Decoys, Camouflage, and Homemade Gadgets

Hunting gear in my life. I’d like to talk a little about the necessary hunting gear. There was a time when the idea of acquiring any hunting camouflage was not even considered, meaning it was a free sale.

Back then, I was drawn to protective, camouflaging hunting clothing. It mattered to me what I was wearing when going on a hunt, whether it was for spring migrations or summer autumn hunts. I was not indifferent even when a snipe flying by, though not interested in me, reacted instantly to the decoy, changing course and almost dropping on the barrel. Although, to be fair, the word “decoy” is not quite appropriate here.

In my interpretation, a decoy is a sound that resembles (reproduces) a quack, which I produce by blowing my lips simply into a clenched fist two or three times. There’s no big secret; you just need to slightly, ever so slightly, loosen your fist and properly press your lips, blowing with the corner of your mouth. I learned this when I was about 12 to 14 years old when, after my father left for work, I would grab his gun, which was simply hanging on the wall, and run to the lake hoping to shoot a duck. That’s when I practiced this technique, and I still use it today. I’m not trying to convince anyone, but I stand by my words—it rarely fails, especially in the spring.

The decoys I bought once are lying in a box, hardly ever used. Firstly, they gather all sorts of junk, dust in the pockets, and when hung on the chest, they get caught on everything or get lost. But here, everything is at hand or, to be precise, in hand.

However, not long ago, I had to witness the use of an electric duck call. Setting off early in the morning with a gun on a boat, I was stunned by what I heard. One of the hunters, sitting not far away in the boat, decided to use such a duck call. I never found out what kind of device it was, who produced it, but what I had to hear instantly ruined my mood, and I wanted to go home immediately.

The sounds emitted by the neighbor hunter’s electric duck call seemed to scare off everything in the area. It was such a frantic quacking, akin to a duck being dragged by its feet for slaughter. There’s simply no comparison.

Thirty years ago, after receiving another work uniform (cotton) in a protective color, I managed to make something resembling modern camouflage out of it by adding a couple of colors of aniline dye.

For autumn hunting, I covered an ordinary felt hat with pieces of fabric to make it blend in with the surroundings rather than stand out.

Later, I painted both ammunition pouches (I still prefer leather belts) with oil paint in suitable shades. They look decent enough; once someone even asked where I bought them.

For hunting with dogs, I prefer two or three leather straps with loops at the ends, fastened with a carabiner to the ammunition pouch. There is enough space to carry, especially since I hunt with a hound more for small game. Although on these “boa constrictors,” you can carry up to a dozen snipe. As for gadgets, we can also include a very small and convenient six-round ammunition pouch that attaches directly to the stock. In my opinion, it is quite practical during snipe hunting. Six cartridges in the pouch, two in the barrels, for a total of eight. Eight rounds are more than enough for an evening hunt, observing the shooting limits.

Thirty years ago, when I received another work uniform (cotton) in a protective color, I immediately turned it into something resembling modern camouflage by adding a couple of colors of aniline dye.

For regular autumn hunting, I used to cover an ordinary felt hat with pieces of fabric to make it blend in with the surroundings rather than stand out.

Later, I painted both ammunition pouches (I still prefer leather belts) with oil paint in suitable shades. They looked decent enough; once someone even asked where I bought them.

As for the gun straps, I prefer two or three leather straps with loops at the ends, attached with a carabiner to the ammunition pouch. Since I hunt with a hound mostly for small game, these “snake straps” can hold up to a dozen snipe. Among the gear, there is also a very small and convenient ammunition pouch for six rounds, which attaches directly to the gun’s stock. It’s quite handy, in my opinion, and it doesn’t interfere with shooting, although you might doubt its convenience when lifting the gun.

For me, it doesn’t bother me; I got used to it after the first hunt. It’s quite practical for snipe hunting during migrations. Six rounds in the pouch, two in the barrels, for a total of eight. Eight rounds are more than enough for an evening hunt and comply with the shooting limits.

Fifteen years ago, I got hold of a holster for a vintage pistol, which was in pretty good condition. I even transformed the tip of the ramrod into something like a screwdriver. So, this pouch, which could fit a bandage, cotton, a vial of iodine, and valid pills, hanging on a belt, looked quite impressive, puzzling, and confusing to those who saw it. However, the first-aid kit was always at hand, complementing my hunting gear.

Now, if the topic of homemade gadgets hasn’t worn out yet, although it has indeed become tiresome, a few more words. It’s not about “categorical statements” or “narrow-mindedness.” Rather, it’s about the “place that hunting occupies in my life.” All the highlighted sections belong to the pen of S. Losev.

Instead of going hunting today (the weather didn’t permit – it’s been raining for two days straight), I turned to making homemade cartridges again. I managed to get fired brass from the shooting range and enjoy reloading them. Instead of using felt wads, I use osalennoye, and after assembling the cartridge, I get a rather presentable, albeit not brand-new, but absolutely reliable cartridge because I made it with my own hands, with love and passion, or rather, desire.

Out of one and a half hundred homemade cartridges shot this season, not a single one misfired. There were no misfires in the previous season either. It cannot happen because, apart from the unfresh brass, homemade cartridges are no different from factory ones. Everything else is done strictly and reliably.

This is how important hunting is in my life. I couldn’t just sit in front of the TV or by the window on these two gloomy days, so the hunt continues for me now as I load another batch.

“Wishing you a successful hunt, my friends!”