Pat Gregory
Well-known member
Excerpt from To Ride the Wind by H Albert Hochbaum...
"The gentleman with the paint brush was sanding the back of a small Canvasback decoy, one that had been given to his father nearly 50 years ago. It had been used on the marsh every year since. It was a Heron Lake decoy: small 11 inches breast to tail. The angular head and long bill were set saucily up on a two-inch neck. It was built like a boat beneath, fluted with a weighted keel. It rode the water as a live bird. Its eyes were round brass tacks, originally painted vermillion, but long since blackened. The body was dull grey-brown. White-backed, black-chested, brick-headed, bright-eyed Canvasback decoys simply did not work on the Delta Marsh; juveniles and old hens would not give them the time of day. And yet, up on the moulting lakes, a rig had to be mostly white-backed drakes or you could not pull anything in except stray hens and juveniles.
When hunting Canvasbacks, you had to set out your decoys in a spot which the Canvasbacks were using if you wanted a good shoot. You could set up near a pass or a point or along an edge which was followed to or from their feeding places. But if you wanted the decoys to work, you had to be near feed. Since the feed beds often were wide spread, the birds could come in at their leisure without paying any attention to the decoys. In fine weather, you might have to pick up several times before locating exactly the right spot, a place where the Canvasbacks felt they would like to join. On other days, in a heavy wind, you could read the situation easily, figure out exactly where the birds had to come in and then fill out your limit almost before you were settled in.
Bluebills and Redheads came in easily to Canvasback decoys, especially the small flocks. But, only two's and three's of Canvasbacks would come to a set-up of Redhead or Lesser Scaup blocks. Indeed, almost any duck would come into Canvasback decoys, if only to take a look. This would be early in the season, of course; later on, all ducks became decoy-wise and great skill was required to set out properly for a decent shoot even when there were lots of ducks around."
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View attachment delta2.jpg
View attachment delta16.jpg
View attachment delta17.jpg
View attachment delta15.jpg
"The gentleman with the paint brush was sanding the back of a small Canvasback decoy, one that had been given to his father nearly 50 years ago. It had been used on the marsh every year since. It was a Heron Lake decoy: small 11 inches breast to tail. The angular head and long bill were set saucily up on a two-inch neck. It was built like a boat beneath, fluted with a weighted keel. It rode the water as a live bird. Its eyes were round brass tacks, originally painted vermillion, but long since blackened. The body was dull grey-brown. White-backed, black-chested, brick-headed, bright-eyed Canvasback decoys simply did not work on the Delta Marsh; juveniles and old hens would not give them the time of day. And yet, up on the moulting lakes, a rig had to be mostly white-backed drakes or you could not pull anything in except stray hens and juveniles.
When hunting Canvasbacks, you had to set out your decoys in a spot which the Canvasbacks were using if you wanted a good shoot. You could set up near a pass or a point or along an edge which was followed to or from their feeding places. But if you wanted the decoys to work, you had to be near feed. Since the feed beds often were wide spread, the birds could come in at their leisure without paying any attention to the decoys. In fine weather, you might have to pick up several times before locating exactly the right spot, a place where the Canvasbacks felt they would like to join. On other days, in a heavy wind, you could read the situation easily, figure out exactly where the birds had to come in and then fill out your limit almost before you were settled in.
Bluebills and Redheads came in easily to Canvasback decoys, especially the small flocks. But, only two's and three's of Canvasbacks would come to a set-up of Redhead or Lesser Scaup blocks. Indeed, almost any duck would come into Canvasback decoys, if only to take a look. This would be early in the season, of course; later on, all ducks became decoy-wise and great skill was required to set out properly for a decent shoot even when there were lots of ducks around."
View attachment PICT0048.JPG
View attachment delta2.jpg
View attachment delta16.jpg
View attachment delta17.jpg
View attachment delta15.jpg
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