Restle Fowl Foolers Herters making them great again

bob welsh

Well-known member
Been in Northern MN all summer and getting back to the shop. I rehabbed the other half of the spread this month after doing the first half last summer. I also added 3 doz new blank Fowl Fooler bodies and poured the heads out of urethane. The Herters 72s, the FF, and some of the existing previously burlap wrapped birds got restle coated . Total of 125 mallard ,pin, and grey ducks.View attachment FD93E55C-B933-49F0-9748-E978180DFA85.jpeg
 
new custom molded heads and restle coat
you know you are going through a lot of sawdust when you have to get a bucket of it from the lumberyard
 
I use tube oils an BM Super Spec DTM alkyd paint and have done so for 15 years. super hard wearing paint and is close to the oil of old that has been phased out due to VOC regulations. I can paint with acrylic/latex paint i just prefer this .
 
My decoy paint style is a huge exaggeration of the live bird . There are things on the Mallard that I paint(giant speculum enlarged xmas tree on back) that work for me .
For 35 years I took the train to work to downtown Chicago. I got off the train at Union Station and exited the building on to Jackson Blvd. and immediately crossed the Chicago River on one of those drawbridges. Just about every day there were a pair of mallards sitting under the bridge giving me a 60 foot overhead view of their backs. That's what I saw in my head. The restle bodies are very wide and give that top view to working ducks. That's my story.
 
After the birds get nice and dry I do a wash coat mainly of raw umber jap dryer and turp and dulls everything down and mellows the completed bird.
 
Looking good Bob. I hope you have a great season. I haven't shot a duck or a goose in 5 years. Mainly due to nowhere to go since public here are draw blinds and not many ducks use the area any longer. Lost interest, sold most of my stuff but 2 doz duck decoys, a doz goose decoys and my canoe. I've turned my attention to deer hunting. Now this year the river looks great other than very low. Many blinds in our area are un huntable because of no water except one close to my deer stand that no one is interested in but low and behold is brimming with woodies! Seems the drive is coming back. A lot of work for one guy. No access by boat. I'll have to drag everything in a hundred yards or so. Guess I'll take my time. I'll know the13th if I can claim it or not.
 
Bob~


Those birds look great! I appreciate your tale about viewing the birds from above - to get the best cues. I never thought of the Christmas Tree motif - but you certainly nailed the right look on those Drakes. The Hens have that streaked "I nest in grasslands" look - and you've got that russet hue up forward and the fade to the paler stern quarters. They would fool any wild birds.



Nice work all around!


SJS

 
Great looking rehab. I,ve redone several Fowl Foolers myself with Restle coat and paint. Love the way they ride in a chop and they definately show up. Never did care for factory heads and changed all mine out to MLB heads back when they were being made with a few Autum wings in the group .
 
Steve, the hens are subtle from 30 ft the side feathers are just a bunch of wavy lines. The backs of a live hen has what 1000 feathers? I paint 15 and the ducks don't mind.
Roy, you and I agree, the factory heads, ehh , but the bodies nail it. In the timber where i hunt my birds come over the top and it's the top view i want . Don't have too many streaking by on the deck.
Ed, I don't think a moratorium on the past few seasons was crazy talk!!!
 
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