The last days of the 2014–2015 waterfowl season are now a faint memory, but for duck and goose hunters this is a year-round game, and there’s a mountain of work to be done. This to-do list focuses on certain aspects of waterfowling that could use a little more attention, so, if you’re just sitting around waiting on September, here are some tasks every duck hunter must do before opening day.
Decoy Assessment and Storage
Few hunters realize how many decoys they actually have until it’s time to store them for the summer. Every hunter’s storage situation is unique, but there are a few tips every waterfowler should follow when preparing to store decoys long term.
Luke Clark, public relations and marketing manager for Rig’Em Right, focuses on getting his decoys cleaned, crimps checked, and stowing them out of harm’s way. Storing all his decoys in an old barn in southern Illinois, he utilizes ladder hooks along with a wide range of other hardware to hang the dekes and decoy bags, out of reach of mice and other pests.
“I hang everything. I am able to get three or four 12-slot decoy bags on one big ladder hook, which keeps the bags off the ground,” Clark explains. “If you’re dealing with Texas Rig or Rig’Em Right rigged decoys and you want to leave them strung up, I screw Y-shaped hardware into the rafters and separate them into sets of 12. By separating them into smaller bunches, it makes them easier to move if you need to get around them.”
Clark also emphasizes getting your decoys clean and off the ground to avoid any potential deformation of the plastic once the temperatures rise. He knows some hunters remove the Rig’Em Right rigs from their decoys for storage, but points out that by hanging them with the cords and weights, you can keep the decoy cords from gaining memory and coiling.
“I have made the mistake of not storing decoys the right way before, but I won’t do that again,” Clark says. “I recommend taking advantage of spring weather and sitting outside with a garden hose or power washer and giving them a good rinse, then getting everything off the ground. I hang some full-body goose decoys individually if needed. It’s all about protecting your investment.”
By Chris Jennings, DU web editor. Photo by John Hoffman, DU magazine photo editor. CONTINUE READING THIS GREAT PREP ARTICLE FROM DU – http://www.ducks.org/hunting/five-things-every-waterfowler-must-do-in-april/page2?poe=4-15ENew