Five Bean's Coastals and One Herter's Model Supreme

All~


Thanks for the kind words! I am getting anxious waiting for the Hens' eyes....


Dave~


I'm thinking I may have to hunt them on one of the local rivers - just to make sure they work. They would probably fool some of the Common Shellpeckers. We do get some Whistlers over on the Hudson. If it turns cold before the season closes, I may just take my Scooter over there.


All the best,


SJS

 
Steve

As always your work is top notch and you make it look like something anyone could do with a little forethought and diligence. Thank you for inspiring again.

Eric
 
All~


The eyes for the Hens finally came in today's mail. They are now installed.


I buy my eyes from a taxidermy supply. Not sure of the relationship between VanDyke's and McKenzie - but here's the link (I used pinpoint pupil eyes for the Drakes):


https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/Pin-Point-Pupil-Glass-Eyes-C385.aspx



I used standard-size pupils - but in a pale Light Yellow. They come in pairs, vacuum-sealed to a card. I keep my supply - many scores of eyes - in my "eye bank" - an old wooden tray dedicated to this purpose.



https://www.vandykestaxidermy.com/Light-Yellow-C786.aspx


They are just a bit too yellow for actual Hen Whistlers to my eye - but even I was not going to custom-paint eyes for gunning decoys....


View attachment DD6 - 01 Light Yellow eyes.JPG



I finished carving and sanding around the eye socket, then set each eye in enough wood filler so it would squeeze out around the eye. Once in the socket, I brush some water onto the filler to help it squeeze.


Note the flat backs on the eyes - with no wires. Lots of traditional decoy eyes used wires - I presume to help anchor them in the filler. I have yet to have failures with my approach.



View attachment DD6 - 02 Eye tools.JPG



For gunning decoys, I make the eyes a simple round shape. Like-like (floating decorative) birds require much more detailed and shaped eyelids - not the job here.



View attachment DD6 - 03 Eye in place.JPG



I fair the filler around each eye with a wet brush. These will dry by the stove overnight. Some additional filler may be needed after a bit of shrinkage.



Next steps involve: sealing with Spar Varnish; base-coating with flat oil paint; top-coating with latex. So, 2 or 3 more days before they can hunt with the Drakes.


All the best,


SJS



 
All~


Here - at last - are the LL Bean Whistlers. I never had the right conditions to hunt them - and my on-water photo session was too sunny for the results I wanted. So, here are the final portraits.


Here's a Hen - with her new eyes and final head paint.



View attachment DD Whister Hen - closeup.JPG



Here is Mr. Whistler - up close.


View attachment DD Whistler Drake - closeup.JPG



Here is the herd - outside on some "hay".


View attachment DD Whistlers - Five on hay.JPG



A more intimate view.


View attachment DD Whistlers - Five on hay - closer.JPG



A fun project all around!


SJS



 
Awesome! I never shot a whistler this year. They were scarce, and the last December hunts when we usually focus on them featured lots of flying black ducks so we hunted different spots and darker decoys.

Next year for sure.
 
Steve, they look fantastic, though I knew they would! That Broadbill will look very good with the Pt Pleasant birds you rehabbed for me last year.... need to find a Can Drake to add to the mix if I can. Not sure I can wait to have them until Tuckerton (fingers crossed), may need to make a trip sooner!
 
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