I'm sure you all put away your decoys at the end of last season clean with good lines and weights, checked them all for leaks and made your repairs. If so stop reading and you are good to go, but for guys like me here are a few tips that can help pass the time until duck season arrives.
Wash off your decoy by getting out the hose and washing off the mud. Ducks are constantly cleaning themselves, so there is no reason for a dirty decoy because realism kills.
Check you anchoring system. No matter what method you use I am sure you will have loose lines or crimps and missing weights.
Check for leakers. If water is still in the decoy you have a problem. Check for shot holes and cracks. Cracks are most commonly found at the attachment of the keel or on the seam of a plastic decoy. I have used a hot glue gun to plug the holes and can get another year out of a leaking decoy.
Touch up the paint. I like to touch up the bills with some orange or yellow for mallards and maybe some black and white on the heads and tails of a goose floater. Don't be scared to try it, but don't get carried away because a little goes a long way.
Clean out the decoy bag. No matter what kind of bag you use it probably has mud and vegetation and maybe even garbage in it. Hose it down and let it dry out to keep your freshly reconditioned decoys organized and ready for opening day.
Remember most decoys are plastic and the new ones on the market have unbelievable detail and paint schemes. Getting another year out of some old decoys is a great idea but there is no comparison to fresh out of the box new decoys. If you replace some of your old rig this year, do our sport a favor and give a dozen decoys to a young hunter who is just getting started and can't afford much. As always, shop Presleys Outdoors.
www.presleysoutdoors.com
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