Norwich bulletin., 1916-11-11
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HOW TO DRESS DEcoYs
Veteran Hunter Suggests Scheme to
 Make Artificial Ducks Real Enough
 to Deceive Live Ones.

After wild ducks get to pitching into decoys, they soon find the differ ence between the live birds and the artificial birds" said a veteran duck shooter and pigeon shot.
 Don't you know, fellows" he went on to say, "this thought struck me one day last year as sat in my duck boat waiting for shot at a passing bird; why not make the artificial de- coys look more like the real thing by attaching the wings of live birds to the backs of the decoys. As no one wants the wings, some good use should be made of them
 Hunters the country over. will put out a setting of stools-different from the next man. Most of them (the ones who know) get varying percentages in efficiency. 1t is a topic that requires a lot of study. Various schemes and contrivances have been tried and dis carded.
 The one that made use of a pulley at the heavy duck anchor with line running through from the duck, through pulley to boat, enabling the gunner by short pulls to make the decoy dive and move about, did fair ly well, but it had the drawback of unnaturalness.
 Again the judgment (invariably) of the man pulling the cord was bad. He would pull and agitate his decoy after he knew the wild birds had their attention on the decoys. That's the time to sit tight and quiet-stop call ing. Everything you can do has been done and a call too many or a pull at the decoy may and has lots of times frightened away a flock that was sure- ly coming in.
 "Then the modulation in the call means lot. Many men call too loud and many men will call just as loud to ducks 200 yards away as they would if theV a thOuSaod Alec they take no notice whether the wind is none, medium. or heavy. The same call has to do. This certainly reduces the per cent of efficiency.
 Again your decoys may be set that ducks coming in will alight either outside of the decoys Or away at and beyond the head stools. The good, safe rule Is to get your decoys distinct ly to leeward of you and place your head ones so they will face abreast of you on your right hand. Ducks coming in to decoyS so set will come closer, and if they sweep through over the decoys will give you a much larger, free and natural swing of the gun. Again, if they desire to light, they will almost invariably do so in the clear water immediately at the head of your decoy flock. They will then be exact ly in front of you, not off at an angle
 "The method and work of attach ing wings to wood or cork decoys is very easy. HHs HTepdTlIlS IHe OuCk TOT table, you pick up to the first joint on the wing. being careful to leave all the long feathers on that you can these snuggle and help to cover the back and fit together with the other wing. Join two of these wings to- gether, one each side of your decoy having extreme tips of wings just meet at tail, and, take it from me, you have something that looks natural.
 Your wings have two joints, the tip and the second joint. Fasten to the decoy by small galvanized wire staples, which, driven in close. bury in the feathers and are invisible.
 Save your wings and fit out your decoys as you can-every one that you add to your flock will help, and you will be much pleased with your added efficiency. With care they will last 8 season, but new ones are always avail able by saving the wings from ap birds shot.7 Q