Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
01-13-2004, 08:19 AM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: golden co
Posts: 852
Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
I seem to recall someone mentioning using sheets of plastic to simulate open water for ducks on ice.How does this work? Can this work on dry land? What color to use?
01-13-2004, 11:40 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Richardson TX USA
Posts: 738
RE: Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
I don't know about the plastic sheeting but I have a friend who regularly uses blue dye. He goes out and pours it all over the ice until he's got the size hole he desires.
He swears by it. He also said that it is quite funny when they come in. Ducks sliding everywhere!
You might give it a try.
He swears by it. He also said that it is quite funny when they come in. Ducks sliding everywhere!
You might give it a try.
01-13-2004, 03:34 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ALBERTA CANADA
Posts: 844
RE: Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
Not a blue tarp, but a clear piece of plastic. Yes it can also be used in a field or on the ice,, and yes it works! Just make sure you put enough dekes on it that it doesnt fly away.
01-13-2004, 04:55 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ivanhoe, TX
Posts: 35
RE: Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
Yes, a heavy mil clear plastic sheet looks just like open water on top of ice to beady eays from above ... at least until they realize it's too late! 
I prefer using "bluing" that's used in washing clothes. I cut a small hole in the ice to get a 5 gal bucket into. Add a few drops of bluing to the pail and then pour it out on the ice and spread it with a push broom. Use as many bucketsfull as you need to get the hole the size you want it. Goes on pretty fast and covers well too.
With either the plastic or the bluing ... make an irregular shaped "hole in the ice" and set 5-6 dekes in the "hole and around the edges. You can hold them in position with snow or chips of ice. It's VERY effective if the ducks are looking hard for open water.
I prefer using "bluing" that's used in washing clothes. I cut a small hole in the ice to get a 5 gal bucket into. Add a few drops of bluing to the pail and then pour it out on the ice and spread it with a push broom. Use as many bucketsfull as you need to get the hole the size you want it. Goes on pretty fast and covers well too.
With either the plastic or the bluing ... make an irregular shaped "hole in the ice" and set 5-6 dekes in the "hole and around the edges. You can hold them in position with snow or chips of ice. It's VERY effective if the ducks are looking hard for open water.
01-16-2004, 06:44 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: dell rapids south dakota USA
Posts: 441
RE: Using Plastic- to Simulate open water on ice.
I have used black plastic and it definitely works. Water looks black when ever the rest of the water is frozen. I have been doing this for many years and you just put enough decoys on the plastic to hold it down and keep it from blowing away. The best bet is to put most of the decoys around the edge to keep the wind from getting under it. I have also taken a few decoy weights 8 ounce or bigger along to help hold the edges down.