Duck profile for hunting with your own hands. How to make a stuffed duck with your own hands

When hunting geese and ducks, the main task of the hunter is to lure the bird to the place of stealth or ambush. For this, various types of stuffed animals and profiles, both factory-made and home-made, are used.

It is better to purchase or make homemade stuffed birds, but the profile is much easier to manufacture, and their weight is often less than that of stuffed birds. The profile can be made from foam, plywood, fiberboard (MDF), from sheet iron with a thickness of 0.7-0.8 mm. Profile, it is desirable to do a little more than the actual size of geese and ducks. This makes them visible from a greater distance. And the birds do not react to the size of the profiles.

Making homemade stuffed foam ducks

We take the printed image of a duck and translate its contour onto one blank sheet, and the wing onto the other. These will be the main templates. Then we apply the templates to the foam and circle with a pencil. One scarecrow will require 2 full profiles and 2 wing profiles.

After marking the sheet, cut out the profile.

Extruded foam plastic is cut very easily with a new construction knife and does not crumble.

You need to glue the profile in the following sequence.

We take a can of foam and start gluing. Glued parts must be put under a press or clamped in clamps!

After 40 minutes, the part is ready for processing. We carry out rough processing of the part with a construction knife.

After that, we bring the scarecrow to condition with sandpaper.

To give stability on the water, you need to use a keel made from a piece of a metal-plastic pipe and 2 holders for it, which are inserted into pre-made holes in the bottom of the stuffed animals, and fixed to the same foam. Why a keel from a pipe? With increased excitement on the reservoir, an additional load can be inserted inside the pipe to increase the draft of the stuffed animals, which helps to reduce their “dancing”.

The main thing is that the deceptions should take the form of a calmly sitting or feeding bird. Before cutting out the profile, you should think carefully about how best to cut the existing sheet in order to get the largest number of them. If the profiles are made of plywood (preferably waterproof), then they must be soaked several times with hot drying oil, and only after that you can start coloring. The same should be done with fiberboard. Especially well it is necessary to proliferate the ends of the profiles. Each time you need to let them dry completely. After the profiles have dried, you can start coloring them. You can paint them with oil paints, adding a little kerosene to them. Then the surface of the profiles will not shine. This is necessary, as brilliant deceptions will only scare away game. It is not bad to paint the profile with water-based paint. To do this, a pigment of the desired color is added to the white paint. After complete drying, such paint is quite waterproof. And the surface will be matte.

Goose profile template

Download the original full-size geese profiles in jpg format:

Profiles from a thin iron sheet are easily cut with scissors for such work. Then the edges must be cleaned of sharp burrs. The cut blanks are leveled with a mallet. Which iron is better - galvanized or not? This question cannot be answered unequivocally, since the paint does not adhere very well to galvanized iron. They need to be repainted more often. But they practically do not rust. On the other hand, non-galvanized iron holds paint very well, but, under the influence of water, they rust much faster. But such profiles can not be painted at all - their rusty color is very similar to the color of the plumage of a female mallard. And the surface will not shine. True, the service life of painted profiles is much longer. You can make them from aluminum sheet or plastic. But on them the coloring will also hold on weaker. Although, on the other hand, such profiles will work on the hunt for many years.

Video: Homemade goose profile

Hunting for ducks is unthinkable without the use of stuffed animals, since birds flying by rarely stop on an empty pond, but they sit down quite willingly to their imaginary brothers.

What are stuffed ducks?

Modern hunting equipment stores offer amateur and professional hunters a variety of types of stuffed ducks. Depending on the material from which they are made, stuffed animals are:

  • rubber- differ in the most realistic appearance, quite durable and easy to use, because they are lightweight. An additional advantage of such models is their affordable cost;
  • plastic- made of a special material, thanks to which they retain their shape and do not deform due to adverse weather conditions. Such stuffed animals confidently stay on the water with strong gusts of wind or heavy rain, unlike their rubber counterparts;
  • wooden- usually shop ducks made of wood are hollow inside, so they do not hold well on the water in waves or wind. It is best to choose solid wood models, they are more stable and do not deteriorate over time.

In order to diversify the artificial flock and make it more realistic, you can purchase stuffed ducks in various poses: sleeping, resting, swimming, diving or feeding.

Recently, automated scarecrows powered by batteries have become popular. Such models can be radio-controlled, or move along a certain trajectory, which allows you to create the appearance of a real flock. The only disadvantage of radio-controlled stuffed animals is a rather high cost, so not everyone can afford to buy such products.

What are the best scarecrows to use?

Depending on the season, different stuffed ducks should be used, since ducks behave differently in autumn and spring.

The spring period is the mating season, so ducks sit down mainly with individuals of their own species. The exception is solitary drakes, which can court other females, however, cautious birds quickly detect deception and fly away instantly.

The best option would be to have three decoys of the main types of ducks typical of the area - two females and one drake. It would also be useful to purchase a few stuffed mallards.

Autumn is the time of preparation for departure, so ducks willingly sit down not only with their fellows, but also with groups of other birds. At this time, you can use stuffed birds of different birds, but, nevertheless, it is worth remembering that approaching the stuffed ducks, ducks will choose the group where there are individuals similar to them.

Of course, they will unite in a group with other birds, but they will keep a certain distance from them. Tip: It is best to choose stuffed birds whose species prevail in the area.

In autumn, as well as in spring, it is worth having three stuffed animals of the main species of ducks living in the hunting area. However, with a limited number of decoys, it is worth choosing stuffed mallards and red-headed pochards or goldeneyes, since diving ducks are the most distrustful and need to be lured more actively. In addition, the stuffed birds of such birds are fluffy, and therefore the most noticeable, therefore they lure other not very picky ducks - teals, looters, etc.

In order for the stuffed animals that attract birds to cope with their mission most productively, when planting them, one should follow the basic rules:

  • choose places free from vegetation so that the stuffed animals do not get confused and lost in the river thickets;
  • depending on which stuffed animals you use - diving or river ducks - you should choose the right mass for seating them. River ducks are best planted in shallow water, while diving ducks prefer deeper places;
  • try to create a flock of stuffed ducks so that the ducks swim close to each other, (tip: the optimal distance between individuals is 2-4 meters), this increases the likelihood of large groups of birds sitting next to them;
  • when seating the decoys, take into account the subsequent firing zone of squatted birds, try to leave free places that are most convenient for aiming;
  • most often ducks land against the wind, therefore, in windy weather, one should take into account the fact that the bird will be carried several meters from the intended landing point.

Of course, it will not be possible to fulfill all these requirements exactly, but compliance with such conditions increases the likelihood of a successful hunt, so it is still worth listening to the recommendations.

How to make a stuffed duck yourself?

Our ancestors used homemade stuffed birds to hunt ducks. They were made most often from linden, however, some wove the frame of a duck from thin traveling rods. Now in the hunting store you can buy ready-made stuffed animals of various types of ducks made of wood, rubber or other materials.

However, having a desire, you can make a stuffed duck with your own hands. For this you will need:

  • lime chock;
  • an ax and a sharp knife;
  • chisel;
  • paints.

We start by creating a shape for the body of a duck, for which we cut a chock with an ax. It is easiest to cut the head separately, after which it can be attached with a wooden pin. It is important when designing the head to be guided by realistic pictures or a base in the form of a ready-made stuffed animal. An incorrectly designed head will outweigh the entire stuffed animal, which will break its resistance to water.

It is most convenient to bring the blanks to the optimal shape with a sharp knife. Since a fully solid warp will carry a lot of weight, it's best to empty the inside of the duck a bit. Tip: it is best to cut the inside from the top, as this will protect the stuffed animal from getting wet and damaging the insides. The top should be cut off with a sharp knife, and after a chisel, some part should be hollowed out from the middle, the sides should remain 10-12 cm wide. The resulting void can be filled with foam, and the previously cut top can simply be nailed with small nails.

It remains only to color the finished duck with paints. Some amateurs create the most realistic stuffed animals, decorating blanks with the skins of real birds, but this approach is irrational, since after each hunt the skin will need to be put in order.

Many experienced hunters prefer to use stuffed ducks to attract the bird while hunting. However, they do not have to be bought in the store. You can make a stuffed duck with your own hands, using simple and inexpensive materials.

What are scarecrows for?

Duck stuffed animals are designed to attract the attention of a bird that flies by. It is best to use this method for successful hunting in early spring, when the drake is in search of a female to mate with. You can also use stuffed animals in late autumn, when flocks are formed to fly to warmer climes.

To hunt was productive, adhere to the following rules:

  • set the bait in an open area that is free from vegetation so that the ducks can see it well;
  • when placing dummies, consider where it is best to fire;
  • place stuffed river ducks in shallow water, and diving ducks in deeper parts of the reservoir;
  • plant scarecrows in small groups. The optimal distance between them is 2-4 m;
  • adjust the landing of the decoys according to the strength and direction of the wind, as this affects where the ducks land.

These simple rules will increase the likelihood of a successful hunt.

Effigies from polystyrene foam boards

What will be needed for this? It is very easy to make a stuffed duck out of foam plastic with your own hands. In this case, you will need inexpensive materials that can be found in almost any hardware store. Making such a model will take you several hours.

For a homemade stuffed animal, you will need the following materials:

  • a piece of foam, which must be at least 2 cm thick. Thin and fragile material will not work, because it may crumble or not have sufficient floating properties;
  • Super glue. Please note that nitro glue will not work, as it can damage the foam;
  • acrylic paints;
  • putty.

It is also important to stock up on tools - brushes for painting, a clerical knife, pencil, sandpaper.

Step-by-step instruction:


Scarecrow from polyurethane foam (required materials and tools)

Making stuffed ducks from polyurethane foam with your own hands is very simple and everyone can do it. The layout is made using simple and inexpensive materials, but for everything to work out, you need to follow all the recommendations and use your imagination.


Rubber stuffed mallard duck

Homemade duck stuffed animals are created from the following materials:

  • a large shoe box;
  • gypsum for construction work;
  • mounting foam;
  • the cheapest fat cream;
  • sandpaper;
  • plasticine;
  • container for making gypsum dough. Please note that it will then become unusable for further use;
  • copper wire;
  • acrylic primer and paint;
  • finished stuffed rubber.

Making a plaster mold

To make do-it-yourself duck stuffed from polyurethane foam for hunting, you must use a capacious box of any materials. If you put a rubber mock-up in it, then at least 5 mm of free space should remain on the sides. Then the resulting form will be strong and durable.

  • Dilute the gypsum in the prepared container to get the consistency of thick sour cream.
  • Place the rubber dummy in the box, and pour plaster into the free space. It is best to do this overnight as the mold needs to dry well.

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  • When the plaster is hard enough, take the rubber dummy out of the box. Check for voids or other defects on the surface of the mold. Only a perfectly even and smooth plaster model is suitable for making do-it-yourself duck stuffed animals for hunting.
  • When one half of the form is ready, put the rubber stuffed animal back into it, while lubricating its end with a fat cream. In this form, install the layout in the box. It should protrude beyond the edges of the plaster mold by 5 mm.
  • Pour gypsum into the prepared box. We wait a few hours for the material to become solid enough. After that, we take out the form and, if necessary, eliminate all irregularities with sandpaper, and fill large voids with plasticine.
  • In the finished form, make several holes with a diameter of 8-10 mm so that you can control the quality of its filling.

Let's start making a scarecrow from polyurethane foam

  1. Lubricate the inner surface of the mold with cream. Do not skip any section, because in this case you will not be able to remove the finished product.
  2. In order for the stuffed animal to keep its shape well and be stable, place copper wire inside the mold, which will act as stiffeners.
  3. Connect the two halves of the mold, then fill them through the prepared holes with mounting foam. At the same time, keep in mind that this material increases in size during the solidification process. Therefore, fill out the form by 80-90%. Also, do not forget to monitor the quality of work through the holes, do not allow the formation of voids.
  4. When you're done, place a heavy weight on top of the mold to prevent warping of the layout.
  5. When the foam hardens, gently pry the homemade stuffed animal out of the mold with a wide screwdriver.
  6. Insert a metal ring into the finished layout to fix it in the right place.
  7. Apply acrylic primer to the entire surface, and then proceed to painting. The more natural the scarecrow looks, the more useful it will bring you during the hunt.

Plywood stuffed animals

Homemade duck stuffed plywood are considered the easiest to make. But their main drawback is that they are short-lived, since constant exposure to water leads to their deterioration. When making decoys for hunting, create several profiles that will mimic the different poses of the bird.

The most important points in this case are the realism of the contour and the naturalness of the color. This is the only way to attract a bird.

To make plywood profiles, you will need the following materials:

  • cardboard;
  • simple pencil;
  • plywood sheet;
  • fine-toothed hacksaw;
  • sandpaper;
  • drying oil;
  • brushes;
  • metal wire;
  • wooden peg;
  • gasoline or kerosene;
  • oil paints.

Step-by-step instructions for making a scarecrow from plywood

  1. Draw on the cardboard the required number of profiles of different shapes, and then cut them out. Use ready-made elements as templates.
  2. Lay the prepared templates as tightly as possible on a sheet of plywood. Cut out the profile with a narrow, fine-toothed hacksaw. If you don't have one, use a chisel.
  3. Carefully sand the edges of the parts with sandpaper.
  4. Apply hot drying oil to the surface, let it dry.
  5. Color them as realistic as possible with oil paints. Apply it at the same time to all profiles so that they look the same.
  6. So that the paint does not shine, after it dries, apply a little gasoline or kerosene to the surface with a dry cloth.
  7. Attach a wooden peg 20-22 cm long and 2 cm thick to the profile or a short metal tube into which insert a sharp stick. They can also be made removable, which will facilitate the transportation of stuffed animals. Be sure to paint them the same color as the profiles.
  8. To make the profile stable, drill a hole in it and in the peg, then connect them with a wire pin. Make an appropriate cutout on the belly of the stuffed animal.

Making a stuffed duck for hunting on your own is not as difficult as it seems. Therefore, devote a few hours of your time to such an exciting activity. Each of the options will be effective if you follow all the recommendations during the manufacture of bird models.

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Video: Imitation of a duck flock on the water

Waterfowl hunting is the most common type of hunting, which is available to many game lovers. There are many ways to shoot birds in water bodies, one of them is duck hunting with stuffed animals. In such a hunt, duck stuffed animals (another name is stuffed animals) are used to attract a bird flying by.

In fairness, it should be noted that this type of hunting is not very popular due to the rather laborious preparation process. The hunter needs to have a good knowledge of the habits of ducks, the peculiarities of their behavior and movement. In addition, it is necessary to choose the right stuffed ducks, correctly place them on the water.

Even experienced hunters do not always imagine the process of such a hunt. However, subject to all the subtleties and features of this type of catching waterfowl, hunting with the use of scarecrows can be very interesting and quite effective.

How to hunt a duck correctly will be discussed below.

Features and rules of hunting with stuffed animals

The best time for a successful hunt is early spring. At this time, drakes are looking for females for the purpose of mating. It is not bad to use stuffed ducks in late autumn, when the birds form into fairly large flocks to fly away for wintering to warmer climes.

Stuffed animals (stuffed animals) perform the main task - they attract a bird flying by. Under the influence of instinct, ducks decrease when they see their relatives. And a well-camouflaged hunter fires a shot when the bird lands next to the dummy.

The productivity of hunting depends on the observance of several basic rules:

  • The bait (stuffed bird) must be installed in an open place so that flying ducks can clearly see the scarecrow. Stuffed ducks should be placed on the water, there should not be thickets and "violent" vegetation nearby.
  • You need to place dummies in a place convenient for shelling.
  • Models must be divided according to the breed of bird: river duck stuffed animals are best placed in shallow water (they feed on vegetation), and stuffed diving ducks should be placed in places with deeper water (their food is living creatures that live in a reservoir).
  • Stuffed ducks are located in small groups with a distance of about 3 meters.
  • In order to avoid wounded animals, it is best to install dummies of ducks closer to the hut (stealth), so that it is easier to shoot a duck that has eaten well over the summer (such birds accumulate fat over the summer and a large layer of fluff under the feather).
  • It is very important to adjust the location of the scarecrows depending on the direction and strength of the wind. These parameters affect the place where the birds will land.

These simple rules will increase the effectiveness of hunting.

There are a few basic rules for sniping:

  1. Shooting directly from a boat is difficult and dangerous. When shooting from a boat, you need to be careful and keep your balance.
  2. Arriving birds must be shot on the approach. It often happens that a duck, having flown over a dummy, does not come back.
  3. It is better to scare a bird that has landed on the water and shoot in flight. Otherwise, there is a risk of damaging the stuffed bird.

It is noticed that every year it becomes more and more difficult to hunt ducks. Experienced hunters observe the effect of "smart" birds. Therefore, when catching waterfowl and black grouse, the hunter's weapons and clothing are subject to increased requirements. Outerwear should not differ from the general background of the surrounding landscape, camouflage coloring is recommended. Even the skin of the hands and face should be covered with a special tinting cream.

Site selection and preparation

The choice of a hunting place must be approached with all seriousness. It is necessary to carry out reconnaissance and establish the route of flight of ducks to the places of overnight stay and back, and their feeding. For this purpose, hunters inspect reservoirs for several days in a row in the morning and in the evening.

When the hunter establishes the reservoirs where ducks most often fly, it is necessary to choose a place for building a hut. If a dense shrub grows around the reservoir, then you can do without building a shelter, and use thickets as a disguise. However, it is important to remember that a hunter can spend a lot of time near the reservoir while waiting for prey.

The place chosen for shelter should have a good overview, since for successful shooting of a duck in flight, it is important to notice the flying bird as early as possible. For the same purpose, you need to get up in the morning facing the dawn, in the evening - towards the sunset. In addition, the hunter needs to think about the convenience of picking up a downed duck, optimally if the game falls on an open, well-visible place.

Skradka device

The best place to build a hut (skradka) is the border of water and coastal bushes, thickets or reeds.

Criteria for building a "correct" skradka:

  • it should not stand out against the background of the surrounding area;
  • should not block the view;
  • it should be as convenient as possible to fire from it;
  • the hide should look as natural as possible and camouflage the hunter well.

Depending on the chosen place, skradki are permanent (stationary) and mobile (a boat is used).

Building material is better to use natural, which can be found in the forest: branches, leaves, grass, reeds. If you want to spend time building a skradk, camouflage capes, nets, tents and huts are sold in specialized stores for this purpose.

Skradki are sessile and standing. It all depends on the place and time for the construction of such a building. Very often, shelter is made right on the water by building a small raft. For camouflage, high reeds are used, weaving its tops so that a canopy is obtained.

Correct placement

For duck hunting with stuffed animals to be effective, you need to place them correctly. The duck flock must be natural, otherwise it will disturb the birds.

For the correct placement, it is necessary to know the behavioral features of the birds that will be hunted.

  1. If the stuffed ducks are too close together, they will resemble a flock of ducks huddled together in danger. This, of course, will cause excitement and caution in real birds.
  2. Individual bird figurines placed throughout the pond will also look unnatural, since ducks always swim in flocks.

The most optimal distance between the figures is three meters. It is better to arrange them in the form of letters of the English alphabet - J or V.

To make duck hunting more successful, hunters often use a good decoy. It must be remembered that its use requires special skills to properly lure the bird.

Varieties

Stuffed ducks can be divided into types depending on:

  • the material from which they are made;
  • postures;
  • size range;
  • breeds.

According to the materials of manufacture

As a rule, the following types are used for hunting:

  1. rubber stuffed animals duck is the most popular species. They are considered the most convenient for transportation. A significant disadvantage is their lightness, and if there are waves on the pond, they will look unnatural. In addition, in getting into it from a gun, a rubber effigy is easily damaged and fails until the end of the hunt.
  2. Inflatable stuffed animals ducks for hunting. They are made from thin PVC.
  3. Wooden. Natural wood is the rarest and most expensive material for manufacturing. Scarecrows made of wood often adorn the country houses of hunting enthusiasts.
  4. Foam. Pretty common stuff. When painted, it looks very aesthetically pleasing and natural. Since the material is very light, a weight is attached to it.
  5. Plastic. Very affordable, inexpensive and lightweight material.

It must be remembered that in itself, even a very good and expensive stuffed animal does not guarantee that the hunt will be successful. It is necessary to properly land them on the water. In addition, the effectiveness of duck hunting with a stuffed animal depends on the knowledge and skills of the hunter.

By size range

Models are:

  • ordinary;
  • large;
  • very big.

It is very good if the layouts are large. Experience shows that a larger size is very effective and increases the chances of getting the desired trophy.

Depending on the breed

Models copy breeds:

  • mallards;
  • teal;
  • diving;
  • river;
  • gogol.

Experienced hunters know that all breeds of waterfowl fly up to mallard dummies, while the mallard itself does not react to stuffed animals of other species.

According to the captured pose

It is customary to make figurines of birds in the following poses:

  • sleeping;
  • vacationer;
  • diving;
  • feeding.

The accumulated long-term experience suggests that stuffed animals should be light, made in a natural and calm pose of a feeding duck. Steady resistance to wind currents is a necessary quality.

Mechanical scarecrows

In recent years, hunters have appreciated the new type of dummy. This is a mechanical stuffed duck with flapping wings.

What is the advantage of a mechanical model over others? Such dummies look very believable, creating the feeling of a moving or flying duck. As practice has shown, the use of mechanical models flapping wings attracts wild birds much more effectively, and hunting becomes much more effective.

How to choose

Successful and productive hunting is the main indicator of the right choice.

The choice of a scarecrow for hunting waterfowl is influenced by several factors:

  • seasonality (in the spring it is better to use a stuffed female as a bait);
  • types of ducks living or migrating in the area (in accordance with common breeds, choose stuffed animals of these breeds);
  • it is recommended to use models of different sizes and poses so as not to alert the birds;
  • features of the local reservoir;
  • an important factor is transportation.

Currently, the acquisition of stuffed ducks does not cause any problems. In stores specializing in the sale of goods for hunting, a large assortment of dummies of ducks is presented. The main thing is to make a choice and purchase a scarecrow in a specialized store (or order it in an online store).

Do it yourself

For hunting, as a rule, several dummies are used, and someone uses several dozen. Sometimes acquiring stuffed ducks can be quite expensive.

However, it is not necessary to buy dummies in the store. You can make a stuffed duck with your own hands. In this case, inexpensive and easy-to-work materials are used.

Below we will tell you how to make stuffed ducks with your own hands.

from wood

Hand-made wooden figurines are very beautiful models that amaze with their naturalness.

  1. For the manufacture will need wooden chocks. They should not be very large (approximately 20 cm in diameter). Chocks dry in their natural state (with bark). When the log dries, it will easily split into two halves. One half is used to make a stuffed animal.
  2. The next step is to create a template. It can be made from thick cardboard. A tree is circled according to the template and the excess is removed. The head is made from another piece of wood.
  3. Holes are drilled to connect the head to the body. The head and torso are connected to each other and fixed with a stick. The surface is polished with sandpaper, removing all irregularities and roughness.
  4. It's time for the exterior finish. The tree is covered with drying oil, and they are waiting for complete drying. Check the coating on a smooth water surface (bath). Balancing is carried out with the help of additional metal plates.
  5. At the end, the figure is covered with oil paint.

Now in your arsenal there will be a worthy stuffed animal for a successful hunt.

From polyurethane foam

A very economical and uncomplicated option for obtaining a model of a bird is the manufacture of stuffed ducks for hunting from ordinary polyurethane foam.

About five figures can be made from one foam balloon.

  1. Let's make a shape: any duck made of plastic will do. We begin to glue the form with pieces of paper (like papier-mâché). The first layer is toilet paper or soft napkins. The next layers can be made of thicker paper. Layers must be glued at least ten, then a home-made stuffed duck must be left to dry (about a week).
  2. After a week, we cut the paper model in half horizontally, we get two blanks.
  3. Lubricate the blanks with a fat cream (or paraffin). In the workpiece that will be the bottom, put a weighting agent (a regular nut or a pair of nails will do).
  4. We proceed to filling the blanks with mounting foam. Let the foam dry. Then we connect the two halves, fasten.
  5. All that's left is the finishing touches. Since the foam does not have increased strength, and can pass water, a moisture-resistant exterior finish is necessary. It can be oil paint, varnish, drying oil.

It is very important to follow the recommendations of the paint or varnish manufacturer. Improper staining can result in shine, and this will certainly scare away wild ducks. At the same time, a violation of the painting technology leads to the fact that the figures will “climb” instantly. The solution may be to add rubber glue to oil paint. After staining, be sure to wipe the entire surface with paraffin, this will help get rid of excessive shine.

Video

How to make a stuffed duck out of foam, you will learn from our video.

Despite the fact that today in specialized stores you can easily buy any goods for hunting, many craftsmen prefer to make stuffed animals for hunting with their own hands. This allows not only to save money, but also to create exactly such accessories that fully meet the requirements of an experienced hunter.

First, let's figure out why they are needed at all. In fact, everything is quite simple. When a hunter sits in ambush, waiting for a duck or goose, he is usually tied to one place - for example, a small lake where the bird arrives to spend the night after feeding in the daytime. However, what if there are many such reservoirs in the district? After all, a duck can choose any of them for spending the night. It is the scarecrows that help the bird make the “right” choice. Seeing several of their relatives on the water, they understand that this reservoir is completely safe and rush to it.

Effigies are especially useful during spring hunting. At this time, you can only hunt drakes. However, it is simply impossible to determine in flight, and even at dusk, whether a drake or a duck is flying at a hunter. It is quite another thing when they land ten or fifteen meters away and begin to slowly swim. In addition, hitting an almost motionless bird sitting at such a short distance is much easier than hitting a bird flying in the sky at a height of 20-40 meters.

Therefore, any lover of such a hobby should learn how to make a stuffed duck for hunting with his own hands - it will allow him to return home with rich trophies every time.

Manufacturing technology requirements

What qualities should finished stuffed animals have? There are quite a few of them. First of all, and this is quite understandable, they should look like ducks. Ideally, at dusk, even the hunter himself should not be able to distinguish at first sight where his stuffed animal is swimming, and where a live duck has stopped for a few seconds. If the imitation is not believable enough, then there is always a risk that the duck will not believe that its fellows are resting on the water.

At the same time, they should also be light. Still, sometimes the hunter has to walk several kilograms from the abandoned car to the hunting place. Excess weight will cause serious discomfort, will lead to the fact that fatigue will pile up faster than it could.

Based on these requirements, it is worth choosing materials suitable for manufacturing, so that ready-made stuffed geese for hunting with your own hands are natural and light.

What materials are used in the manufacture

Experienced hunters use a variety of materials to create decoys that are exactly what they want. We list the most popular options, and also talk about the technology for making duck scarecrows for hunting with your own hands.

From plywood

Perhaps it is from plywood that making stuffed geese for hunting with your own hands takes the least time. Even a teenager who knows how to work with the simplest tools will cope with this task.

However, they are also the least durable. Plywood, in contact with water, absorbs moisture, which is why after each hunt the stuffed animals must be thoroughly dried. But even in this case, they usually last only a few seasons. If you forget to dry, then the stuffed animals will quickly begin to rot, become covered with mold - you will have to make new ones.

So, for work you will need:

  • plywood;
  • a simple pencil or pen;
  • sandpaper;
  • hacksaw with fine teeth;
  • drying oil,
  • oil paints,
  • tassel,
  • several bars with a cross section of about 2 centimeters and a length of 20-25 cm,
  • petrol.

When all the materials and tools are at hand, you can get to work:

  1. First, draw a few silhouettes of ducks on the plywood with a pencil. It is desirable that they be different - one has an elongated neck, the other, on the contrary, is fluffed up, the third floats relaxedly in clear water in complete safety.
  2. Using a hacksaw, carefully cut out the finished figures.
  3. Treat the edges with sandpaper so that they are smooth and do not slip your hand when working with them.
  4. Cover the plywood with hot drying oil and let it dry.
  5. Paint the scarecrows with oil paints - try to give them the most believable look.
  6. The paint will visibly shine after it dries. To remove the shine, wipe the stuffed animals with a cloth slightly dampened with gasoline.
  7. Attach the prepared pegs to the stuffed animals. You can make them removable so that finished products take up less space during transportation.

OK it's all over Now. Now you know how to make stuffed ducks for hunting with your own hands, using only plywood and some other materials.


Styrofoam stuffed animal

These products can boast not only surprisingly low weight (the finished stuffed animal weighs only a few tens of grams), but also realism - after all, using foam plastic, you can make voluminous stuffed geese for hunting with your own hands. Therefore, they are often much more effective than plywood counterparts.

However, if possible, it is better to use not foam, but polystyrene foam. It is slightly heavier, but much stronger, and almost as easy to process. Therefore, stuffed animals can last more than one year.


So, before you get started, stock up on the following tools and materials:

  • stationery cutter,
  • sandpaper,
  • pencil,
  • tassels,
  • polystyrene foam or expanded polystyrene (the main thing is that it is strong enough and not less than 2-3 cm thick),
  • putty,
  • acrylic paints,
  • glue.

Do not use nitro glue - if it gets on the foam, it will burn holes in it, ruining the appearance of the stuffed animals, as well as making it difficult to work.

Most of the list is in any apartment. Well, what is missing can always be purchased at any hardware store. After that, you can safely get to work.

  1. Draw a silhouette of a duck on the foam. It is better to do this first on cardboard, and then transfer it to polystyrene foam, making two identical blanks. Make sure that the size and proportion are as close as possible to a real duck.
  2. Draw separate profiles for the wings - also two pieces.
  3. Cut out the pieces of foam. It is best to use a hacksaw, but you can get by with a clerical cutter.
  4. Glue all four blanks together.
  5. Go over with fine sandpaper to remove all the bumps, to give the scarecrow more roundness and realism.
  6. Putty the joints so that the surface is as even as possible, let the putty dry.
  7. Using a brush and acrylic paints, paint the scarecrow in the appropriate colors.

OK it's all over Now. The scarecrow is ready and can go hunting! You can fix some kind of load at the bottom - for example, a massive bolt, so that the stuffed animal does not accidentally knock over by the wind.

Scarecrow from polyurethane foam

Preparation for manufacturing is quite complicated, but the process of creating stuffed animals is simple - this option should be chosen by those who want to make a large number of imitations at once. For example, if you are interested in a stuffed crow for hunting with your own hands, this solution would be the best.


For work, take:

  • alabaster,
  • mounting foam,
  • boards,
  • hammer,
  • nails,
  • hacksaw,
  • hard foam,
  • stationery knife,
  • sandpaper.

Now you can start making a stuffed drake duck for hunting with your own hands:

  1. Make one styrofoam stuffed animal - you can use a single piece, or you can follow the instructions above. Try especially when working - all subsequent stuffed animals will be an exact copy of the first.
  2. In a suitable container, dilute gypsum or alabaster. It should be quite liquid - about like sour cream. Press the foam blank into it, sideways, exactly halfway. Allow the plaster to harden - this usually takes a maximum of overnight.
  3. Lubricate the hardened surface with vegetable oil and pour another portion of gypsum. When it hardens, you can carefully separate the two halves and remove the foam blank from them.
  4. Fold two plaster halves and carefully make a small hole at the bottom - 2-3 centimeters.
  5. Pour the mounting foam into the mold through the resulting hole and let it harden.
  6. Disassemble the form, remove the future scarecrow and carefully paint it.

That's all. Now you have the opportunity to prepare any number of stuffed ducks, geese or crows from polyurethane foam. As with the Styrofoam, you can weight the bottom with some kind of weight to make the stuffed animal more stable.