DECOYS SIMPLIFIED. By Paul W. Casson.

1972 1st edition. 4to (222 x 285mm). Ppvi,95,xx. B/w photographs, illustrations, plans. Silver gilt decoy duck head motif to blue boards, spine titled in silver gilt.

"Here is a book that works. Decoys Simplified shows you how to make your own decoys with a minimum of fuss and maximum effectiveness, using only a small amount of equipment. Mr. Casson's easy-to-master techniques will enable even the beginning decoy-maker to turn out good-looking, realistic decoys at a fraction of the cost of ready-mades". Mr. Casson's chosen material is reconstituted cork (like notice boards), on account of its being easier to work than wood. The instructions in this book could easily be applied to other materials". To add naturalness to your rig and make it more convincing to incoming flights [the author] has included plans and instructions for sleeping and preening poses. And painting decoys is easy. All the necessary colours can be blended from a few tubes of paint". The decoy designs include anchors and keel weights, and the point of balance/bouyancy is indicated in each plan. The book also gives practical instructions for setting the decoys out. Chapters include: Materials and tools; Heads, Eyes; Bodies; Puddle duck bodies; Mounting the head; Reinforcing; Finishing; Oversize puddle duck with angled tail; Diving duck bodies; Puddle body without wooden tail; Diving duck without wooden tail; Coots; Three-ply goose; Brant; Painting; Keel weights and anchors; Anchor lines; Sleepers; Two foot owl; Crows; One foot owl.