Grampy's gunners

[Kevin Puls]

I am wrapping up my first few gunners (boy did I underestimate how long it takes to make a decoy!) and have set down the rasp and brush to contemplate the future of some other blocks I have.

My grandfather who lived on Chautauqua lake in NY made a small spread of divers out of cedar about seventy years ago. They are in a variety of conditions. Some are mantelpiece birds, and some are just a step away from firewood. They were made with a handsaw and rasp. The rasp marks are prominent, and the shapes basic. A true functional design.

I have decided that though the mantelpiece birds will not see water, I could channel some old times by redoing the rough ones. I plan to strip, seal and paint the few that will not make the shelf and put them in the water again. It will be sweet to mix mine and his this fall.

One hen can has a pretty beat up bill. I need to fix it and am not sure what to use. If anyone has any ideas, please let me know. I am ok with "modern" materials to fill and fix.

Mantle bird on the right.

Hen to be repainted but needs bill repair.

 

[Rick L]

that is cool family history Kevin

I lived outside of Jamestown for several years when I began water fowling, my mentor, the gentleman who figured out how to get a hunting dog into my house, lived on [font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica] Chautauqua south of Bemis Point. he hunted over his grandfather's decoys

my suggestion for the damaged bill is a graft, cut the old one off below the junction with the head and add a new piece of wood with a dowel for reinforcement and shape the bill out of that
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