Simple Decoy HACK! (SURPRISING RESULTS!)

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#duckhunting

[@MichaelLakota-vc4tk]

lol I just did the totally opposite thing with my old water keel decoys! I added sand 😀 The main reason was that on windy days the water keel decoys looked like small sail boats being thrown around. Water keel decoys are definitely great for small water hunts on fairly calm days All and all though the video was entertaining 👌

[@jay-ce1rb]

Taking me back to the 80's. We would cut the whole front of the keel off, then cut out half of the rear on one side or the other. Drill a whole on one side of the front to attach the string. Seemed to get a little more movement on marshes. But got a lot more movement in the Platte River. Still use 6 of those decoys now for the movement. Good video, thanks.

[@colekrueger7975]

Platte river as in wisconsin? I go to uw platteville lol

[@jay-ce1rb]

@@colekrueger7975 Platte River as in Nebraska.

[@davidbilbrough3726]

It's always been a problem when shooting coastal marshes, when you have to walk: some times a mile. If it 's really windy we use 8oz (upside down pyramid) weights on every decoy, so they don't drift. Other times only on half, with the others clipped on to the front, which gives them more movement. It works -7 wigeon the other day.

[@codyneimoyer7010]

Great idea, I currently have to walk around 3 miles to hunt where I want so this will help tremendously since I carry about 4 dozen.

[@ryanduncan9462]

I purchased a dozen and a half Canada floaters from my brother who found them in a pawn shop in Iowa. I repainted them and emptied out the keels. They had been filled with sand and siliconed closed. I emptied them out and left the two holes on either end open so water could fill them. I get way more movement and it took about a pound and a half off each one. After cleaning and painting them I realized they were carry lites. Wonder if these were originally a water keel design!?!

[@timwagner9170]

I ran into Elliot, Fumbles, early this season. Told him you were favorite on KZbin. Mostly because your path to duck hunting was a lot like mine. Ie. Hunting alone, getting dog later on. Public lands…Etc… more importantly. Watch you process the game so it’s not wasting! Very #1 in my book! Let’s eat those goose brats and duck burgers!!!

[@MrBowNaxe]

Good stuff Josh! I only carry in my collapsible decoys for those long walk-in hunts. Can't wait to see what's next.

[@davidsolberg9935]

Yes. I’ve done the same thing and it works.

[@kensaale1099]

Used to have all water keel decoys in the 70's and 80's. When I got new decoys around 2000 I couldn't find any water keel decoys so had to do what you did. Just pulled the back plug off with pliers and one drill hole through the front. Use half the spread still weighted because on an extremely windy day the water keel deeks will flip over.

[@kenmills7788]

Used carries all the time in 80 and 90’s. Never had issues with dog tipping them over. Heavy wind not as good as weighted keels in my option but the weight of carrying 3 to 4 dozen decoys in is hugh

[@marcpowers4659]

Back in the day decoy weight was super important. I use to have a complete pack in set of decoys Carry -lite was the absolute lightest ones that were made at the time. They didn't last but a couple seasons because they were thin plastic bodies, like literally they weren't much thicker than egg shells. If I remember right they weighed 4 ounces including the sand in the keel. I still have about 4 dozen, and have actually flocked them, night and day difference in weight between the Dakotas, or the Avian's I use today. Good idea, to make use of what you have. Necessity is the mother of invention, especially in waterfowl hunting.

[@joshszczech7926]

I have a bunch of the carry lites I use for a diver line. The work great but you are right about them breaking easily

[@user-tm7sr9lj9u]

Add a eye hook (sm) to decoy at bottom tie wight line to eye helps decoy to self right in wind

[@nsmith473]

What if you drilled an about 3/8ths hole in the front of the keel, and a 1/16th or so at the back. Then filled them with water before tossing out? The 1/16th hole would drain slowly enough to insure the already filled keels didn't empty when being thrown out, but would allow air in to facilitate emptying at the days end.

[@adrianbarnes3808]

Did this this year also went down to 3oz sinkers.... 6 dozen huge difference....

[@joshgreer7196]

When I started we uses the old carry lite water keel. Thise.things were lite. Do remember placing every decoy in the spread. It didn't take much wind for those things to dance.

[@DrewVerdin]

I would think when you get to the hole..just dip the keels in the water before you throw them and let some water get inside so it will self correct

[@outdoorfreedom9778]

I'm now 75 and finally gave up duck hunting after my 6th back operation. I started hunting ducks seriously in 77. I used Carry lite. I had a lot of them too. They were all water keels. My partner and I would toss over 150 of them if we took the boat out. 50 of them if we walked in. I miss being young. I even had foam sucky decoys for he big walks. A few years ago I turned my new deeks into water keel just like you. I have never had a problem with roll overs except if tossing them like you did. They didn't even roll over in high wind. I didn't side drill mine like you did.

[@winterproductionsnw]

Have you ever made keel less decoys out of older decoys. They move it slight wind but the upright part you got to place them. more than toss.

[@saltcreekammo]

All I know is somebody needs to bring back Deeks decoys... They were a rubber self inflating decoy that worked great for walking in far.

[@tubergonz]

They're still available but they appear to be out of stock on their website.

[@georgeroelens2211]

Used Water keels for rough water diver hunt sseemed to lead to more trips to upright them with boat. No issues in the marsh, providing the throw was good.

[@bassnbuckbillyb824]

We use them on jerk strings because they continue to move lil bit after the jerk

[@chrisandersen7534]

Cool video Josh great experiment

[@dannyneal9713]

Good idea for sure! We going to have to try that one! My son is 7 so he has a little bit of trouble carrying a dozen but he’s determined to do it all by himself! My boy gets to do his first shooting this season he’s going to flip when he sees what we got him the little.410 he’s been waiting on lol. The only downside is he may not be shooting this year and have to wait another year because I can’t find any steel or bismuth shoot for him. Great video as always though my brother always informative!!

[@TravisKemFishing]

Last I had checked, I think Boss Shotshells has some .410 available. Been a while though but just passing it along.

[@thaddeusstruckman9974]

You know lead works to just don’t get caught 😂

[@duanec60]

About half my decoys are water keel and about the only negative as you indicated is not always rolling upright when you throw them. However on cold days, I wouldn’t through even my weighted keel decoys since they get wet, freeze, and shiny.

[@darrelschlueter8802]

Love the hydrolic sandwich you have in the orange coozie!!!!

[@TravisKemFishing]

My nicer Avian X dekes I haven't done this to, because I usually only use them on short walks or when I can use my boat. My older, rougher, beat around dekes though, I might just have to try this. They probably have bigger keels than FA since they're BPS cheapies.

[@twaynerobert8944]

Great idea 💡 thx buddy

[@RyanMOutdoors]

Great hack! Literally.

[@kyadak]

Great idea!

[@jayjay06513]

How much weight are you using to keep the decoys stationary? Like per decoy?

[@byronrichart5297]

Perfect hack if you have you decoy weight line hard attached let the weight slide up to decoy then through it I have about a 95% rate of being up right

[@chucksmith5002]

I don`t walk in I always Boat but I have some Coot Decoys that are water self-rite from the Factory, and they do the same there`s always one that doesn`t sit up.

[@williamselfjr.3948]

I still have about 7 or 8 water keel decoys from the early 90’s I use them from time to time

[@tylerlower5140]

I have 4 dozen Cabela's mallards I cut both ends and dumped the sand. They weigh less than half what my avian x mallards weigh. I also usually run 6 oz and I dropped down to 4 oz on those. Just make sure where I hike in to the current isn't as strong

[@WayneM-ow5cg]

Josh have you ever tried to make field decoys out of old floaters? If so how did it work and is it worth doing it ?

[@danielwest6769]

Not sure what egg weight you are running. Kinda looks like a walleye championship weight haha but I dropped my rigs down to 1-2oz weights and they hold up in 20+ mph winds at the lake and on the bay My walk ins are a mile long so weight is crucial for me

[@JW-ol4cp]

it's easier and cheaper to buy water keel dekes. The trick to tossing them out and getting them to self right is to use a texas rig. Grab the line by the carabiner loop and let the decoy slide all the way down to the weight. When you toss it in the water, the weight pulls the line thru the attachment point, and flips the decoy right-side-up every time.

[@jwrees57]

You could even reduce anchor weight too.

[@raymondstoner5555]

What is the stuff you used to attach your decoys to each other

[@clintmckinney9472]

I still hunt over my carry-lyre decoys from 20 years

[@JtotheG317]

Did u do an update on the flockaflicka2 yet? Anxious to get your opinion. Most people seem to have liked the first version but it was apparently not very durable.

[@timwagner9170]

My 1st water keels came from K mart . I used carry it all on my back, before sleds. I drilled the sand out of everything..there after. I find the lighter ones responding in light winds better too! It’s no secret… fuck hunting is very gear intensive

[@ksoutdoorsports]

Most defiantly a good mod. You may try also changing the Texas riggs weights to aluminum conduit. You will lose another 5 pounds, and they work great!

[@jasonwhitaker5173]

What size diameter and length are the pieces of conduit you use? And do you have a pic of how you attaches them?

[@ksoutdoorsports]

@@jasonwhitaker5173 They are 3/4" aluminum conduit about 4" long. Very light. If there is any wind you will have to step on them to sink them in the mud to hold. Not as fast to set up as Texas rigs, but much lighter to carry if you have a long walk.

[@DS-md7jn]

To go even lighter just use 2 oz weight per decoy.

[@robertgangi5041]

Yes, they will work fine except in heavy wind or as you mentioned, the dog on retrieves.

[@rbljackson]

Any tips fo rsetting decoys without having to bring waders? LIke you, I have a long walk to where I may be duck hunting and Im new to it. Trying to figure out what I need to bring and how to keep it light. I have a invisilab dog blind which is already a big item to bring....so looking at ways to save weight. Thanks! I only have a half dozen mallard female decoys and was wondering if I can get by with that for teal in a few weeks! Excited to get started. Our 1.3 year old chocolate lab will be experiencing his first hunting season as well as my first duck season.

[@pastormiketwoable]

check out "Dura Ducks" or "Deeks" Use to carry 3 dozen easily for a 5-mile trek in eastern Washington. Both ugly compared to days decoys but killed hundreds of mallards over them; my partner too.

[@mikerobinson6606]

I still have my old carry-in set of water keel Flambeu decoys from the early 90s. 3dz mallards, doz pintails, doz woodducks and 6 coot. All fit in one huge bag and i could carry them in by myself. I cut 8oz lead straps into 3 pieces for anchors with tanglefree line. Killed a lot of ducks over that spread. No Jet sleds back then. Almost too easy these days. 1 or 2 dozen modern decoys and a pair of spinners and the bird strap fills up fast.

[@jasonwhitaker5173]

You can cut the entire keel off and they will move around even better. We have a few like this and it takes the slightest wind to start moving them around.

[@subdawg1331]

i put my weights on the water keel and it flips them as the weight drops...oops yep i still use the old school ones

[@russyenger7883]

This is funny to me as I used to buy "water keel" decoys as they were cheaper" and fill the keels with sand and seal the ends so they were more stable on the water and "righted" themselves when thrown. I guess everything changes!

[@jamesdalton3916]

With the dekes being lighter, you can cut the anchor weight as well.

[@nelsonoutdoors9510]

I wonder how much weight you’d have to leave in/on the keel to have it self right.

[@jasepellegrin2496]

I mean you only loosing 6-7 ounces of weight per decoy, just leave them weighted. The little extra weight you saving your self from carrying not worth the work to go flip them all over because they arent upright. If you want to shave weight use smaller texas rigs or just cut weight elsewhere.

[@shawnykema8204]

About 5 years ago I bought about 6 dozen used GHGs at a huge discount because their keels were cut. Wasn't sure what to think at the time. Now they're always my go to blocks when I have to walk in. That little bit of weight is very noticeable after a long walk

[@noahgrunerud9890]

All my puddle ducks have weighted keels but most of my divers don’t and I’ve never had issues

[@shaneisbell1990]

I carry in my dekes alot and I have leaned out my keels. They really work great until you get to hunting in really high wind conditions. Other than that I've never really had very much problems with them.

[@johnnichols6096]

I've been trying to figure out away to turn my old decoys into keelless decoys for when I only have an inch or 2 of water to hunt it. got any tips? still want them to be able to be hunted in deeper water as well with rigs attached

[@tylersGBO]

Do you have much luck in 2 inches of water? In my marsh along a more natural flyway than where my blind is, I cleared out an area. I think it will only hold 2-4 inches of water. With keel less decoys, will mallards still work that?

[@johnnichols6096]

@@tylersGBO in my experiences yes it will. we mostly hunt flooded moist soil or rice feilds and the waterfowl like walking around in a few inches of water. I live on the coast in Texas

[@GwithaK]

drill smaller holes and dip the keel before you throw them and they'll right 99% of the time. keel full of water is enough to right them and with smaller holes the water drains s

[@danc6402]

Have you tried FUDs? Would be a cool video.

[@iu2297]

Plenty round these parts . Make a lovely breakfast

[@Gibbsoutdoors]

2oz Texas rigs. Made my own made a huge difference

[@russellyork7652]

Do the 2 oz hold the decoys? I've thought of doing the same thing.

[@Gibbsoutdoors]

@@russellyork7652 I’ve got them on my lifetimes and haven’t had an issue. Hunted flooded grass field in 40mph gusts and never moved. Really depends on what you hunt and if windy something the weight can catch on too. But I’ve hunted some slow current on the Ohio and still held fine in shin deep water

[@godtsol]

I still have 3 dozen water keel decoys

[@gimp6019]

When I first started hunting in the mid 70's we had some Styrofoam decoys. They were ok except a wind over 10 MPH would flip them over

[@josephmoravec8146]

I have a bunch of Flambeaus from the 80s with water keels that I have filled with sand and hot glue. Biggest problems I have had are flipping in heavy wind, getting you soaked when picking the up, and landing on their side when you put them out. I feel like for long haul packing in these problems are less of an issues than the overall weight of what you haul in. On big water however I’ll keep the weight.

[@chrisshort8541]

if you throw them out with the weight up against the keel they will self right better.

[@mchenryjeremy]

I always grab the weight in my hand, then with the same hand, grab the keel. Weight is against the keel in the cup of my fingers basically. Pull rig slack all the way out (it usually does this on its own) and throw the decoy by the keel. Keeps the weight very close to the decoy and prevents ripping the rig right of the decoy. Over time, throwing by the rigging will wear the decoy out. I can't tell you what season I'm on, but I've only have one decoy break off so far because the rigging hung up on my waders when I threw it. It also helps the self righting as well when the weight descends to the bottom, pulling the slack through the keel on the bottom of the decoy.

[@lucaspriesendorf251]

90%of my decoys are water kell and my dad taught me that if you swing the decoy and hold onto the anchor instead of vise versa 99% of the time they land upright.

[@TheJookie26]

lifetime decoys are the lightest with the weights and self righting! a little pricey but waterfowling have been my passion for 61 seasons now! At my age light decoys are a must! they dont have many decoy positions. but i shot countless ducks over painted plastic bottles. ducks dont care about the position of the decoy. its a bird not a mammal.

[@tylersGBO]

Will these move better? I hunt a marsh. There is a section ducks would work better but it’s too shallow for the decoy to sit properly. Im talking a few inches. If I cut the keel could I hunt that? Would ducks land in 3-4 inches of water? Im used to hunting shin- thigh depth.

[@dennishindman3767]

Hunting in that shallow of water I've cut the keels totally off and used small strap lead and super glued them to the bottom. Be real careful not to cut into the decoys

[@tylersGBO]

@@dennishindman3767 did you have luck in that depth?

[@dennishindman3767]

I have better luck in 3-4 inches of water then deeper water. Any water 8 inches or less ducks can get to food easier. Not only that but if you have high winds ducks even geese look for that type of water more than deeper water.

[@dennishindman3767]

And yes they move even better cuz their is nothing there to slow it down

[@chandlerking1549]

Give life time decoys a look

[@ksilhacek2010]

You were in Nebraska and didn't stop and say hi... come on now

[@jamieurquhart5343]

Get some dakota packables they are super lite

[@tylfernandes9707]

Your better of to cut off the whole keel leave that 1/2 piece of thin plastic to drill new hole for the decoy cord. They will move more in a light breeze. FYI heter suc ducks are way lighter and their magnum size, but you have to buy molded ones and paint them because they no longer make them, I went through what your doing 20 years ago

[@earlgregoire6661]

Guess I'm the only one cheap enough to still be running the old water keels I got as a kid.

[@josephmoravec8146]

No sir I have 2 dozen ringbills and 1 dozen mallards of the Flambeau hard plastic variety that I still rock every hunt. Still got better paint than any of these new decoys after 40 years

[@dukebuck]

I'm still rocking a couple dozen Carry-Lite decoys from the 80's

[@OzarkJubal]

If each decoy loses 7oz the dozen of them should be 5.25 lbs lighter! Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain!

[@davidlaunderville4416]

I would deal with the 5 pounds

[@sculpinator14]

Those are going to be difficult to clean.

[@waveoglesby2920]

Is your dog carrying any weight? Maybe she could take some of the weight by pulling a sled?

[@REF49]

Submerge the keel, then toss them.

[@Flatlander94]

One dozen decoys that you can throw no matter what way they land correct… worth way more than 4.5 pounds … and that’s if it was 6 ounces per decoy. Seems like ruining decoys to me.

[@danc6402]

Dip the keels in the water first.

[@joshuaneuroth9488]

Man….. what a forgotten concept. I’m embarrassed that I have not done that. I have old decoys that could use tlc and this is a perfect opportunity to bring them out of retirement. Thank you for the content

[@Salmonslapper365]

Don’t know if anybody else caught the part where this dude says he’s been hunting five or six years. No offense but pretty sure I’m not gonna be taking any tips or tricks from somebody who has been hunting as long as most 19-year-old kids. Lol just my two cents.

[@jasepellegrin2496]

I think you just ruined some perfectly fine weighted decoys for 5 lbs of weight🤣. I rather just carry the extra weight then have to flip all my decoys over in the morning.

[@Stackswopovids1]

Cope junkies??

[@jblowend8473]

All this to save a little weight? Too much effort for a little progress, "BE A MAN, THROW YA BACK OUT!!!"

[@johnnyfive8748]

FA’s are heavy af