Caring For Your Decoys

Providing proper care ensures years of decoy use

Too often duck decoys are one of the few hunting items that simply don't receive a lot of care or attention. Before you toss your goose decoy into your attic or shed, save yourself some money by doing a little maintenance work that will keep them looking like new for years.

Take a look at the paint job on your decoy

Over time, the paint on canda goose decoys inevitably fades away. To freshen up your mallard decoys, use a flat paint. Before you begin your touch-up job, be sure to remove any dirt or chipped paint. The best way to do this is to use warm soapy water and a scrub brush. Once the decoys are completely dry, apply a coat of primer prior to painting.

In order to achieve the details of the feathers, you may need to use a dry brush technique. This simply means applying a small amount of paint on the tip of a dry brush and brushing it lightly on the decoy.

Repairing holes

The biggest obstacle of repairing a deer decoy with holes is simply locating the holes. Perhaps the easiest way to do this is to place the decoy in water and squeeze, then just follow the trail of bubbles. Be sure to mark the spot you need to repair.

For small holes, all you need to do is melt the plastic around the hole and use that to seal the hole. This can be done by heating the end of a small screwdriver and pressing it on the hole. If the hole is too large for this method, you can try using waterproof glue or seam sealer. Just be sure to sand off excess material repaint the area.

Check the lines

Finally, take some time to eliminate any knots and ensure the lines are strong and secure. If there are any concerns, be sure to replace the lines.