UV paint on dekes?

Geoff Schroeder

Geoff Schroeder

Member
In looking through the new cabelas, I was again reminded of the flambeau claim surrounding the effectiveness of UV reflective paint on their dekes. Does anyone out there have any thoughts as to the actual effectiveness of this claim?
 
Guys have been killing ducks over decoys with regular old paint for the last 100 years. Seems like a gimmick to me.
And, no matter how yuor decoys are painted, it still doesnt make a whole hell of a lot of difference if you arent set up in the right spot.
 
Geoff,
I agree with carl location is probably more important. However i bought some uv white to try, it covers well and is a bright white. As willy would say,we,ll let the ducks be the final judge.
Bill.
 
I suppose, my question was in the 'all things being equal' sense. One can effectively decoy birds with Clorox bottles and house paint in October, but come late Jan., things better be real right in the spread to get the educated birds to swing by. It was the latter situation I had in mind. I too suspect that if this was a real advantage we'd be seeing it throughout the major manufacturer's lines.
 
Geoff,
Have you taken the time to read about UV paint, seen the pictures taken with the specially equipped cameras, and read about what colors ducks can see and how they see it? I found it very interesting.
Al
 
Al,
I did. What got me thinking about this was the Gore-Tex/Sitka line of clothing that was developed for deer/elk hunters. I belong to an online marketing group for WL Gore, and they have been using that forum for experimenting and testing the actual gear. While it is now very public stuff, the research they were showing us a while ago was pretty convincing that the color schemes they are producing do go along way to providing a great deal of background matching, based on what they are saying is the actual color scheme in which those critters see. Of course, if they are fudging the baseline science about what goes on in the eyeballs/brains of those animals, all bets are off. But, assuming it's all legit, I was convinced that such camouflage would be a good investment. So, when I saw the flambeau stuff, I got to thinking. What I would like to see is a photo that approximates a duck's 'real-time' vision, such as it is a mix of the visible and UV spectrum (to a certain degree). The photos in the catalogue seem to be overly heavy on the UV light and markedly lacking in the visible. If it is such that ducks really do see in that manner, I can see such a paint scheme as providing a real advantage. I have noooo idea about whether or not such a pigment can be readily added to existing paints or if it is a different product altogether, though. Do you know something beyond what the Flambeau folks are saying?
 
Geoff:

From what I've heard UV paint may help critters that see in that spectrum find each other when distance, weather or lighting conditions are less than ideal - much like a spinner or flag can get the attention of passing waterfowl. More "traditional" dekes work just fine - as long as they can be seen.
Up close I'm not sure it would really matter...

It's also a great way to market and sell new products.

Kevin
 
I worked for Flambeau as the National Sale & Marketing Manager of the Hunting Division when they first agreed to license the technology. I dealt directly with the scientists who founded Twilight Labs, and the paint technology being marketed under the UVision name. I know more about bird/insect/dog/cat/deer vision than I ever thought possible. I am very well versed in the science being applied in using the paint. The simplest thing I can say is the scientists don't say it is a magic bullet or something that will make ducks suicidal, like bait. It is another tool to help hunters when birds have become conditioned to regular decoys and their appearance with standard paints...
 
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