Decoy Retriever

[srfishin15]

If possible I don't want to spend the $20-$30 for a retriver pole, is there anything i can get for a cheaper price that can be used to serve the purpose of one of the poles?

[B@ssmaster]

Do you have a retriever (dog?) One of my labs likes to retrieve the dekes for me on occasion. I just look at that as a extra job or a bonus skill for him, so I can't really count the breeder bills, vet bills and dog food bills against him. Essentially that means he's a free decoy retriever! (Although my wife might disagree with my math there. ) I hadn't thought about it until now, but with a little training maybe a guy could get the dog to retrieve them all!

Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm sure you are looking for a serious answer. Most of time we hunt out of canoes, so the paddles work well for snagging dekes. Or a pushpole works well too if you carry one. Maybe make one from an old broom handle and a nail/hook? Or even one of those long handled landing nets if you already happen to have one.

[Kettle]

I use a 1'' wood dowel, with a heavy gauge wire in a u shape, about 3$ in cost if you dont already have it

kettle

[srfishin15]

I do have the dog, but just beginning to train her for waterfowl shes a little shy of the decoys, she'll go near them but wont pick them up or anything. unfortunately

I don't have a boat that can be used fro duck hunting so i was looking at something that i could use to get to extend out to them if the water is too deep for waders, i was looking to see if i could find a cheap telescoping golf ball retriever or something of that nature that i could put a hook on the end of. If possible i want it to be compact enough that im not carrying around a 8 foot pole everywhere i go..

[DOC33]

That's exactly what I use. I had an old handle with the scoop end that always fell off. I used a hook from the garage, one of those rubber coated hooks. It screwed in perfectly into the end of the golf ball retriever. I should have started producing and marketing it right away. I've been using it for approx 8 yrs. It is compact enough to stick in my decoy bag.

Now I don't know if you can find one for less than 20 bucks, fortunately I had one on hand.

I don't know if training your dog to retrieve decoys would be the best. May be a little confusing on a blind retrieve out beyond the decoys.

[BoxMN]

My Dad used to call me and my brother his decoy retrievers...

[Walleye Guy]

Cheap spinning rod and an reel combo spooled with braided line and a daredevil. You can improve your casting accuracy!

[Gordie]

I named of my dogs Deek and the first thing he retrived on his first run was Yep you guessed it my decoy.

Ive used a fiberglass telescopeing canepole like the ones used for fishing panfish I take a piece of nine wire and make a hook and tape it to the end of the pole started doing this when I first strted river hunting also worked for getting the ducks and geese.

I have also zip tied and taped a big treble hook to the end of it for grabing onto the decoy and decks but it was to me to dangerous in the boat around the waders if you know what I mean

[srfishin15]

problem solved: Grandpa has an old golf ball retriever I can use. Thanks for all the help, this site has been a huge help to me as I'm just getting into duck hunting. Thanks again.

-SR-