GB2216382A - Bird decoys - Google Patents

Abstract

Decoy apparatus for use in attracting game or other birds into a killing area, comprising a support upon which a decoy is received or receivable and which is movable along a given path, such that the decoy simulates a moving live animal. The apparatus can be arranged to flap the wings of a dead decoy bird's wings when the support, and hence the decoy bird, reaches a predetermined position along the path.

Description

DECOY APPARATUS DESCRIPTION This invention relates to decoy apparatus for use in shooting birds and is especially, but not exclusively, related to such apparatus for attracting woodpigeon into a killing area.

It is well known to employ a "flapper" decoy to attract birds, such as, woodpigeons, into a killing area which, in most cases, also includes several inanimate decoys arranged in a desired pattern.

The known "flapper" type of decoy is animate and has been found to attract woodpigeons, when other movement in or adjacent the killing area usually tends to frighten away incoming birds.

Generally, a "flapper" decoy comprises a wire, or other suitable form of, frame upon which a dead bird can be supported and which is arranged to flap the wings of the so-supported dead bird, upon actuation of an operating line by a user.

Thus, although the flapper decoy does not move with respect to the ground and is maintained in a stationary position in use, its wings can be flapped several times to simulate a landing bird.

Such simulated bird landing is used to attract other pigeons which are in flight and passing generally overhead but which would not otherwise be attracted by only the pattern of inanimate decoys in the killing area.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved decoy apparatus which enables a more realistic decoy to be used in attracting birds, such as, woodpigeons, than the known decoy arrangement described above.

In accordance, therefore, with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided decoy apparatus comprising a support upon which a decoy is received or is receivable and which is movable along a given path, such that the decoy simulates a moving live animal.

Preferably, the decoy is a dead animal, such as, a dead bird, for instance, a woodpigeon, although an artificial animal decoy made of any suitable material(s) may be used, in which latter case, the support of the apparatus may be formed integrally with the decoy.

In a preferred embodiment of the inventive apparatus, the support is of such a shape and size as to be able to receive a dead woodpigeon as the decoy and has means associated with it for flapping the dead bird's wings by a user on demand.

Also, the preferred embodiment of such decoy apparatus has a support which is movable along a given path constituted by a wire, string or other elongate member arranged above ground level at an angle to the horizontal sufficient to permit the support and decoy to move downwardly to the ground under the gravitational force upon their combined weight.

In operating situations where the given path, such as, a wire, along which the support and any associated decoy is movable, is more appropriately nearer the horizontal, at, say, generally ground level or just above, than an inclined path, then means may be provided to urge the support along the path, rather than relying upon the gravitational force. Such means may comprise an elastic string, rope, cord or the like which has one end secured at or adjacent the location on the path of movement of the support where the latter is required to stop and any flapping of an associated decoy is to occur. Usually, such a location is at or adjacent the end of the path of movement remote from a user. The other end of the elastic string, rope, cord or other elongate element would then be secured to the support or any associated decoy but preferably the former.

A release mechanism may be provided whereby, when the elastic elongate element is tensioned with the decoy support in its starting position prior to movement along the path, the support is maintained in that position until a user is ready to release it, such than, upon release, it is then moved along the path due to the tension in the elastic element. The actual arrangement of the elastic elongate element with respect to the decoy support and the path of movement thereof is adjustable to suit local operating conditions.

Any suitable release mechanism may be employed, which is convenient for instant and effective operation as and when required.

Alternatively, the support may be provided with motive means for moving it along the given path, such means possibly comprising a small electric motor for driving a pulley upon which the support is mounted upon the elongate member forming the given path, a micro-switch being provided to de-activate the motor when the support/decoy reaches the end of its travel along the path.

Further, the preferred embodiment is provided with means for maintaining the wings of the decoy bird in an open, gliding position during movement of the support and decoy along the given path, which means may also be arranged to close the dead bird's wings on reaching the end of the path, for instance, upon reaching the ground and "landing". A user may then actuate an operating line to flap the decoy bird's wings several times upon such "landing" or, in some circumstances, shortly therebefore.

It is to be understood that any urging/ drive means for the decoy support may also be incorporated in the apparatus when the given path is inclined at an angle to the horizontal and that any motive means may also be used to cause the flapping effect of the wings of the decoy bird.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, preferred embodiments in accordance therewith will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a frame support used in a first embodiment of decoy apparatus; and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another frame support or cradle used in a second embodiment of decoy apparatus.

Referring firstly to Fig.1 of the drawings, decoy apparatus comprises a support frame or cradle, indicated generally at 1, which is arranged to have receivably supported thereon a dead pigeon decoy (not shown), and which is mounted upon a guide wire 2 by means of, in this case,a pair of wheels 3, the wire 2 being inclined to the horizontal above ground level, such that the upper end of the wire is located, say, at least two metres above ground level and the lower end of the wire located at or adjacent ground level, such that the cradle 1 is able to run down the wire 2 in the direction of the arrow X.

At the front end of the support cradle 1 is arranged a pair of pivotable arms 4 with a spike 5 at the free end thereof. Each spike5is arranged to receive, in piercing manner, a wing of a dead pigeon decoy supported upon the cradle 1, with the decoy's head facing forwardly thereof. Instead of spikes 5, suitable clips may be used.

The arms 3 are biassed forwardly of the cradle 1 by any suitable means, in this case elastic means, such as, an elastic band 6, secured to the cradle 1 at 7. In this manner, the wings of the decoy are biassed into the open position.

Attached to each arm 4 is an actuating wire or string 8 which merge into a single operating wire or string 9 at a loop arrangement 10 at the rear end of the cradle 1. A knot or ring 11 acts as a stop for the operating string 9 at the loop arrangement 10.

In operation of the decoy apparatus, a dead pigeon decoy is supported upon the cradle 1 with its head adjacent the front end thereof and its wings secured to respective arms 4 be means of the spikes 5 or clips (not shown). Previously, the guide wire 2 has been set up with its upper end secured to a tree at a height of, say, two to three metres above ground level and with its lower end secured at ground level, such that the wire 2 is under tension to provide a given "flight" path for the decoy.

In the ready postion, with the cradle 1 and decoy at the upper end of the guide wire 2, the wings of the decoy are in the open position, due to the forward bias exerted upon the arms 4 attached to the wings. Upon release of the cradle 1 and decoy, they run down the guide wire 2 by means of the running wheels 3, towards the ground under gravity, such that the decoy is moved along a given path, thereby simulating the landing glide path of, say a woodpigeon, with the wings in the open position.

The length of the operating wire or string 9, as well as the respective lenghts of the actuating wires or strings 8, are such that, when the cradle 1 reaches ground level, the arms are moved rearwardly of the cradle, to close the wings of the decoy bird, against the bias of the elastic band 6. Then, the user can actuate the arms 4 recipocally between the closed and open positions of the wings, using the operating wire 9, to cause the wings to flap in a realistic manner after the decoy has "landed".

Subsequently, the cradle 1 and decoy can be pulled up the guide wire 2 using the operating wire 9 and with the wings closed, to the upper end of the wire for re-use.

The second embodiment of decoy apparatus shown in Fig. 2 is similar to the first embodiment described above with reference to Fig. 1, in that it comprises a cradle 21 movable along a given path defined by a guide wire 22 upon wheels 23 and has a pair of actuating arms 24 which are securable to respective wings of a dead pigeon decoy (also not shown) and which are pivotable with respect to the cradle 21 upon actuation by wires 28 and an operating wire 29, to move the wings between open and closed positions.

This second embodiment differs from the first, in that the decoy's wings are biassed into the open position, because the biassing means, again in the form of an elastic band 26, urges the arms 24, via extensions 24', forwardly of the cradle 21, such that the decoy's wings are in the open position once again but the cradle 21 is provided with a trigger arrangement, indicated generally at 40, which in engaged by the juncture between the wires 28 and 29 when the cradle 21 and associated decoy are running down the guide wire with the wings maintained in their open position but, when the cradle and decoy reach the ground at the lower end of the wire 22, is triggered to release the actuating wires 28 and operating wire 29 therefrom, to cause the extensions 24' to more forwardly and, hence, the arms 24 to move rearwardly under the bias exerted thereupon by the elastic band 26, thus closing the wings. As the operating and actuating wires 29 and 28, respectively, are now released from the trigger arrangement 40, the wings can be flapped by means of such wires, when the decoy has "landed". Pulling the operating wire 29 in the direction opposite to the downward movement path of the cradle 21 and decoy, as indicated by the arrow Y, causes the wings to be opened and enables the cradle and decoy to be returned to the upper end of the guide wire 22 for re-use.

Such a rearward movement of the operating wire 29 causes its juncture with the actuating wires 28 to become engaged once again with the trigger arrangement 40 for subsequent triggering on "landing" of the decoy.

A modification of the second embodiment described above in relation to Fig. 2 resides in the provision of an elastic elongate element 50, as shown in dashed lines in that Figure, which has one end secured to the front end of the support cradle 21 and the other end to a fixed position at or adjacent the end of guide wire 22 remote from an user. At the rear end of the cradle 21 is provided eyelet arrangement 51 which can be used in association with any suitable form of release mechanism located at or adjacent the user's end of the guide wire 22, such that the eyelet is releasably connectable to such a mechanism ready for releasing the cradle at the appropriate time, so as to urge it along the given path defined by the guide wire 22 under the tension of the element 50.Other suitable arrangements may, of course, be used for urging the cradle/decoy along the given path defined, in this case, by the guide wire 22; for instance, motive means may employed, as discussed above. Further, any such motive means may be radio controllable, so that the motion of the cradle/decoy is thus controllable, as may be the flapping of the associated decoy bird's wings, when the cradle/decoy has reached the desired stopping location along the guide wire or other given path.

It is to be appreciated that the inventive apparatus need not be restricted to use with a bird type decoy, in that other types of animal decoy may be use, in which case, a similar arrangement to that of the wing "flapper" described above may be employed to operate one or more limbs, for instance, the legs, of such a decoy.

Also, it is to be understood that other types of decoy cradle may be used in the inventive apparatus and that other means may be provided for defining the given path along which the cradle, and associated decoy, are movable.

Further, it may also be understood that a second aspect of the invention resides in a method of attracting an animal to a specific area, which method comprises moving an animal decoy along a given path, preferably using any of the apparatii defined above, associated with such an area, to simulate a moving live animal.

Claims (19)

1. Decoy apparatus comprising a support upon which a decoy is received or receivable and which is movable along a given path, such that the decoy simulates a moving live animal.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decoy is a dead animal receivable upon the support.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the decoy is a dead bird.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the decoy is an artificial animal.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the decoy is integral with the support.

6. Apparatus according to any preceeding claim, wherein the decoy is a dead or artificial bird with flappable wings and wherein means are provided for flapping the wings.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said flapping means is arranged to flap the decoy bird's wings when the decoy bird reaches a predetermined position along the given path.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein said flapping means is arranged to flap the decoy bird's wings when the decoy bird reaches the end of the given path remote from a user.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6, 7 or 8, wherein said flapping means comprises a pair of movable arms which are arranged on the cradle, which receive or are arranged to receive a wing of the decoy bird, as the case may be, and which are removable to flap the wings by means of an elongate element operable by a user.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein each arm is pivotably mounted on the cradle.

11. Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 10, wherein the wings are biassed into their open positions.

12 . Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 11, wherein the wings are movable into their closed positions when the decoy bird reaches a predetermined position along the given path.

13 . Apparatus according to any of claims 6 to 12, wherein said flapping means comprises an elongate operating member operably connected at one end to the decoy bird's wings and operable at the other end by a user.

14 . Apparatus according to claim 13 when dependent upon claim 12, wherein the length of the elongate operating member is such that the member is arranged to move the decoy bird's wings into their closed position when the decoy bird reaches the predetermined position along the given path.

15. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support, and associated decoy, is urgable along the given path in a direction away from a user.

16 Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the support/ decoy is urgable along the path by means of a elastic elongate element having one end attached to the support and the other end attached to or adjacent a preditermined position along the given path remote from an user.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the predetermined position is at or adjacent the end of the given path remote from an user.

18. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the support/decoy is releasably retainable at a position on the given path at or adjacent one end thereof, prior to its release and subsequent movement along the path.

19. Decoy apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.