Danged Dogs!-Old Decoy Repair-UPDATE

Jon Yenulonis

Jon Yenulonis

Well-known member
I carved these little Buffleheads out of Cedar, about twenty-five years ago. One of my fondest memories of an old duck hunting trip was a day I spent on the local reservoir water with my homemade ZT Widgeon, (that I am refurbishing at the moment-in another thread). Among the spread of mostly plastics, I had these two blocks floating out in front of me. A pair of Buffies came in that morning and I dropped them both. My 'ole Golden Retriever Buffy made an excellent retrieve, and that scenario will be relived forever, especially since those two buffies now sit on a piece of driftwood hanging on a nearby wall.


These two blocks have been hunted fairly regularly in both fresh and saltwater until a few years ago, when I made some new blocks and retired these to the shelf. They've been kicked around, dropped, shot over, stepped on, muddied up, rode some serious waves and generally endured what most 'ole decoys go thru.


After going thru all of that, last night the two dogs were rough housing it up a bit and knocked into the shelf they were perched on, knocking them both onto the carpeted floor. As you can see, the hen didn't make it.


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Tonight she has a date with a little tightbond and a clamp. In the morning, I don't believe anyone will ever know.


So goes the life of an 'ole Decoy...


Jon
 
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The scar will serve as another badge of honor. Maybe they should go hunting just once more next season--for the sake of history.

Happy hunting!
 
I'm just glad my dog wasn't involved. At least yours will retrieve a duck without bringing all the decoys back first.
 
Jon - So goes the plight of a decoy. That's what makes them great decoys.
I've put the head back on this goose at least 4 times, fixed the tail twice and put the keel back on it once. It's waterlogged and beat but, I love it. My favorite goose... I consider it, Old Faithful...

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Not a problem. I just repaired a Canvasback I've had since 1984, with the same type neck break. Drilled from top down, inserted cedar dowel with good glue, did not bother to fill repair, and only repainted where needed. It adds to the history, and quality of the Decoy. On the J-O-B is where they belong, shelf life Later.
 
Chewed by dogs, stepped on by close hunting buddies, or shot by young hunters on the mentoring hunts; the best way to season your rig.

:)

Tom
 
This litter Buffy has had a ruff time of it too. I would like to blame the pellet holes on a junior hunter but there are witnesses to the contrary. I was going to fix him up and put him back to work, but now I'm not sure. If you look close there is a pellet lodged between the head and body. I think that adds a lot of character and would hate to see it fall out.

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had a customer send me some mallard to repair,rats chewed the bills and tails he had left the decoys in his boat
 
A little Titebond, a couple hours in between the jaws of a clamp, and good as new, well almost. Good enough to make a few more trips out to the lake anyways!


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Jon
 
Darin have you been hunting with my son??? That decoy looks a lot like the ones in my bag. I would be interesting to see how long it took for the pellet to fall out on it's own
 
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