Making moose "paddles"
Moose
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I have loads of plywood around and just drew up a template for a paddle. I have seen where some guys have painted theirs an off white colour. Is the paint necessary for them to be seen? How good do these actually sound for raking? Is there a particular thickness of wood that makes for a better sound?
Thanks
Half inch seems to work fine. Paint - Meh !
They sound better than a plastic oil can taped to a broomstick but not as good as a scapula or small moose antler.
One piece of moose gear it's possible to overthink. LOL!
No worries, get out there and start thrashing.
Actually, I wouldn't use plywood paddles to rake with. They will work well as a decoy, but they'll fall apart if you rake with them much.
As hurricane says, use a scapula, or even better use two scapulas and pound them together such as you would a set or rattling antlers. Scapulas used in this manner sound like two bulls pushing each other around and are louder than just one used in the brush.
Plywood paddles will work great as a decoy without painting them.
We also use moose shoulder blades, (scapula).
I would love to use the scapula but unfortunately I do not have any......YET!!!!lol
Go to a butcher shop and see if you can pick something up from a cow or if they butcher moose or elk one of those. If its for this season, it won't work. Have to let them dry for a full year before you use them to get the right sound.
A boat paddle or even a 2x4 will work. If you ever hear two big bulls fighting, it is AMAZING how load those clashes of antler are.
As a decoy your bow works, so if it looks more real than that it'll prob work. I'm not saying it works every time, and I am by no means a moose expert, I have just called them in a couple times while elk hunting and the ones I have seen weren't the brightest...
Find a farmer that always drags his dead cows out into the back 40......you can get scapulas there that will be seasoned, and white....ready to go!!
I agree with Medicemann. That is exactly what I did. I live and hunt in Wisconsin. I know of several dairy cow boneyards. Big Wisconsin cow scapulas work great for thrashing. They sound very realistic and are indestructable. (And unlike plywood, they are waterproof).
If someone will instruct me on how to place several images in one post, I'll be glad to show you a very nice dummy antler setup. KD
Rackman copies... they work great for raking and visual... Ed F
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I'm not quite sure how it is used, but a friend from Alaska says all he uses is an empty 1 quart oil container. Maybe someone here can elaborate on how this thing is used.
Kidwalker....cut the bottom out of the container and rake it against the willows. I know some guys use a one gallon milk container in the same manner.
I don't know where you will be hunting, but if crossing the border into Canada and back I doubt if you could take an actual antler or a scapula.
Moose paddle decoy:
I went to my local hardware store and picked up a folding sign made of corrugated plastic.
I used half the sign for one antler. Draw your outline and cut it with heavy scissors or a very sharp knife.
elkmtngear's Link
I'm a little late on this project, but I just got a great photo from BB, that I've worked up into a Moose Decoy Slipcover.
It's a bull moose, with his "wedding tackle" removed, with the idea you can rake from behind it with your paddle for a challenge, or use it as an attractant/confidence decoy when cow calling.
I'm having a very limited quantity of these made, I know it's a little late, but I should have them in hand within 3 weeks.
PM me for more info
Best Wishes, Jeff (Bowsite Sponsor)
At the midline, score the plastic 50% with a razor knife. I added some fluorescent yellow overspray to make the paddle visible from behind.
Paint the front of the paddle a natural light tan.
The paddle is plenty large enough to represent a young bull. It folds for storage in your pack, and the finished paddle weighs about 2.75 ounces.
My partner and I both used these to fool mature bulls this past September.