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Well the bad news is that I am really unhappy with the head and the head to body ratio. The good news is that I think I can fix it. But it’s my first try at a non-ducks-in-a-row diver decoy.

Very good info thank you all.

I did a search and found some info but am curious with everyone’s experience with carving sleeper decoys. Do I just knock out a normal body and carve the head as a sleeper or is there more to it? I bet I’m overthinking it.

Yes in some cases. Hence my multi year quest for a mature long tail duck. I have harvested my share of juvenile drakes that came in straight on. I lost the only mature bird on a guided hunt because they didn’t want to pick up birds until 2-3 were down on the water.

Not only do I have good advice here, I have several paint schemes to mimick! Good head on a football. lol. I keep telling myself ducks are round and decoys don’t need carved in feathers to work.

Can’t forget the ladies! Not as enthused as I am with the drake but she will do.

Not complete, but a fun head to start carving.

This is the best thing I have read all day.

There won’t be any fancy loops or very much bending, it will be for a short section on a large boat blind I am going to experiment with this year for open water hunting. Thanks everyone.

Yes it helps, thank you.

Interesting. I will say given the way I confused them in low lights with woodies in my youth that would make sense. I’m not kidding when I say hoodies are the most common bird in my area at times.

Thanks Don. I agree with the sentiment. A diver body has some variation but not a ton of it. I might cross a bufflehead with a red breasted merg body.

I’m going to do a hooded merganzer or two. We have them in my area in spades. I might take one for the wall this year. I have a head pattern. What species of birds would be similar in body size and shape? I have a pattern book with many common species.

I’m going to build an inexpensive concept blind this fall. What are the cons to using galvanized conduit?

With your tube oils do you get the colors you need or do you have to mix them? I’m colorblind and I rely on Steve Sanfords colors pretty heavily.

That is a really nice effect!