562 FOREST, FIELD, AND PRAIRIE. 



rise up too soon when ducks are approaching. Wait until they are 

 over the " tail " decoys, and if there is a large flock and they choose 

 to alight, let them do so, and when they bunch rise and fire quickly. 



Decoys. — Never use any but wood decoys — as all others are 

 open to many objections. White cedar and soft pine are the best 

 on account of their extreme lightness and ease in cutting. Pine is 

 better for heads, being less easily broken, while cedar is the most 

 durable. The timber should be well seasoned and free from knots 

 and sap. For ducks two by six inches is the proper size. The 

 timber being planed and sawed to proper lengths, is next cut 

 around on its edge according to a pattern representing a horizon- 

 tal section of the decoy. Two pieces are needed for each decoy, 

 which must be hollowed out to the proper thickness. The head 

 after being shaped is fitted to the top part by a screw underneath, 

 and the two parts being roughly carved into shape as desired, 

 must be nicely fitted together, glued or cemented firmly, and the 

 decoy rounded and finished smooth. After being thoroughly 

 sand-papered, it should be dampened all over so as to raise the 

 grain of the wood, and when dry should be again sand-papered. 

 Give the decoy a thin coat of shellac varnish, and it will prevent 

 the absorption of water. After this, a heavy coat of some neutral 

 tint, which should be mixed with raw oil without any drier. This 

 must be allowed to dry thoroughly before the colors are put on. 

 Artists tube colors should be used, being more lively and durable 

 than common paint. A small brass wire staple or piece of leather 

 should be fastened to the lower part of the breast, to attach the 

 line to ; a piece of lead about four ounces in weight should be se- 

 cured on the bottom lengthwise, like a keel, and the decoy is 

 finished. Each decoy should have a separate line and anchor, a 

 piece of lead is best for the last. 



Dead Ducks as Decoys. — Having killed the duck and secured 

 him, take a stick, a reed or the stalk of a strong .weed that is stout 

 and strong, sharpen one end to a point, which insert under the 

 skin of the duck's breast and along up the neck just beneath the 

 skin, into the head. Do this so that the head will hold a natural 

 position to the body and the neck is not awry. Then wade out 

 and plant the other end of the stick in the mud over which there 

 is a foot of water or a little more. The body of the duck must 



