip mark that point with a sharpie.
3.   Drill a big hole in the bottom with a hole saw
4.   Drill a small hole in the top slightly bigger than a finishing nail head.
5.   Cut the stick to the right length – sharpen one end and drive the nail into the other end

Done –

I’ll let you know how they work in Oct.

[pentale]

A buddy of mine was talking about this the other day. He likes to swat ducks and we get a few leakers every year. Thanks for sharing.

[CP]

You're welcomed.  I hope it's useful.  Here's a few more pictures -

[D-Rock425]

Good thread.

[lokidog]

Why not just cut the keel off and sit it flat on the ground?  I've thought about making cradles to be able to set my floaters on in a field, but don't hunt many fields anymore.

[CP]

Why not just cut the keel off and sit it flat on the ground?  I've thought about making cradles to be able to set my floaters on in a field, but don't hunt many fields anymore.

That would work but the stick raises them above the vegetation and gives them movement.

[Savage.06Shot]

How well did these deecs work?

[CP]

How well did these deecs work?

I’ve shot some birds over them.  They don’t look as good as the full body decoys but they help augment the numbers. 

[Bill W]

good looking modification

[lokidog]

If you installed one of those screws that is a wood screw on one end and a bolt on the other, you could easily have the stakes removable which might make packing easier.  Just use a wingnut on the top to keep it from falling off the stake.   If you leave the nut loose, the decoy can still wobble and move.

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