hen bufflehead decoys

Ben.R

Ben.R

Member
I've been trying to amass a diver spread. I've mainly been doing repaints of some old mallards I got off craigslist. I'm not nearly as good as some of you guys are but maybe one day I will be. I have 8 GHG buffleheads and I was wondering if I should do a few hens as repaints? Do you guys see that it makes a difference to have hen buffleheads in your spread?
 
Ben Ive made some hen dekes but the experience I've had is that both sexes will key in on drakes really well.
 
I've been trying to amass a diver spread. I've mainly been doing repaints of some old mallards I got off craigslist. I'm not nearly as good as some of you guys are but maybe one day I will be. I have 8 GHG buffleheads and I was wondering if I should do a few hens as repaints? Do you guys see that it makes a difference to have hen buffleheads in your spread?
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It makes a different to me. I try to make my decoys look like I see them in nature.
Most of the time there are always a few hens so my decoys have a few hens.
Weather it makes a difference I don't know but it is just as easy to paint a few hens as it it to paint
a few drakes.
 
I wasn't sure if it makes a difference, but I had the old decoys to spare. I've got another 2 doz plus to repaint.
 
Ben - Seen it first hand this year. Not sure if it was the drakes or hen decoys but the buffies have been landing in them the last few hunts, more hens than drakes. Point being, just have some bufflehead decoys...
 
I would say there's not much difference in having hen buffies mixed in, but that's just my observation from this part of the country. I've shot plenty of buffies over my old ghg hot buy mallards and goose floaters. This year I repainted two of my teal decoys into drake buffies, and man, they're like a magnet for those little guys! My decoys on the other hand seem to be a magnet for #2 shot when those little daredevils come barreling in! :)
 
Thanks guys for your input. Maybe I'll be better off with more bluebills. Still thinking about doing a few just for kicks though. I'm also thinking about doing a few canvasbacks too.
 
I dont think it makes a difference, simply having some buffies in the spread is more important to get them to decoys vs just buzz by.

How's things up in NC? Been out yet? Opener here was fantastic, we'll see how the second split starts this weekend.
 
Carl,

I went goose hunting during the early season. My shotgun broke during that hunt and I just got it back from the gunsmith. I've been deer hunting ever since. I've had the best deer season in my life. Starting back to duck hunt this weekend.

It should be great.
 
Glad to hear deer season has went well. I hope to get up in the Delta for pigs before the end of winter but wont deer hunt unless duck hunting takes a turn for the worse.
Give me a shout if you get back down this way.
 
Ben,
do it since you can. I feel the same, that a look at real divers and how they sit on the water, is what I want to look at when I hunt. The birds seem OK with it too.

Buffies for sure fly into their own when decoying.
Same with Golden Eyes.

Lou T always recommended the buffies on the inside or shore side of the main body of divers and the GE on the outside. It seems to work.

Bob
 
Those look great. You are certainly a few light years ahead of me when it comes to decoy making and painting. I'm going to start carving as soon as I get done with my repaints. Hopefully I'll be able to make decoys like yours one day. They are art.
 
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