You can't always believe your eyes...

[Rubberhead]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2590/4203736959_f136b80b8e_b.jpg

My son shot this hen canvasback this morning. He's bird and deer lucky. He's killed better birds than many folks that have been hunting SC for half a lifetime.

I blew the shot because of the shadow from the drake decoy on the right.

[Squatty]

CANtastic!

I love this shot! LOVE IT!

[jckegley]

The whole idea of the decoy head next to the actual kill head is neat. Good idea. I think there are many future hunting photos with this style.

What kind of duck is it?

[Squatty]

Sibley's would tell you it's a Hen Canvasback :D

Don't worry about checking b/c I'm just as good as Sibley! ;):p

[rkemmerlin]

Neat shot, the shadow doesn't bother me.

Not being a hunter I have a question. Are decoys normally larger than the actual duck? I ask this because I wonder if they are specifically built larger so the ducks flying above can see them easier.

[SandyLee]

Good shot. Congrats to your son. Killed near the coast? Funny how when we are composing the shot, you do not notice shadows, small limbs etc., but as soon as you see the photo your eye goes to it.

[Rubberhead]

Are decoys normally larger than the actual duck? I ask this because I wonder if they are specifically built larger so the ducks flying above can see them easier.

Yes. I hunt over some LL Bean Coastal Magnums that are huge. Decoys are an amazing topic. I'm slowing replacing my hollow plastics with decoys like in the photo. It's a polystyrene body with an armoured coating. I then buy the wooden heads as replacements to the plastic heads that come with the decoys. These are the best working decoys I know of. Purists will only use cork or wooden decoys. I've got a little over a dozen corks but I still like the amoured polystyrene best.


Good shot. Congrats to your son. Killed near the coast? Funny how when we are composing the shot, you do not notice shadows, small limbs etc., but as soon as you see the photo your eye goes to it.

I take a lot of prop shots and you're right. Every little detail has to be perfect or it sticks out like a sore thumb. I prefer a lightly overcast day - kind of like God's Lightbox.

[jckegley]

Interesting information about the decoys. After thinking about it, makes sense to use larger ones.