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General Discussion => General Forum => Topic started by: deerbasshunter3 on March 26, 2015, 04:50:21 PM

Title: Painting decoys.
Post by: deerbasshunter3 on March 26, 2015, 04:50:21 PM
I have been told to paint my Pretty Boy Jr. decoy so it looks more realistic. I really don't want to start messing with painting anything, so I have a question about turkey head/neck colors.

My PBJ has a white neck. Is the color of its neck supposed to show less aggression or interest in a hen? Will leaving it white really make that big of a difference?
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: gophert on March 26, 2015, 05:05:31 PM
I painted my Pretty Boy Jr (Which is for sale by the way) and think it looks much better.  He has gotten molested many a time.

(http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/Gophert/49098856-DC0B-45C7-94F1-8B6E8897B132_zpsoldloqqt.jpg)

(http://i1031.photobucket.com/albums/y372/Gophert/28464187-ED1E-4AA6-B804-7B9CA129EEC1_zpsmyai54ls.jpg)
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: Mike Honcho on March 26, 2015, 05:18:52 PM
I have same decoy...I painted the head/neck of mine.  I just looked at the expensive jake decoys for the ideas.  It looks much better now.

I used acrylic paint from Walmart hobby dept...for about .99 to 2.00 a bottle.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: Marc on March 26, 2015, 05:31:41 PM
Quote from: Mike Honcho on March 26, 2015, 05:18:52 PM
I have same decoy...I painted the head/neck of mine.  I just looked at the expensive jake decoys for the ideas.  It looks much better now.

I used acrylic paint from Walmart hobby dept...for about .99 to 2.00 a bottle.

That is exactly what I would do...

From experience, an agressive colored head such as the one on the pretty boy jr. will not work in your favor...

The good ol' boy who originally painted that decoy was sippin' some of the good stuff when he painted the head for the prototype...
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: deerbasshunter3 on March 26, 2015, 08:11:02 PM
Quote from: Marc on March 26, 2015, 05:31:41 PM
Quote from: Mike Honcho on March 26, 2015, 05:18:52 PM
I have same decoy...I painted the head/neck of mine.  I just looked at the expensive jake decoys for the ideas.  It looks much better now.

I used acrylic paint from Walmart hobby dept...for about .99 to 2.00 a bottle.

That is exactly what I would do...

From experience, an agressive colored head such as the one on the pretty boy jr. will not work in your favor...

The good ol' boy who originally painted that decoy was sippin' some of the good stuff when he painted the head for the prototype...

So do paint the head, or do not paint the head?
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: hookedspur on March 26, 2015, 08:28:39 PM
PAINT it .
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: deerbasshunter3 on March 26, 2015, 09:24:15 PM
The white head is considered aggressive?
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: DrummingStick on March 26, 2015, 09:30:18 PM
What a great Idea to repaint an old decoy to make it look new and real.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: cajun1085 on March 26, 2015, 10:09:21 PM
I flocked and airbrushed the back of mine
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: BABS9 on March 26, 2015, 10:18:11 PM
More white is usually associated with the dominate bird in the area. An almost all red head means a more submissive or spooked bird.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: SKFOOTER on March 26, 2015, 10:20:15 PM
Quote from: Mike Honcho on March 26, 2015, 05:18:52 PM
I have same decoy...I painted the head/neck of mine.  I just looked at the expensive jake decoys for the ideas.  It looks much better now.

I used acrylic paint from Walmart hobby dept...for about .99 to 2.00 a bottle.
Same here.  And my Pretty Boy Jr. has been knocked off of its stake more than once by longbeards. :OGturkeyhead:
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: SKFOOTER on March 26, 2015, 10:21:56 PM
Quote from: BABS9 on March 26, 2015, 10:18:11 PM
More white is usually associated with the dominate bird in the area. An almost all red head means a more submissive or spooked bird.
I believe you are mistaken.  It is exactly the opposite. :OGturkeyhead:
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: Mike Honcho on March 26, 2015, 10:27:21 PM
SKFOOTER is correct.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: BABS9 on March 26, 2015, 11:08:52 PM
I have to disagree. Usually from what I've seen a dominate or content bird has an almost all white/blue head with maybe some red down at the caruncles or lower neck. But a bird that is frightened or aggressive as well has an almost all red head/neck with a little white in between.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: Marc on March 26, 2015, 11:49:52 PM
At this point I am as confused as anyone...  I thought that bright blues and whites were more aggressive colors, and red was "I am horney" (but I certainly could be mistaken on this). All I do know, is that the more blue and white in the neck, the more it seems to spook birds...  I would paint it...

You can use a big red Sharpy, or acrylic paint...  Or whatever...  My preference would be more subdued reds and pinks...

I want the decoy to look like the weak nerd at a jock party, about to scam in on the hottest cheerleader... 
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: snapper1982 on March 27, 2015, 12:11:40 AM
I have painted a few.

Before
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/IMG_6331_zps1a99b6b0.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/IMG_6331_zps1a99b6b0.jpg.html)

After
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/IMG_6387_zps14d43f86.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/IMG_6387_zps14d43f86.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: snapper1982 on March 27, 2015, 12:17:21 AM
Before
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsewmhro2q.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsewmhro2q.jpg.html)

During
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscfhjxf1p.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpscfhjxf1p.jpg.html)

After
(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsnfnqwhxk.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsnfnqwhxk.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: snapper1982 on March 27, 2015, 12:18:56 AM
One more

(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsblv4qksp.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsblv4qksp.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: 2eagles on March 27, 2015, 06:24:02 AM
Decide for yourself. Get on Youtube and watch a bunch of videos. Watch the color of gobbler heads as they interact with other birds and decoys. Then go buy those cheap hobby paints and paint the head the way you want it.

(http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o227/2eagles_photos/007_zpsc2b493ac.jpg) (http://s121.photobucket.com/user/2eagles_photos/media/007_zpsc2b493ac.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: bbcoach on March 27, 2015, 06:33:19 AM
Here's a link for review  http://bestturkeydecoy.com/body-language/  From what I've seen in most outdoor videos, the dominant strutting bird normally has a white head with a long snood.  The less dominant will sport red heads and short snoods.  I've painted several jakes and I use mostly red color with a dash of white.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: cajun1085 on May 03, 2015, 07:21:14 PM
Quote from: snapper1982 on March 27, 2015, 12:18:56 AM
One more

(http://i1274.photobucket.com/albums/y438/skippyturtle1/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsblv4qksp.jpg) (http://s1274.photobucket.com/user/skippyturtle1/media/Mobile%20Uploads/image_zpsblv4qksp.jpg.html)

Snapper, Did you mount a skinned turkey to that Killer B?? It looks really good.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: kyturkeyhunter4 on May 03, 2015, 07:31:35 PM
I think it looks a lot better painted.
Title: Re: Painting decoys.
Post by: snapper1982 on May 03, 2015, 07:53:15 PM
No each feather was cut/trimmed and glued on. Takes a bit of time but turns out nice.