Page 34 THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.
34

THE BOOK OF DUCK DECOYS.
    On the fowl being enticed far enough under the net, the Decoyman that moment, and without stopping his manoeuvres, makes a signal by raising his arm.
    His assistant then shows himself instantly, first at the head show place, and up go the birds, and next as he runs from screen to screen, appearing over the dog-jumps between each as he does so, thus he finally urges them on into the tunnel net.
    This is the quickest and safest way to act if large takes of fowl are on hand, or the birds are very shy. Should the Decoyman, however, be alone, he, as before shown, runs along the concealed path to the head show, or till he gets well behind the birds in the pipe. He then acts as above described of his assistant, and as seen in the illustration opposite.
    At all times two men are necessary if the Decoy be a large one, as the assistant's services come in useful in many ways. In a small Decoy, such as that given facing page 55, any intelligent keeper can work and keep it in order singlehanded.


IndexList of Illustrations