One piece of advice for beginning decoy operators or How to learn how to properly use a duck decoy

Oh, how bird hunters love decoys! We fill our unloading vests with single and double tongue decoys, goose decoys, hazel grouse and so on and so on and proudly carry them with us every day of the season.

However, despite our long-term fascination with decoys and the sounds they make, there is a feeling that many simply ignore certain capabilities of decoys and simple techniques that can improve their sound and hunting in general. I won't talk about how to properly call a mallard or the most common mistakes. Let's better discuss ways that will expand your “alluring” horizons and increase your chances this season.

How to attract a bird correctly

Some novice hunters are interested in how to properly decoy a duck in the spring. You can do this as follows:

• The sounds made by the decoy must imitate the voices of females of exactly the same species as the drake being hunted. In the spring season, several different species can be found simultaneously. Accordingly, at this time of year it is necessary to stock up on a wide variety of stuffed animals.
• You can use an ordinary decoy duck instead of a stuffed animal. Some hunters breed them specifically in order to later use them during hunting.
• As for the stuffed animals, they need to be placed randomly. They will create the appearance as if a flock has landed on the water. There is no need to place them in rows. This may scare away the drake.
• In an ambush you need to sit at a distance of approximately 15 m. Moreover, this distance should be to the farthest stuffed animal. The bird itself should be placed on a strong leash, the length of which is approximately 1 meter greater than the depth of the reservoir.
• The decoy duck must be positioned so that it faces the hunter. At the same time, her leash had to be very thin, always strong, and as for the load, the house had to be sufficient to be able to keep it in the water. One kilogram is enough. Stuffed animals can be placed on the sides of the decoy duck. But at the same time, it is imperative to ensure that the leashes do not get tangled. As soon as the ducks approach, the hunter should begin to make several staccato quacks. Thus, it imitates the voice of ducks of this species. And the decoy duck will attract the mallard drakes. It is better not to imitate their voice.

Some people are interested in: how to properly attract a duck with a wind decoy? A lot depends on how well the hunter uses the decoy. A decoy duck is good for hunting, but it is not always possible to get it out of a pond later, and a stuffed duck is the most ideal option.

Whistles, horns and other “noise makers”

On the hunting stage, the solo part, of course, belongs to the well-known sound of the mallard. But in vain. We would all like to shoot a fatter bird, and the sounds of a candle (a bird taking off), quacks and clicks during feeding will help us in this difficult task. In addition, other species of ducks also respond very positively to the sounds of mallards. But from time to time you will still have to use species-specific sounds to attract birds.

The most common sound that is not typical for mallards is whistling. The wigeon, for example, responds well to the imitation of its characteristic nasal three-note whistle. The teal drake sometimes reacts to a short, sonorous squeak. You can imitate any of these sounds using a regular whistle, even a dog whistle.

The female teal produces a nasal, high-pitched, five-fold quack, similar to the voice of mallards. However, to master it perfectly, you will have to learn to purse your lips and blow air through the decoy with strong short bursts. The drake of the gray duck often mints a sonorous low “krrre”, or “krrrek”, but the females use calling sounds similar to mallards. Try classic mallard decoys and specialized gray duck decoys to see what they like best.

I would classify wooden decoys as the most diverse and non-standard in sound, but, IMHO, they are even more useless than wooden decoys. So, well, screw them. Although... Learning to imitate sounds on them can be fun and interesting.

How to make a decoy with your own hands?

Decoy drawing

You can make a duck decoy yourself using available materials. Such devices will sound no worse than purchased devices.

To do this, use the following materials:

• dry birch wood;
• insulating tape;
• metal sheet 0.2-0.3 mm thick;
• stain;
• colorless varnish.

Drill a hole in the middle of the birch cuttings. After this, saw the wooden piece lengthwise to get two even parts that need to be connected using electrical tape. The shape of the product should resemble a cone. Sand the decoy with sandpaper to get a perfectly smooth surface. After this, apply stain and varnish to the device.

Homemade semolina diagram

Make a membrane from metal sheet, the width of which is equal to the diameter of the semolina, and the length is slightly less. Insert it inside the tube and adjust it to get a high-quality sound that will be no different from the voice of ducks.

In any case, a homemade or purchased decoy will be effective during hunting if you follow all the recommendations. It is also important to constantly train to achieve perfect technique.

Game techniques

In the question of how to properly decoy a duck in the fall, not only the key principles of sound production play a role, but also techniques for attracting specific types of game. Let's look at them:

• Red-headed Pochard. Using the larynx, produce “dig” and “covered” with a drawn out “r”.
• Teal-whistle. Gutless sharp exhalations of the sound combinations “tit”, “at” or “it”.
• Pintail. Such game responds best to the guttural “kyat-kat” and “hyat-khat”.
• Tufted Duck. The same as for the red-headed duck, only without the inclusion of the larynx.
• Mallard. Blow out the words “hut” and “hut”, while the larynx should be included in the exhalation.

This is interesting: this is what the call imitates - duck feeding, settling, calling or a simple quack used by birds to communicate with each other. Specific capabilities are determined by the tool model. For example, ringing products are good for imitating the voice of young game.

It’s worth delving into the topic and understanding how to attract a duck with a decoy in the fall - the videos and educational materials that we have selected for you will help you understand the basics. Further training consists of regular training at home and during the hunt itself. It is possible that at first you will have trouble calling ducks. This is normal, everyone who has learned to lure game has encountered this. It is important not to give up and continue to maintain interest in the topic of how to learn how to decoy a duck.

In addition to the basic sounds that are used during hunting, crack-siege-feeding, progressive or so-called advanced sounds are also used.

Cajun Sqeal - Cayenne Squeal

A whining sound (squeal) that is played on the decoy after each crack, so to speak, the whining completion of a basic crack or fall. This sound was born among French settlers in the southern states of America. It works well during hunting, when the bird is cautious and does not readily respond to a decoy.

Bouncing Hen - Bouncing duck

The sound that is used at the end of the basic draft or feeding. Effective when used when the bird stops responding to basic sounds. It is not recommended to use this sound constantly; it is advisable to insert it into the composition of extracted sounds from time to time.

Refuge Feed

A very fast feeding sound, mainly used in competitions or to imitate a large gathering of ducks.

Types of decoys

Currently, there are several main types of decoys. These include the following:

1. Single tongue. This decoy is quite possible to hear at a great distance. It is not difficult to use, in addition, it has the necessary volume and tonality. This type of decoy is ideal for professional hunters.
2. Double-tongue. This decoy doesn't sound that loud. However, despite this, it is much easier to control. That is, at any moment the hunter will be able to change the sound faster. This device uses the respiratory system more. Ideal for beginners.

Classification by materials of manufacture

In addition, all of the above decoys can be classified according to the materials used to make them. For many, of course, this is not important, but nevertheless, hunters are still recommended to know some subtleties.

Types of decoys:

1. Wooden decoy. It has a soft and rich sound. It is generally accepted that these are the types of decoys that are capable of producing the most realistic sounds. Their cost is relatively small. But they have one big disadvantage, which is that a wooden decoy must always be kept in working order and clean. If you don’t do this, the service life will decrease much faster.
2. Acrylic. It is capable of producing low and harsh sounds. It is best used in small bodies of water, with open water. The acrylic decoy itself is very durable. It is much easier to monitor his condition. The only negative is that they are quite expensive.
3. Carbonate. If we compare it with wooden and acrylic decoys, then this is something in between. In terms of price, it can be compared with a wooden decoy. But in comparison with it, it is more waterproof and has a long service life.

American models

American electric calls are produced by several companies, among which the most popular is Carlson Championship Calls. Their products are tested to match a real duck's voice, so the sounds are clear.

The company's product range includes not only universal products, but also special models for different types of hunting.

Another, no less popular company is Buck Gardner Calls, which produces various types of wind calls from a huge number of materials. Their collection even includes products that do not stop working when moisture gets inside.

All products that go on sale have been tested in Russia, so we can say with complete confidence that our hunter will not have problems extracting sounds; in any case, you can always make a homemade electronic decoy.

Semolina material

Duck decoys can be made from a variety of materials. The sound of the decoy, ease of use and its cost depend on the type of material used.

• Wooden decoys
  are the oldest and most classic type of duck decoy. Often wooden duck decoys are made from valuable types of wood: rosewood, ebony, walnut and cocobolo. Some decoys are made from so-called stabilized wood; their properties are similar to acrylic decoys. Wooden calls have a high-quality sound with a slight hoarseness. Decoys made of wood are susceptible to moisture, they can dry out and swell. Compared to other types of decoys, wooden decoys require more care; upon returning from hunting, the hunter must dry it thoroughly. Wooden decoys should be stored in a room with an average level of humidity so that it does not dry out or swell.
• Acrylic decoys
  are the most expensive duck decoys. Acrylic decoys have excellent timbre and wonderful sound. They have the most beautiful appearance. Resistant to humidity. Compared to decoys made of wood and polycarbonate, they have the longest service life. They do not require as much care as other types of decoys. The only drawback of acrylic decoys is their higher price.
• Polycarbonate decoys
  are a compromise option between wooden decoys and acrylic decoys. They have a good sound. Resistant to humidity. Significantly cheaper than acrylic. High temperatures are contraindicated for polycarbonate decoys; you should not place such a decoy in the sun.
• Plastic decoys
  are the cheapest and lowest quality decoys, most often with poor sound. It is not recommended to purchase such decoys.

Beginning hunters who are just learning how to hunt with duck decoys are advised to buy polycarbonate decoys. In the future, as your hunting experience increases, you can purchase decoys made from other materials (acrylic, wood).

Number of reeds

A duck decoy can have from one to three reeds. The sound quality of the decoy and the ease of use depend on the number of reeds.

• Single-tongued decoys are superior in sound quality to all other decoys; the sound of such decoys is the most realistic, sonorous and rich. They practically do not stick due to humidity. Difficult to master for novice hunters, the slightest error in sound extraction becomes immediately noticeable.
• Double-tongued decoys - recommended for use by novice hunters. Double-tongued decoys forgive many of the mistakes of a novice caller; mistakes do not affect the sound quality. The disadvantage of a two-tongue decoy is that it sticks much more often and more strongly than a single-tongue one. Sticking of the semolina occurs due to the ingress of moisture from the breath of the decoy operator into the decoy. The sticking of the decoy is greatly influenced by the design of the decoy and weather conditions during hunting.
• Three-tongue decoys are found and used much less frequently than single- and two-tongue decoys. The sound quality corresponds to a two-tongued decoy. Sticks as well as a two-tongue one or even a little more. Not recommended for purchase by novice hunters.

Sound volume

Many hunters are interested in how to attract a duck with a wind decoy in the spring. Before you go duck hunting with a decoy, there are a few more details you need to know. For example, no less important is information about what the sound of a decoy should be.

So, a few recommendations:

• If the hunt is planned on a large body of open water, with a strong wind blowing, then the sound made by the decoy must be strong and loud enough.
• And if the hunt is carried out without any shelter and the hunter needs to lure a duck from close range, then the sound that the decoy makes should be quite soft and very elegant. In this case, volume is not important.

Rules for a successful hunt

How to attract a duck while hunting? It is important to adhere to several rules if you decide to use a decoy.

Camouflage for hunting

• When choosing a place from which you plan to shoot birds, consider the strength and direction of the wind. Position yourself in such a way that it is comfortable for you to shoot. The duck predominantly lands against the wind.
• When hunting, take care of camouflage. Wear clothes that won't stand out from the crowd. It is also advisable to take a face mask and gloves when hunting, since white patches of skin against the background of vegetation will scare away the bird.
• Do not overuse this device, take short breaks between several uses. Sound that is too intense may scare away ducks.
• If you see a bird in the distance flying far away and in the opposite direction, be sure to try to attract it with a few loud and sharp sounds.
• For effective decoy hunting, use additional stuffed ducks. This will help attract birds, they will be more willing to fly to the right place.
• It is not recommended to use decoy at the end of August, since ducks moult. They will not react to these sounds, since at this time the birds become very cautious and their landing is quite rapid.
• If there is a tree near the place where you hunt ducks, place a stuffed crow on top of it. This technique will reduce the vigilance of the birds; they will not be afraid to fly to the sound of the decoy.

Typology of decoys

In stores for hunters today there are many types of duck decoys: wooden, wind, electronic, acrylic. The choice is yours, but you should remember that official hunting with an electronic decoy is prohibited by the rules, although it is capable of producing fairly believable sounds. But wind decoys make it possible to make a draft and separately quack the required number of times, which tunes the hunter to the bird wave. Here's a video showing how to make a basic duck "crack" sound.

Wind duck decoys come in the form of a “pipe” (usually imported) and a “clothespin”. Preference should be given to “pipes”: they give a clear, loud sound, are easy to operate, and durable. “Clothespins” often break quickly, lose their duck voice, and can squeal and rattle.

So, the “pipe” duck decoy can be single- or double-tongued (petal). The latter are easier to control, mask false sound, have a louder voice, but sometimes get stuck due to bad weather conditions. A single-reed decoy is an instrument that is not forgiving of false notes, but has a more realistic quack.

The loud voice of decoys is one of their technical characteristics. Exist:

• loud decoys - Open Water - for hunting in windy weather on open large bodies of water;
• Timber class decoys are less loud, used for hunting in closed reservoirs in calm weather close to birds;
• decoys with medium volume - for hunting in small bodies of water up to 0.7 km.

Depending on what kind of duck you are going to hunt, choose the right decoy: you can use a universal device - a decoy for a river duck or a mallard; Wigeon, as well as pintail and teal, are taken with a “whistle”; There are also decoys for diving duck. The first one can attract almost all varieties of ducks, including goldeneye and blackhead. It is also necessary to take into account the age of the bird - a young duck has a high and gentle voice, while an old duck has a low, hoarse voice.

Decoys also vary in color, from clear to black and camouflage.

Do "crrr"

Pochards can make a variety of sounds, but many hunters do not call them when hunting red-headed pochard or blackhead in deep water. This is probably because pochard hunting is more visually oriented than other duck hunting and usually involves the use of a large number of decoys to attract flocks from afar. Still, imitating diving sounds can sometimes help you fill the boat.

Most often associated with hunting diving ducks is the classic “krr, krr” sound of ducks and red-headed ducks. It can be reproduced by using commercial diving decoys or mallard decoys. Only in the latter case will it be necessary to use the tongue to “round out” the “r” in the sound “crrr”. I have even met people who can imitate this sound using only their voice, although, it is worth noting, without much success.

How to use it correctly

Very often people ask how to call a duck with a decoy. There are several rules for using decoy. These include the following:

• The decoy must be held in the same way as you usually hold a harmonica. That is, cover the holes with your fingers, or this can be done with the palm of your other hand, thereby muffling the sound. At this moment, the hunter can imagine that he is playing the pipe. It is imperative to try to achieve the desired sound.
• It is recommended to blow into the decoy using a diaphragm. It is activated during coughing. You can also blow into the decoy with your mouth closed. But in order to do this, you need to practice a little. To do this, the hunter can imagine that he is trying to push something out of his lungs.
• Duck calls themselves are short, repetitive, sharp sounds. They are created by gusts of air. Therefore, it is very important for a hunter to learn how to block the air flow with his throat in a timely manner. This is necessary in order to make the correct sounds.
• If none of this works, then you can try squeezing the decoy with your teeth.

Proper preparation

Working with a duck decoy begins with a number of preliminary steps. First of all, the hunter should wisely choose a tool for specific conditions. Regarding this, listen to some advice:

1. In open spaces and strong winds, you need loud, high-pitched sound. In this case, it is better to attract the duck with an acrylic decoy with the Big Water setting.
2. If you want to attract game that is flying nearby, it is important to use a quiet voice. The same applies to hunting in small bodies of water or in calm, windless weather. For such conditions, use decoys with the Timber setting (Flooded Forest)
3. A universal option is medium volume models. When necessary, they sound loud enough, but at the same time they allow you to lure game quietly if caution is required.

Important: The beckoner should keep two or three types of wind accessories in his arsenal in order to imitate a duck quack in certain circumstances. Lessons on how to use a duck call also include training in producing sounds at different volumes, appropriate for a particular case.

Homemade duck decoys

Making a device with your own hands is a very exciting process. You can make a whistle for yourself, taking into account your preferences, and will not spend a lot of money on buying a ready-made whistle. Study carefully the drawings that will help you make really working decoys.

An important point in this interesting process is sound adjustment. You can download or listen online to sounds of birds. Having audio recordings at hand, you will know what sound teal, gar, goose and other birds make.

Duck decoy from a cartridge case

In order to make a decoy from an old cartridge case, complex technologies and a variety of materials are not required. Only a brass sleeve and a piece of fluoroplastic.

Let's get started:

1. Using a 6.6mm drill bit, drill out the liner until the surface is smooth and free of burrs. This will allow you to quickly block the air flow with your finger (this is not necessary for Gevelo capsules).
2. Use a file to cut at a slight angle and remove any burrs. The wide part of the hole should be about 12 mm.
3. Cut a piece of fluoroplastic with a height equal to its diameter. The cylinder diameter must exceed the liner diameter by less than 1 mm.
4. Remove a chamfer of approximately 2.5 mm around the entire circumference of the fluoroplastic.
5. Remove the working chamfer at a slight angle so that the width of the narrowest part is equal to the width of the hole in the sleeve, and the opposite end of the fluoroplastic is slightly larger.
6. Push the resulting part with its narrow end into the sleeve, without aligning the planes of the hole and the plastic plug.
7. Insert a file into the capsule socket and, using your little finger, adjust the position of the plug in the decoy, achieving the most plausible sound.
8. Fix the final position with superglue.

Decoy using two sleeves

A homemade decoy from two cartridges is quite simple to make. Use one 28-gauge case and the other 32-gauge:

1. Trim any of the sleeves 1 cm from the cut.
2. At a distance of 1 cm from the edge of both tubes, make a 5x10 mm hole.
3. From hardwood, cut two plugs 1 cm long and the same size as the holes. You can make them from fluoroplastic.
4. Use a file to file the plugs so that after installing them in the decoy opposite the cut, a gap of about 3 mm remains in the wall.
5. Insert the parts, align them with the cut of the sleeves and solder the two parts together.
6. Adjust the sound by moving the plugs inside the tubes.

For the most realistic sound of a wild duck calling a drake, you need to blow into two pipes at the same time.

Wood decoy

It can be made from dried oak, birch and maple wood. You will need a piece of a tin can and a PVC insulator. For water-repellent properties of the finished product and better sound quality, use wood varnish.

Let's get started:

1. Using a lathe or using a knife and chisel, make a piece with a diameter of 30 mm at one end and 20 mm at the other. The length should be about 90 mm.
2. Cut the part in half lengthwise.
3. Make a recess in the middle of these elements, leaving a wall thickness of about 5 mm, and sand the edges with sandpaper.
4. Cut the narrow ends of the workpieces diagonally so that after joining them, a double-sided wedge is formed.
5. Coat the parts with varnish and wait until completely dry.
6. From a piece of tin, cut a membrane as wide as the diameter of the resonator and insert it between the blanks, securing it with insulating material.
7. Fasten the finished product with a strong thread and adjust the sound by moving the membrane inside the decoy.

This homemade decoy is especially good for hunting mallard drakes.

Decoy from a medical syringe

To make a whistle, the best choice is an insulin syringe, since the ratio of its wall thickness and diameter is optimal for creating the desired sound.

Work step by step:

1. Cut the front of the syringe to create a 6.5 cm long tube.
2. At the other end, make holes in the plastic extension for the nylon cord.
3. Insert an empty gel pen refill into the tube.
4. Using a file, make a hole on the surface of the syringe at a distance of 2 cm from the edge.
5. Insert the rod with the piston into the tube to the middle of the well.
6. Cut off the protruding part of the rod so that 2 cm remains from the edge of the tube.
7. From the other end, fill the tube with plasticine up to the piston, creating a beveled surface for the passage of air to the hole hole.
8. Move the piston to adjust the sound. Setting up the finished product is convenient due to the transparency of the syringe - you can see and remove particles of excess plasticine.

Bone decoy

You can use bone from both animals and birds, the main thing here is thickness. The size is suitable for duck, hare, capercaillie or grouse shin.

Manufacturing procedure:

1. Cut off the heads of the pit, clean it from the inside and degrease it for a few minutes in acetone.
2. File down the bone as shown in the photo (proportions are important, not size). The internal diameter of the bone should be approximately 4 mm.
3. Using a drill, drill a sound hole with a diameter of about 2.5 mm and chamfer along its edge.
4. Insert a piece of soft wax into the base of the piece. By squeezing the tail parts of two drills that fit in size, form a “sill”. It should extend about one third beyond the sound hole.
5. Use needles (thick and thin) to make a narrow channel in the sound hole and remove excess wax.
6. Make the base of the air channel flat, coming out at an angle to the sound hole.
7. Thoroughly clean the whistle of any remaining debris and adjust the sound.

The pick on the end of the whistle will help you imitate the call of a male by running your finger over it. It will look like an overflow.

Why do the republics of the ex-USSR not pay Gazprom?

In the 21st century, they very often try to prove to us that something that quacks like a duck, swims like a duck and looks like a duck is not a duck at all, but, for example, a pig. And don’t believe your eyes, everything will be explained to you.

The phrase “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it’s probably a duck” is a translation from English and is called the “duck test.”

What is happening now in Donbass is confusingly reminiscent of what happened in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and is not at all similar to the actions of the Russian army in Georgia or Chechnya

During the McCarthy era, the “duck test” was applied quite seriously to communists. Like, we cannot prove in court that a person is a member of the Communist Party, but look at him - he is interested in what is happening in the USSR, criticizes capitalism and is generally some kind of freethinker - that means he is definitely a communist! Atta him!

In the 21st century, they very often try to prove to us that something that quacks like a duck, swims like a duck and looks like a duck is not a duck at all, but, for example, a pig. Or an international terrorist. Or a noble rebel. Or a legally elected president. Or a bloody dictator.

And vice versa - something looks like a dog, barks like a dog and walks like a dog, and they tell you it’s a duck. And don’t believe your eyes, now the world’s leading analysts and experts will explain everything to you.

Looks like

At the end of the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999, the late military historian and journalist John Keegan stated the following:

The victory won in the Balkans by air power is not just a victory for NATO or a victory for the “moral cause” for which the war was fought. This is a victory in the name of the new world order proclaimed by Bush at the end of the Gulf War, about which there has been so much irony since then...

If Milosevic really lost, then the rest of the would-be Milosevics around the world will have to reconsider their plans, recognizing that from now on there is no place on earth whose inhabitants could not be subjected to the same brutal torture that the Serbs have endured in the past six weeks. From this, we can probably conclude that no reasonable ruler will now choose such crimes for which such punishment will follow.

The world order looks more secure today than it did the day before the bombing began.

Keegan died in 2012 and did not have time to catch the events in Ukraine. But he saw how the inhabitants of Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and Syria were “subjected to severe torture.” I wonder if he thought then about whether the new order looked more secure or not?

However, as Joseph Stalin said in 1928, as we move towards socialism, the class struggle intensifies. Apparently, as the world order becomes more secure, the number of those who must be subjected to “cruel torture” in the name of strengthening this very defense inevitably increases.

What is happening in Donbass is reminiscent of the situation in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya, and not at all what happened in Chechnya (photo: Valery Melnikov/RIA Novosti)

The bombing of Yugoslavia set the standard for the establishment of a new world order. These are bombings of the country’s most important facilities - targeted and not very targeted, the subsequent introduction of a “limited contingent” and the subsequent change of the political regime. In some cases, it is possible to do without the deployment of a contingent - for example, in Libya. True, in this case unpleasant incidents are possible - as with the brutally raped and murdered American Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

So, the canard of the new world order is as follows: citizens of the country who have made the “wrong choice” are subjected to “cruel torture,” after which the political regime must change. Everything else is not a duck, but something else, no matter how much you are convinced otherwise.

For example, take the Russian-Georgian conflict in 2008. Can we talk about an invasion similar to the bombing of Yugoslavia or the occupation of Iraq? Of course not. Because Russian aviation did not bomb the Tbilisi television center and bridges over the Kura River, and Russian special forces did not capture Saakashvili so that representatives of the “people's court” or the “international tribunal for the former Georgia” would sentence him to death. Russia drove back Georgian soldiers from South Ossetian soil, ending the peacekeeping operation.

Floats

The situation in Ukraine, at first glance, is not so clear-cut. “Humanitarian bombings” were not used to change the regime; Ukrainian citizens managed it almost independently. But changing the places of the terms does not change the sum. In Yugoslavia, first there were “cruel torments,” and then there was a change of regime and the final collapse of the country. In Ukraine, events are happening in the reverse order - first they changed the regime, and then they began to subject those who did not support the coup to severe torture.

Since NATO strategists still have enough understanding that Russia may not tolerate a NATO military operation a few kilometers from its own borders, the torment is outsourced to the Ukrainian army and national guards. Hence the inevitable increase in civilian casualties and the tragedy with a downed passenger plane, a blown-up bus and shooting at a bus stop in Donetsk and residential buildings in Mariupol. The torturers themselves also suffer much greater losses than would be the case if NATO aircraft were used.

Kyiv propagandists and victims of this propaganda are once again trying to pass off as a canard something that is not one, comparing what is happening with the war in Chechnya. The only thing that is common here is that both here and there people are dying en masse.

The first Chechen war took place with a complete lack of support in society and the media (more precisely, with mass condemnation) against the backdrop of constant terrorist activity by militants in Moscow and other cities outside Chechnya. The second war was, rather, the establishment of control over the republic by Akhmad Kadyrov and the now faded Bislan Gantamirov with the expulsion of foreign mercenaries and Shamil Basayev and Aslan Maskhadov, who had compromised themselves through terror.

The Donbass rebels have not yet committed (and I really want to believe that they will not commit) a single terrorist act, all the statements of the SBU regarding the capture of another “terrorist with the head of a hero made of plastic” look like a bad joke that would be funny if innocent people were not thrown into prison

At the same time, the level of support for the ATO in society is quite high, and if you don’t look at opinion polls, according to which even in Galicia less than half approve of the war, and just read Facebook, it seems that everyone in Ukraine wants to “burn Colorados.” And even more so, what is happening in Donbass does not in any way resemble the Second Chechen War.

Not a single case of status leaders going over to Kyiv’s side has been recorded. Russia managed to keep Chechnya within its fold not because of the war, but in spite of it, by reaching an agreement with local leaders and providing a sufficient level of autonomy and the necessary amount of funds to restore the destroyed infrastructure.

Will this ever reach Kyiv? Most likely, not before the power changes in Ukraine again.

Quacks

So, what is happening now in Donbass is confusingly reminiscent of what happened in Yugoslavia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya and is not at all similar to the actions of the Russian army in Georgia or Chechnya, not to mention Transnistria, where General Lebed forced Chisinau and Tiraspol to end the war.

By the way, let us recall that this year Moldova could have celebrated 12 years of reunification of the country if Communist President Vladimir Voronin, under severe pressure from the OSCE and the United States, had not at the last moment refused to sign the Kozak Memorandum.

“Russia is not allowing Moldova to reunite,” you say? Oh well. If something looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it's probably a duck. If somewhere in the name of “democratic values” and “Western choice” they changed the political regime by force and “subjected people to cruel torture” - who developed this operation and who gives orders to the soldiers?

Think before you answer.

How to beckon with your hands correctly

This method of luring is much more difficult compared to a regular decoy. Only experienced hunters can master it. This method will be relevant in cases where the decoy has been lost and there is no other one at hand.

You can use your hands to attract a duck as follows:

• First of all, it is recommended to bend the thumb inside the palm, then close it with your fist. Next, you should lower your hand into the water in this position. So that it falls between the finger and palm directly into the gap.
• Next, you need to blow during this period. To do this, you can use the same techniques as when using a regular decoy. In order to change the sound, it is enough to change the position of the thumb inside the palm.

Sound like a duck

Well, of course. That's the point, right? However, how do most of us learn to lure? Listening to other hunters or watching video instructions. But just imagine for a moment the skills that you could gain by sitting most of the time in a swamp and listening to real ducks.

I have nothing against brass decoy competitions or their winners. All of these guys are hunters first and foremost, and they really imitate real birds when they hunt. But in such competitions naturalness is not the main thing; reward those who master their instrument at a significantly higher level compared to ordinary “duck wannabes”. I daresay that most of the winners would also advise you to copy real ducks during the hunt, rather than comply with the terms of the competition.

Listening to ducks allows you to focus on the realistic tones and modulations (rhythms) of the birds. Moreover, it allows you to discover the nuances of birdsong in different conditions, for example, during active feeding, rising from the water or flying from place to place. By listening and observing their behavior, you will know when to call, and when it is better to remain silent, and how to blow the call for maximum similarity. During the off-season, you can experiment by calling ducks and observing their reaction.

How and when to lure a duck

How to call a duck with a decoy? Before doing this, you must also be guided by the following rules:

• Under no circumstances should you ever use loud sounds on small bodies of water, especially when the weather is calm and windless.
• If you manage to notice several flying ducks, then you need to use several short signals. This is required in order to attract the attention of birds. And if the ducks changed their flight direction and began to move towards the hunter, the latter is advised to stop quacking and continue to watch. If the ducks no longer fly, it means the hunter has overdone something.
• Be sure to try to eliminate unnecessary noise before you start attracting the duck. It could be the sounds of music.
• You need to use a decoy especially carefully if you also use a decoy duck during the hunt. A hunter can simply ruin everything with his inappropriate quack. In this case, you can start quack only when the birds don’t like something and are about to fly away.
• And the most important rule is to be patient. These birds do not always land on the water immediately. They can fly in circles for quite a long time, and sometimes even fly away. In some cases they come back. Therefore, if the hunter did not manage to attract their attention the first time, he should not immediately leave his shelter, he needs to wait a little, because it is possible that the birds will return back.

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"Alluring" days

There are cases that are very favorable for luring. Here as pioneers, be always ready; but carefully evaluate the situation to decide whether it is worth using a decoy or whether it is better to put it in your pocket.

There are many situations when you can’t go without a decoy, for example, foggy days. Ducks simply cannot see their comrades, so they have to rely on other clues to find food and their idle brethren. Often, just a few cracks and a series of clicks mixed with an enthusiastic call can lead an entire flock straight to your hiding place.

Conversely, it is completely useless to beckon in tense situations when calls are coming from all sides. For example, at the opening of the season, when flocks of discouraged and confused ducks fly from place to place in search of shelter, while anyone with a single tongue pretends to be a genius of deception. A duck is not a fool to answer a call if it is shot every time it approaches closer than 70 m. So save your breath.

All these are, of course, extremes, but you understand the general approach. To paraphrase a well-known expression, if you’re not sure, slow down. But don’t be afraid to make some noise when it seems like the situation is going well.