Bill, I used a table saw. I made up a jig that holds the decoy vertically, head up/tail down. I run the back end thru the 3/8 dado blade at the appropriate angle. I then use a piece of 3/8" hardwood shaped to fit. I use Gorilla type glue to fasten them in place.
Chuck, I really like those Brant. My very first decoys were a pair of Blue Winged teal I carved out of some 2 X 4s using an old coping saw and my Dad's old horse shoeing rasps. I actually shot my first very ducks over those Dekes. Scored a double on a pair of Green Wing Teal. Still have them. As a matter of fact, I am looking at them right now sitting on top of on an old wooden bookcase. My next blocks were about a dozen Canadas I made using plywood bases, a piece of shaped 1 X for the backbone, coat hanger wire for the ribs/frame, 2 X something for the heads, then covered the frames with burlap, pulled tight and stapled to the bottom. Painted up with cans of spray paint, they looked remarkably good in a field or on the water. I have no idea what happened to those old birds, but I sure wish I had one or two.
Scott, yours are awefully nice too. I could see myself dropping a few birds over those blocks.
Brant aren't the smartest birds in the world, but there is just something special about their decoys hunting them. I guess it may have something to do with all of the stories I read about Brant hunting when I was a kid.
Kevin, you'll not find nicer foam blocks than those of Lou's.
jon
