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The ones I used to use many years ago were basic owls of about 14'' tall and worked very well. There are loads available now although most of the true owl decoys are much smaller than the ones I had but are available from many good RFD's or one of the pigeon specialist dealer such as A1 Decoy

 

http://www.a1decoy.co.uk/decoys-12-c.asp

 

ebay is another place to buy them but some I think are little more than garden ornaments so look carefully and decide if you are happy with what is being offered.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jack-Pyke-Owl-Decoy-Plastic-16-High-Owl-Protection-for-Songbirds-Garden-/142134058160?hash=item2117d99cb0:g:mVAAAOSwmLlX7nsM

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FLAMBEAU-17-OWL-DECOY-/262966635426?hash=item3d3a086ba2:g:qkEAAOSwCQZZCwMo

 

I am off to the Northern Shooting Show this weekend and if the show last year was anything to go by, I will no doubt be bringing a couple back with me.

 

One point to make is that for the owl to work, we used to ensure it can be seen. Now that sounds pretty obvious but it can be difficult so I used to take a post of say 3x3'' x 4' long mounting the owl on the pole. To make it an easy job, I used to take two or three fishing rod rests, the cheap ones about 24 = 30'' long and push those into the ground which could be quite hard, then simply tie a piece of string around the rod rests and pole or use tie straps with the rod rests as close as possible to the pole. If you want to fix the post in the ground, take a good hammer or of course make use of an existing post but remember it MUST be easy for the crows to see.

 

If you are buying crow or magpie deeks, spend that little bit more and go for flocked full body decoys as corvids can be very quick to see when something is not quite right.

 

Hope that helps.

 

 

Phil

Edited by philpot
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As above the giant owls good as they can see it easier but theres also a smaller one where you can move the wings like a pigeon flapper and the movement annoys them

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I went to the Northern Shooting Show on Saturday and saw both the decoys that A1 sell and the first one I listed on the ebay link. To be honest, the A1 decoy looks like a garden ornament and not realistic whatsoever but a large size. The ebay owl looks quite good and the size is decent but neither owls have great colour however the ebay, Jack Pike decoy is the one I am getting from ebay as it was cheaper than at the show.

 

I am tempted to buy the A1 decoy and spray it to a realistic colour which would then be spot on.............................if I can be bothered but if you take that route remember to buy a matt finish varnish/sealer and that is something that needs doing to either decoy even if you don't spray it as they are 'plastic shiny' if you understand me.

 

I did buy a few more flocked full body crow deeks while I was there at £10 for three, superb price and a new 'Nordik Barrborn Pro Crow' call which is very good indeed, £20 not so cheap but well worth it IMO.

 

One crow deek I saw was pretty bloody good although I didn't buy it as they are cheaper on ebay and that is a feathered 'calling' decoy which sounded very good.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Full-Feather-Realistic-Calling-Crow-Decoy-Vermin-Rook-Shooting-Decoying-Hunting-/122449247745?hash=item1c828b3e01:g:I40AAOSwv0tVM4Qp

 

Good luck with whichever you buy.

 

Phil

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