Abstract:
A hunting decoy, for example simulating a wild turkey, is structured for lifelike motion in the field, and can be quickly deployed and adjusted in height. In one arrangement, freedom of body and head movement is provided to simulate natural movement in a limited range. Spring mounts including helical spring couplings between a vertical post and the dorsal part of a torso portion of the body, and also between the vertical post and a head/neck diverted support. These couplings allow the body and the head to move relative to one another both in a limited bobble-head motion and also bobble-body motion that is akin to a waddle. The spring couplings also minimize unnatural appearance if the decoy is deployed out of vertical alignment. The spring mountings permit limited movement in rotation on the vertical axis, and also damp the extent of free motion permitted. The vertical post can be provided with a step section, and can be length extensible by selection of intermediate extension lengths to place the decoy body at an optimal height in grass or brush.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims priority of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/625,319, filed Nov. 5, 2004. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention of this application concerns improved bird hunting decoys and supports for deployed decoys, and more particularly, to a decoy support structure that produces better movement and presentation of the decoy. A hunting decoy according to the present invention, for example, can be shaped and colored to represent a wild turkey. However, the invention of this application has much broader applications and should not be limited to hunting decoys.  
         [0003]     The invention of this application relates to animal figurines that can be used as hunting decoys. Lindaman U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,216,382 and 6,481,147 disclose hunting decoys including a hollow decoy structure and a support stake structure and are hereby incorporated by reference for showing the same. Samaras U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,322 discloses a decoy with moving body parts and is also incorporated by reference herein for showing the same. Johnson U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,637 discloses a decoy in which the decoy body is mounted on a vertical stake and is also incorporated by reference herein for showing the same. Sroka U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,531 describes a bird decoy with motion associated with the decoy&#39;s head and neck and is also incorporated by reference herein for showing the same.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0004]     Decoys are known in various shapes and colors to resemble specific animals, a familiar example being game birds. The decoys may be attractive to the corresponding species of game animal or to a different species, as a result of various instincts. These include (for example) social herding or similar safety-in-numbers instincts, predation or other expectation of finding food, opportunities for procreation, the urge to maintain territorial exclusivity, establishment of a place in a hierarchical pecking order, etc.  
         [0005]     A decoy advantageously resembles a particular species accurately, at least as to attributes that a target species is inclined to notice. The decoy may be quite realistic, or may simply have critical attributes in common with the particular species it emulates, such as a comparable silhouette, color, movement, sound, odor, etc.  
         [0006]     Decoys that appear realistic to humans are more popular among hunters than those that are obviously artificial. The target species may be prone to respond, positively or negatively, to the same aspects as humans, or possibly other aspects. Visually, many animals are highly sensitive to motion.  
         [0007]     Visual mimicry is an important consideration, but not the only one. Decoys should be inexpensive to manufacture. The decoy should be compact or subject to packing in a manner that permits a hunter to carry a number of decoys into the field. The decoys should individually be very easy to deploy, quickly and silently, in any terrain that may be encountered, such as open grassland, woods or scrub vegetation.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,531 describes a bird decoy with motion associated with the head and neck. The decoy body is stationary. A one-piece head-and-neck portion is mounted to the body so that the head and neck may tilt when sufficient wind prevails. The decoy is helpful in that it moves, but it is not representative of a live animal, whose motion is unlikely to involve displacement of an integrally rigid head and neck relative to a rigid stationary body, even when the animal is standing in place.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,637 discloses a decoy in which the decoy body is mounted on a vertical journal axis by bearings. The idea is for ambient breeze to rotate the body on the vertical journal axis without substantial frictional resistance. The journal axis is set precisely vertical. The weight of the decoy is balanced evenly on opposite sides of the axis. The mounting comprises a helical spring which enables the breeze to wobble the decoy in the incident direction of the breeze. However, the pivot point of the device is not optional.  
         [0010]     In a frictionless rotational mounting of such a type, it is also possible that the decoy body may turn one way or the other on the vertical axis, due to wind or another impetus. Turning on a vertical axis may appear natural in some conditions and therefore could be interesting to a game animal. However the wind speed and direction must catch the decoy body just right. If the wind is not at the particular speed and oriented in the specific direction that produces a convincing motion, the motion may be such that the decoy is caused to appear as an obvious fake. This problem is acute if there are several decoys deployed in a group. It might appear natural and interesting, for example, for decoys in a group occasionally to face in a new direction, for example as live animals in a group might face in unison toward the source of a sound. If decoys in a group rotate freely, a gust of wind could cause them to rotate in different directions and to continue beyond a full revolution. Such motion is mechanical and unrealistic.  
         [0011]     If the rotation axis of a journal mounting is not at the center of mass, and the rotation axis is tilted relative to vertical, the decoy body will rotate preferentially to a stable rotational position at which the heaviest part of the decoy is at the lowest elevation. A gust of wind may act to rotate the body due to differences in surface area, for example exerting greater pressure on the thicker tail section than the thinner head section, causing a rotational force. This may rotationally displace the heaviest part of the decoy body from the angular position at which the heaviest part is at the lowest possible elevation. When the wind force subsides, the body tends to rotate back to the preferred orientation, because the heaviest part of the decoy body settles back at the preferred lowermost elevation. Typically, there is an associated rotational oscillation of a decreasing amplitude around the preferred rotational orientation, as the body settles back to the preferred orientation.  
         [0012]     When deploying several decoys, particularly in a situation in which the decoys must be placed quickly and quietly before the hunter is spotted by the game, the hunter cannot take time to test and adjust the verticality of the rotation axes and the balance of the decoy bodies so as to face all the decoys in parallel or nearly parallel directions. Some of the ground stakes are likely to be set more near to vertical than others, which causes certain decoys in a group to be prone to rotate in the wind, while others do not. Even if care has been taken and the decoy bodies are all faced in parallel, balanced and aligned on vertical rotation axes, they may respond to a gust of wind by spinning around 360 degrees or more, possibly in different rotational directions, and may look obviously artificial.  
         [0013]     A game animal is sensitive to motion and expects to see realistic motion in live animals. Suspicious unrealistic motion detracts from the effectiveness of the decoy. A group of decoy bodies that spin on their axes in a relatively uncontrolled and mechanical way, facing in random directions at any given time, and possibly spinning through more than 180 or even 360 degrees, is suspicious even if the static shape and color of the decoys are highly realistic.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     The present invention is applicable generally to visual decoys that are intended to approximate the appearance of a particular species. The decoys may represent any species and/or gender to which animals instinctively respond. A particularly demanding subject as well as a good demonstrative example is the American wild turkey.  
         [0015]     Wild turkeys are wary animals with acute senses. Male turkeys are territorial and will challenge another male turkey in an established geographical range. Turkeys of either gender may approach other turkeys to establish dominance in a pecking order. Turkeys are large birds but they can fly a substantial distance and thus can very quickly move about in response to situations.  
         [0016]     The invention is, therefore, described with reference to wild turkeys. However, the invention is also applicable to other particular species. For example,.the invention can be applied to decoys representing animals that frequent dry land or water, mammals or birds, prey animals or predators, etc. Further, the invention of this application can be used in connection with predator animals to prevent damage from unwanted wildlife or any other use associated with simulating wildlife.  
         [0017]     In accordance with the present invention, a decoy support is provided which advantageously produces lifelike motion and which can be quickly adjusted to varied heights.  
         [0018]     Further, the stake according to the present invention can include multiple points of movement simulating the movement of the particular animal without producing unlimited movement. Moreover, the decoy according to the present invention is easy to deploy and can be made to be compact for transporting several decoys. More particularly, the decoy in accordance with the present invention can include separate spring mounts between the body structure and the head structure to allow the body and the head to move relative to one another and minimize the likelihood of the decoy being out of balance.  
         [0019]     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, provided is a support structure that also allows the decoy to rotate about a vertical axis to create yet another degree of movement.  
         [0020]     In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, provided is a damping mechanism to help restrict the movement of the decoy body and the decoy head. The damping device can be, for example, a rubber or polymer sleeve coaxial to and covering the spring mechanisms. In another embodiment, the damping or homing of the moving parts relative to the other components can be achieved by the shaped relationship between the moving parts such as by detents in one or more of the components of the movement joints.  
         [0021]     In accordance with even yet another aspect of the present invention, the degree of rotation of the decoy about the vertical axis can also be limited while allowing the movement described above.  
         [0022]     In accordance with yet a further aspect of the present invention, provided is a support structure that can be used with existing decoys or new decoys that provides the described advantages.  
         [0023]     These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the following discussion and the appended claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0024]     The foregoing will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out more fully hereinafter in connection with a written description of preferred embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0025]      FIG. 1  is an elevation view of a decoy stake according to the invention;  
         [0026]      FIG. 1A  is an side view of three differently sized intermediate rods;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an elevation view of another embodiment according to the invention having an anti-rotation feature;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a decoy on a decoy stake assembly showing another embodiment of the present invention having a multiple support structure;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a decoy on a decoy stake assembly showing yet another embodiment of the present invention having a pivoting head mechanism;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  in  FIG. 5 ;  
         [0032]      FIG. 7  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a decoy on a decoy stake assembly showing yet a further embodiment of the present invention having a bent neck support arrangement;  
         [0033]      FIG. 8  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a decoy on a decoy stake assembly showing yet another embodiment of the present invention having a balanced bobbling head mechanism;  
         [0034]      FIG. 9  is an exploded view of yet another embodiment of the invention of this application;  
         [0035]      FIG. 10  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of yet even another embodiment of the present invention having an L-shaped neck support arrangement;  
         [0036]      FIG. 11  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of a further embodiment of the present invention having a neck support which includes use of a strip spring arrangement;  
         [0037]      FIG. 12  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of yet a further embodiment of the present invention having a neck support which also includes use of a strip spring arrangement;  
         [0038]      FIG. 13  is an enlarged view of a spring steel strip shown in  FIG. 12 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 14  is a partial longitudinal sectional view of yet a further embodiment of the present invention also having an anti-rotation feature;  
         [0040]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged top view of another decoy mount according to another aspect of the present invention;  
         [0041]      FIG. 16  is a side view of the decoy mount shown in  FIG. 15 ;  
         [0042]      FIG. 17  is an enlarged top view of yet another decoy mount according to yet another aspect of the present invention;  
         [0043]      FIG. 18  is a side view of the decoy mount shown in  FIG. 17 ;  
         [0044]      FIG. 19  is an enlarged top view of a further decoy mount according to a further aspect of the present invention;  
         [0045]      FIG. 20  is a side view of the decoy mount shown in  FIG. 19 ;  
         [0046]      FIG. 21  is an enlarged top view of yet even a further decoy mount according to another aspect of the present invention; and,  
         [0047]      FIG. 22  is a side view of the decoy mount shown in  FIG. 21 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0048]     Referring now in greater detail to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the invention,  FIG. 1  illustrates a hunting decoy stake  10  assembly according to an aspect of the invention. Stake  10  includes a ground portion  12 , a support portion  14 , and one or more intermediate rods  16  extendable between portions  12  and  14 . Ground portion  12  extends between a bottom end  18  and a top end  19  and includes a lower, generally vertical section  20  adjacent bottom end  18  that is coaxial to axis A 1 , a first  90  degree bend  22 , a generally horizontal mid-section  25  coaxial to axis A 2 , a second  90  degree bend  26  and an upper section  28  adjacent top end  19  and which is coaxial to axis A 3 . Bottom end  18  can include a conical end portion  32  to help the stake enter the ground.  
         [0049]     The support forms a generally vertical post with a right angle bend on which one can step. It is preferred to have  90  degree bends  22  and  26 , which 90 degree bends create a generally horizontal mid-section  25  that can provide a step at which the end user can apply foot pressure to force the stake into the ground. The 90 degree bends could be omitted if the stake was to be embedded by hand. As can be appreciated, and in alternative embodiments, bends  22  and  26  can be non-ninety degree angles, for example be less than 90 degrees which also produces a mid section that can be used to force the stake into the ground. Among other alternatives, a tee-shaped extension rung can be provided (not shown) or a step can be formed with a right angle, an acute outer elbow and an obtuse angle. This mid section arrangement as described can allow the decoy to rotate about lower section  20  based on the direction of the wind if the user maintains mid section  25  above the ground.  
         [0050]     Top end  19  is shaped to receive one or more intermediate rods based on the particular application. As can be appreciated, the spacing between the ground and the decoy will be dependent on the natural surroundings. Decoys used in tall grass advantageously should be spaced further from the ground than decoys used in short grass if the decoy is to be easily seen. End  19  can include a sleeve  40  to allow attachment of intermediate rods  16 , however, other fasteners known in the art could be used without detracting from the invention of this application. Sleeve  40  has a bottom opening  42  shaped to frictionally receive end  19  and a portion of upper section  28 . Sleeve  40  further includes a top opening  44  shaped to frictionally receive a bottom portion  46  of intermediate rod  16 . As can be appreciated, and with reference to  FIG.1A , one or more intermediate rods can be used to change the overall height of stake  10  and/or rods  16  can be different lengths and come in varying lengths such as rods  16 A,  16 B and  16 C. Further, rods, ground portion  12  and support portion  14  can be made from any material known in the art including, but not limited to, steels, stainless steels, plastics and composite materials.  
         [0051]     Support portion  12  includes a bottom end  48  and a top end  50  wherein a spring assembly  52  can be joined thereto. Spring assembly  52  is preferably a coil spring  53 , however, spring assembly  52  could utilize any biasing member that is capable of producing movement of the decoy relative to stake  10 . Further, spring assembly  52  can include a biasing or damping element (not shown) to restrict or dampen the movement of the body relative to the shaft. Spring assembly  52  can further include a lower bushing  56  to secure the bottom of spring  54  to section  14  and an upper bushing  58  to secure a mount  60  to the top of the spring. Mount  60  can have many different configurations which will be discussed in greater detail below, however,  FIG. 1  shows mount  60  having an upwardly extending threaded fastener  61  for securing the decoy to the stake with a similarly threaded nut  62 . By utilizing a threaded fastener system, the decoy can be prevented from rotating about axis A 3 . However, the decoy could be placed on mount  60  without nut  62  if unwanted rotation is not an issue. As can be appreciated, while only one type of threaded fastener is shown, other types of fasteners could be utilized and even adhesives could be used. In addition, a bushing in the hole of the decoy body could also be used to reinforce the decoy body to prevent premature failure of the decoy body. As can be appreciated, it is advantageous to make the decoy body from a lightweight and even a collapsible material for easy transportation. However, these types of material do not always provide the structural integrity needed for a joint between two components.  
         [0052]     Stake  10  further includes a second sleeve  70  that can be the same as sleeve  40  discussed above. Sleeve  70  also includes a bottom opening  72  shaped to frictionally receive a top portion  74  of intermediate rod  16  and a top opening  78  shaped to frictionally receive a bottom portion  80  of rod  82  that extends between bottom  80  and spring assembly  52 . As can be appreciated, sleeves  40  and  70  do not need to be removable from both adjacent components. More particularly, and for example only, as is shown in  FIG. 1A , sleeve  70  can be fixed to top end  74  of rod  16  and sleeve  40  can be fixed to top end  16  of ground section  12 . Therefore, each rod  16  would include one end with a sleeve and the other end without a sleeve fastener. The top ends of both fasteners  40  and  70  would then be configured for selective engagement with the respective adjacent component.  
         [0053]     In the following discussions concerning additional embodiments of the present invention, common components will be referred to with common reference numbers. Further, the following discussions that relate to changes to the support structure  14  discussed above, will not also discuss the bottom or intermediate structures. The discussion will be limited to the actual changes in the particular embodiment. However, while the majority of the changes in the respective embodiments are in the support portion, modifications can be made to the lower section, including but not limited to, changes in the height of the mid section, without detracting from the invention of this application.  
         [0054]      FIG. 2  shows a stake  90  which further includes an anti-rotation implement  92  that can be joined to mount  60  and/or be an extension of mount  60 . Implement  92  is spaced from axis A 3  and is sized and shaped to extend through a hole (not shown) in the decoy body (also not shown). By being spaced from axis A 3 , implement  92  prevents the decoy body from rotating about axis A 3 . As can be appreciated, the hole or opening in the decoy body could also be elongated to allow restricted rotation about axis A 3  to allow limited rotational movement of the decoy.  
         [0055]      FIGS. 3 and 4  show yet another embodiment of the present invention. As can be appreciated, while not shown, this embodiment, as with the other embodiments of the present invention, can include other variations described above and below. More particularly, these figures show a decoy  110  having a decoy body  24  and a head  112 . In this embodiment, stake section  14  further includes a forward shaft section  130  that is curved upwardly for, use with wildlife having a more upright head position. More particularly, shaft section  130  has a generally horizontal section  132  and an upwardly extending section  134  wherein section  134  has an end  137 . A spring assembly  135  is joined to end  137  in the same fashion as described above and is mounted to head  112  by joint  138 . As is also shown, the fastening system to secure the stake to the decoy body can include a threaded hole in mount  60  and a fastener  140 . As can be appreciated, other mounting arrangements known in the art could also be used to secure the decoy body to the stake.  
         [0056]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this respect, shown is decoy  210  wherein stake section  14  further includes a forward section  224 . Forward section  224  has an end  226  having a first portion of a pivot joint  230 . Decoy  210  further includes a head  232  having a base  234  which includes a second portion of pivot joint  230 . Pivot  230  allows head  232  to move about an axis  240  relative to stake section  224 . While, as with other components, wind is utilized to create the body motion of the decoy, head  232  includes a centering device  241  to maintain the head at a natural central position and to ensure that the head returns to this central or home position. The particular embodiment produces a pecking motion. Further, as is shown, head  232  is also influenced by the movement of the body. In this respect, centering device  241  can be joined to body  24  thereby being influenced by the motion of body  24 . While not shown, the centering device could also be jointed to the stake and/or incorporated into pivot  230 . Centering device  241  includes a mount  242  connected to head  232 , a mount  244  connected to body  24  and a biasing member  236 . As with other embodiments, while member  236  can be a spring, other flexible devices and/or materials can be utilized without detracting from the invention.  
         [0057]      FIG. 7  shows yet another embodiment of the invention of this application. More particularly, shown is a decoy  310  having a configuration similar to the one shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , however, forward section  130  is selectively connectable to stake section  14  by connector  312 . This configuration allows the stake to be used with multiple decoy structures including those with or without special head movement arrangements.  
         [0058]     However, as is shown in  FIG. 8 , head mechanisms can be independent of the stake. More particularly, shown is a decoy  410  with stake  10  and a bobble-head  420 . While decoy  410  is shown with stake  10 , as is stated above with respect to other embodiments, other stake or base configurations can be utilized in this embodiment. With respect to the head mechanism, bobble-head  420  is also influenced by wind, however, bobble-head  420  is separate from stake  10 . More particularly, bobble-head  420  includes a head  422 , a neck  424 , a weight system  426  and a hanging system  428 . Hanging system  428  retains bobble-head  420  relative to body  24  and weight system  426  helps control the bobbling action of bobble-head  420 . Neck  424  provides a more realistic look for the decoy. Weight system  426  includes a weight  430  that can be directly attached to head  422  and/or neck  424  or can be spaced from head  422  and/or neck  424  by a weight arm  432 . As can be appreciated, based on the weight of head  424  and the desired position of hanging system  428  and head  424 , it may be necessary to space the weight from the head to achieve a desired neutral head position (the position the head will return to when external forces are removed). Arm  432  it attached to neck end  434 . As can be appreciated, neck  424  could also be extended to act as weight  430  and/or arm  432 . With respect, to hanging system  428 , included is a body hanger  442  and a head hanger  444 . Body hanger  442  is attached to body  24  and head hanger  444  is connected bobble-head  420  at a balanced position wherein bobble-head  420  is held in a desired position relative to body  24 . While hangers  442  and  444  are shown to be hooks, any known hanging mechanism could be used which produces the desired head movement including, but not limited to, a hook and a loop, two loops and even a flexible strap. In addition, hanging system  428  could also be supported by a forwardly extending section of the support structure or stake (not shown).  
         [0059]      FIG. 9  shows yet a further embodiment of the invention of this application. More particularly, shown is a decoy  610  wherein stake section  14  includes an angled support arm  630  which, besides its angled configuration, is structured the same as above and, therefore, will not be discussed in detail. Further shown is that the stakes of this application can be easily disassembled from the decoy for compact storage and easy transportation. In this respect, the stake can be used with a decoy having a collapsible decoy body  632  such that body  632  and head  72  can be easily removed from the stake and stored compactly for transportation and/or storage. Again, as is emphasized above, these features can be utilized in other embodiments such that any of the above described decoys can utilize collapsible decoy body  632 .  
         [0060]      FIG. 10  shows yet a further embodiment of the invention of this application. More particularly, shown is a decoy  710  wherein stake section  14  further includes an L-shaped mounting arm  630  with a spring  632  on the end of arm  630  with a spring mount  634 . A fastener  636  can be used to secure head  72  to the spring mount.  
         [0061]      FIG. 11  shows even yet a, further embodiment of the invention of this application. More particularly, shown is a decoy  710  wherein stake section  14  includes a mounting arm  730  with a slot  732 . Slot  732  is shaped to receive a spring steel strip  734  that produces, at least in part, the motion of head  112  relative to the body. In this respect, the inter-engagement between strip  734  and slot  732  allows limited rotation of spring strip  734  about an axis  736 . As can be appreciated, forward section  730  can also be selectively attachable to section  14 , as with the other embodiments of this application.  FIGS. 12 &amp; 13  show another attaching method for spring steel strip  734 . More particularly, arm  730  can include a nipple  740  and strip  734  can include a mounting hole  742  for attaching strip  734  to the stake. A fastener  744  can be used to secure the strip to the nipple. As with the embodiment shown in  FIG. 11 , head and spring, strip  734  can rotate about axis  736  while the spring steel produces wobbling motions. As can be appreciated, other joining methods can be used for connecting the spring steel.  
         [0062]      FIG. 14  shows even yet another embodiment of the invention of this application. More particularly, shown is a decoy  810  wherein stake section  14  includes a forward extending section  812  and an anti-rotation feature. In this respect, stake mount  822  can be configured to pass through a hole  830  in decoy body  832  similar to the decoys and stakes described above. However, in addition, mount  822  can include an anti-rotation feature such as an- anti-rotation arm  824  extending from mount  822 . Arm  824  is L-shaped and extends through a second hole  826  in decoy body  832  when the decoy body is in the mounted condition. As can be appreciated, this configuration can be used to prevent the decoy body from rotating relative to the stake. As can be appreciated, the anti-rotation feature can include an upwardly extending anti-rotation implement extending from mount  822 . Further, stake mount  822  can also include an elongated portion and hole  830  can have a corresponding elongated configuration such that the decoy body is prevented from rotating relative to the stake. If limited rotation is desired, hole  826  could be an arcuate slot thereby allowing arm  824  to move along the slot, however, this movement would be limited by the length of the slot. As is stated above and as with other embodiments, the anti-rotation feature of stake  820  can be used in connection with other embodiments of this application.  
         [0063]     With reference to  FIGS. 15-22 , mount  60  can have many different configurations to produce a desired result. As is discussed above with respect to mount  60 , the mount can include threaded shaft  61  such that nut  62  can be tightened down to secure the decoy body to the stake. Further, as is shown for example in  FIG. 3 , mount  60  can include a threaded opening and threaded fastener  140  could be used to secure the decoy body to the stake.  
         [0064]     In addition, a mount  60 A could be used which only includes an upwardly extending protrusion  850  and a generally flat base  852 . The hole in the decoy body is then merely placed over protrusion  850 . Further, a mount  60 B could be used which includes a generally flat base  856  and a first upwardly extending protrusion  858  and a second upwardly extending protrusion  860 . Protrusions  858  and  860  can be the same size or can be different sizes and can be used to prevent unwanted rotation without having to tightly thread a threaded fastener arrangement, Again, the decoy body, which includes two holes in the body, is merely placed on mount  60 B and the weight of the body maintains the body on the stake. As can be appreciated, the second hole corresponding with protrusion  860  can be elongated to allow a restricted range of rotation about axis A 3 . Yet even further, a mount  60 C could be used which includes an elongated protrusion  862  extending from surface  862  which mates with a corresponding elongated opening to prevent rotation. Protrusion  862  could be any polygonal configuration and could be any configuration that prevents rotation. Yet another mount  60 D could be used which includes an upwardly extending protrusion  870  extending from surface  872  which includes a radially extending tab  874  that can also be used to prevent rotation without the need to rigidly secure the decoy body to the stake.  
         [0065]     While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated and described herein; it will be appreciated that other embodiments can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the principles of the invention. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.