Plasti-Duk Decoy Info Sought

Eric Patterson

Eric Patterson

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Staff member
A friend found an old inflatable Plasti-Duk decoy and is intrigued. The one below has a red air valve located on the rear of the decoy just under its tail feathers. I searched the net and found the Plasti-Duk decoy is being made by Smart Tech Products (link below) but they are foam filled decoys and not inflatable like the example below. Does anybody know the history of these decoys or have any info that may be of interest? Thanks

Eric Patterson


https://www.smarttechproducts.com/collections/ducks-and-decoys






View attachment Plasti-Duk.jpg
 

Eric,

I have, or had, some Black Duck decoys with the red valve, by the same company.

If I recall correctly, bought them in the late 60's, or early 70's.

They worked very well, especially for long walk in hunts that my cousin and I enjoyed. They have a good profile from all angles and the head shape is very good for a inflatable decoy. The Black Duck decoys had content head poses, and olive colored bills.


Prior to my move to NY, I know they were still in my care. Gave a pickup load of plastic decoys to a good friend.

Cannot recall if they were given away or still in my care. If they are, I got some diggin' to do.



Best regards
Vince
 
Neumann and Bennett made similar. I had some BBs that dried and cracked, and have a Blackduck in decent shape on a shelf in the basement.
 
Here is some info that might help.



https://www.heraldandnews.com/members/news/inside/decades-old-business-breaks-the-mold-again-and-again/article_8d3a11e6-f4c2-11e1-ae82-001a4bcf887a.html
 
I always thought Plasti-Duk was before my time or maybe more common some place other than the midwest. The only guys I knew of that had Plasti-Duk decoys were older hardcore waterfowl hunters that were financially well to do. I owned a few older used Neumann and Bennetts when I was younger. I always remember biting on that air valve to pull it open to blow more air in the decoys. I still have an old mallard retrieving dummy made by them that is a decoration in the living room.

I did not realize they were still in business in 2012. When I look at businesses like Plasti-Duk, G&H, and Big Foot I get angry at myself about every dollar I ever spent buying Chinese decoys. I watched my job in manufacturing get taken over by China years ago. First we quit buying raw materials to make components to assemble, package, and ship. We started buying Chinese components to assemble and the quality of the components was junk. It gave our product a bad name. Then we bought assembled products. Pretty soon we bought assembled prepackaged products and became a warehouse unloading containers from China and loading semi trailers. The number of jobs lost and money removed from the local economy was huge. Yet we keep buying Chinese products when there are American products available. Rant over.
 
We inherited some that were pintails that are now painted as old squaw when a buddy purchased a boat from an old hunter. Pretty slick
 
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