Homemade full strut decoy

[Cooter]

I have a couple jake decoys and the tail fan from the bird my dad got last week and want to come up with a way to rig up a full strut decoy. Any ideas?

I'm thinking just riggin up a way to attach the fan to a decoy stake and go that route.

I think that will work fine, what I need to figure out is a way to fold and open the tail fan....not critical but would make transporting easier. How are the store bought fans constructed? So far I'm looking into a Chinese fan, or whatever they are, type rig.

Bring on the creativity!

[delzz7]

Primos has a fan holder and or a stake that might work for you. It will probably cost a little over $20 plus shipping. You may have to modify it, depending on how you mount it.

Look under B mobile, decoys, accessories

[USDA3]

We used two thin dowels, sharpened the ends and stuck them through the base of the fan before it is dried out(we left a little extra meat on a jake fan from last year). The two dowels, instead of one prevent it from spinning in the wind. Then just stick the fan and dowels through the decoy or directly into the ground behind the jake decoy, whichever you prefer. Looks good, easy and cheap.

[erikh45]

I am not 100% sure that this will work, but this is what I might try. Take 2 thin pieces of wood (I envision Paint stirring sticks). At the bast of the sticks drill a hole. Mount the sticks together using a thin bolt and a wing nut. You could have two more holes drilled part way up to mount the dowel stakes (as mentioned above). Keep the whole thing folded up on the walk in, and when you get to your area unfold the sticks and the fan, and stake them to the ground behind the decoy. You could probably get all the items needed for this for a couple dollars. I have never tried this, but it is an idea. If you try it, let me know how it goes.

Erik

[mnmuzzleloader]

I think you just bite the bullet and spend the 70 or something on b-mobile, you will be very happy, These guys have spent time on engineering decoys and product testing them and fine tuned. I tried to come up with a fan holder and not go but if you have the time and equipment then go for it.

[Hotspotter]

I'd have to agree with mnmuzzleloader.

I've got a handful of buddies that are taxidermists, and some more do-it-yourselfer friends that have tried to pull this off with varying levels of success. One of them has been dragging a full strut mounted merriams around for the past few years during his bow season.

The issue everytime is finding a way to keep the tailfeathers in good condition on the way in and out, while still being able to display them in a life-like full-strut spread. The advantage to the Primos B-mobile system is severalfold in regards to this problem:

-Folding "jig" - You actually take single plucked tailfeathers, then stick them into this folding holder. After you fill the holder, you secure to the rear of the decoy with a bolt/wingnut combo. This way, you don't have to try and make it through the woods with a full-fan.

-Replaceable feathers - one breaks, put a new one in.

-Customization - You want a jake fan? Extend the middle tailfeathers. You want it in half-strut, affix the wingnut loosely. You can also add secondary feathers and other plumage via hot glue - this IMO adds realism you can't get from a silhouette or "fake" fan. If you couldn't add real feathers to this decoy, I wouldn't own one.

Wait until they go on-sale at the end of the season or just bite the bullet. I think you'll be happy going this route compared to the others we've tried.

Joel

[Cooter]

I've got the old man full bore on this project - we'll see what he can come up with. Thanks for the replies.

[FrontenacPike]

I remember reading in a magazine a while back about a guy who attached the feathers to an old metal lawn rake. He cropped the wooden dowel down to the appropriate length and then widdled the end into a point. I'm assuming you would want to spray paint the rake before attaching feathers.

[Cooter]

I just happen to have an old bamboo rake with a broken handle...

[FrontenacPike]

Cooter you'll have to post pictures when your done. I also have a jake fan that I was thinking about throwing on a rake.

[Hotspotter]

Cooter sneaking through the timber with a rickety bamboo rake head hanging off him. Funny thought!

Joel

[FrontenacPike]

Joel i realize that you were making a joke but it got me thinking about the latest hunting accident. I'd think I use some caution upon caring a fan spread out on public land. I'd personally put it into a garbage bag just for my own safety.

[Hotspotter]

Frontenac:

Right-on. I really like the fold-up B-mobile jig for that reason, as the fan is 1/4 the size, and it rides in the back of my vest out of view.

You bring up a good point. Not only are some of the fixed-strut fans cumbersome, they're potentially dangerous.

Joel