The Beginners Guide To Duck Decoy Collecting
The definition of the word "decoy" is something used to distract or hide. Duck decoys have been used for several hundreds of years to help native hunters kill ducks for food. However, in the beginning duck decoys were very basic in design and construction. Many of them were nothing more than carved block of wood with a head-like structure and a dull painted body made to resemble the type of duck they were hunting. Some crafters took the time to place glass eyes in their decoys to give their decoys a bit more character.
Originally, duck decoys were used simply for hunting, but now there is a strong hobby for collecting them. In fact, many of them have sold at auctions for several thousands of dollars. The value of a duck decoy can depend on many factors, such as price, age, rarity, design, and condition.
In today's time, the standard length of a duck decoy is about 15 inches and are made of various materials, such as wood, plastic, cork, and even foam. If you are going shopping for decoys, it's a good idea to carry a measuring tape with you to check the lengths. Another important thing to remember when shopping is that shiny colored decoys can likely reflect sunlight and send up a red flag to nearby ducks. Try to stick with dull colored decoys with no shine or reflection.
The materials the duck decoys are made of should also be a factor in your decision. Remember, wooden and plastic decoys will last longer and are likely to be more valuable. However, foam and cork decoys can be lighter to carry.
Nowadays there are more complex types of duck decoys, such as battery powered swimming decoys, head-moving decoys, shakers, and more. These can be great for hunting, or adding some unique decoys to your collection. The swimming decoy actually swims around in a circle, adding a new level of realism. The head-moving decoy, as you might have guessed, has their head slightly moving. The shakers have a vibration effect which causes realistic ripples in the water.
All duck decoys come with anchors and strings attached to them to help keep them stationary in the water. This makes it as easy as throwing the decoys in the water and leaving them while you hunt. However, old and collectible decoys often have no strings or anchors, because they aren't used for the purpose of hunting anymore.
Collecting duck decoys is a fun and rewarding hobby. I hope the article gives you a better understanding of decoys now, so you can start your collection today!