Rabbit Decoy

S

Skinner2

New member
This is a decoy my 6 year old son and I are working on. We finished it tonight but the picture was taken before it was done. I have a small electric motor mounted under the head and it runs on a single size- D battery. It has run now for 5 hours and is still going strong. We cut it out of foam and used hot glue to assemble. It now has a white tail that is knob for the(pot.) speed control. The whole package weighs less than a pound.

The head spins as slow as 30 rpm, or slower. My Son named it Rabbit-A-Round. I thought of Linda from Linda Blair on the Exorsist. Problem with that is my Wifes name is Linda and I didn't think she would like it.

Skinner 2

f9e07996.jpg
 
So far it looks good. The motor is kindaa on the weak side (but for the better) when a gust of wind hits the head it quits spinning and wobbles back and forth. Once the gust leaves the head again starts to slowly spin. I really looks good sitting on top of the white snow, the ears really stick out and a good silouette. From a distance it just looks like the head is turning back and forth.

Just have not manage to call a coyote in while I had it out, YET!

Skinner 2
 
Bronco,
The birds taking it has crossed my mind but I figured the rabbit getting hit may be better than getting my eyebrow cut open again. I have been hit by two greathorned owls so far. My left eyebrow still bears the scar. I just hope if one hits it that the bird does not take it too far.

Skinner 2
 
Ruin alot more than one day. It also awhile to settle back down after something like that happens. Slightest noise or movement nearby causes you to leap out of your boots.

Skinner2
 
Note from Moderator. Sorry Boom18254, this is largely a political discussion and it should be in "The Church........" forum. After a bit of manupilation I am going to make a new thread with your political views in it and eventually put it in "The Church........" forum. It will be called "Political views from Boom18254 and others".
 
Skinner, I owe you an apology. We've managed to sidetrack you thread about your decoy into politics. Sorry about that.

Edit by moderator: We are attempting to being this back on track, sorry for the side track.
 
Guys - It was brought to my attention that this thread took a hard left turn into politics. The edits that occured are an attempt to bring this back to the subject matter. In a large way your posts are preserved in "The Church ............." forum. If you'd like to continue with the political discussions please do it there. Thanks.
 
Skinner2, what are the dimensions? A ruler in the photo would have given some perspective. Have you field tested it yet? You might think about some of that spray-on flocking material you can buy in the craft stores. That would smooth out the lines and edges. Just a thought. Sure looks like it should work, though. Good job! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Skinner, where did you get the motor?

I'm assuming that the head simply rotates around, continually spinning? I think yotes zone in on movement, doesn't seem to need to be real lifelike. They hear the call, see something move, so they go after it.

I like that rabbit. I may have to make one myself, I betcha you'll kill some yote over it /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Sooo, some foam, glue, a small battery powered motor with a reostat & a battery pack. Simple, cheap and effective, it's got all the desired attributes.
 
It's good to see a new "do it yourself" plan being carried out.
I have an idea too that just mite work, I just have to carrie it out. You know those balsa wood planes that have a propeller and a rubber band? Same thing, only different.
Insead of a propeller, a white Beaney Baby toy. The motor would wined the rubber band untill the toy flopped around on the ground and release the torque of the band. one of the motors from an erector set, with the gearing mite work. I will make it, and you will laught!
 
Here's a photo of what I used. The entire thing cost approx. $4

Foam found on roadside = free
Plastic from old credit card for ears = free
small scrap of metal or washer = free
RS#270-0401 battery holder = .99
RS#273-0223 1.5/3VDC motor = $1.99
Spray paint, flat finish

Decoy_Pieces.jpg


Cut and shaped foam.

Cut hole to fit motor.

Soldered motor leads to battery box. The battery box can be made to fit inside foam body. I'll do it this way next time.

Drill scrap metal off-center to fit on motor shaft and acts as a weight to make decoy wobble.

Cut piece of foam for leg.

Glue foam leg to metal piece.

Spray with flat paint.

This thing looks like a rabbit kicking and flopping on the ground. I've also put it on a stake and it flops around pretty good too.

Motor_Decoy.jpg


Trying to size the photos down. Sorry they are so large. Also adding round top buttons for eyes.
 
I've scrounged a rheostat and battery holder for my next project. I think I'll make the foam body large enough to hold the rheostat and batteries inside. The first decoy has wire extending from it to the battery box and that's a good thing since the first one doesn't have a rheostat it goes pretty wild and moves around on the ground alot. Actually it looks like a wounded rabbit going nuts! The battery box has to be anchored to keep the decoy from ending up in the next county. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
This looks like a fun project for a windy or rainy weekend. You know it's gotta' work.
Whoever gets to field test first, be sure to take pics of whatever comes in. Even if it's the neighbors cat! LOL!
 
Made the size of mine as close to a real rabbit as we could. I salvage the motor out of a air analizer meter that was going to be thrown away. I also called some hobby shops that had them.
I used hot glue to mount the motor to a piece of grey plastic. I used second piece of plastin glued to the bottom of the head. Drilled a larget than motor shaft sized hole in base plate, and a smller hole in head plate for a tight fit. The base plate was hot glued to the rabbit body and I used a hole saw to remove some foam for motor.

I took a small pot (switch) and mounted the pot at the butt, but insde with the shaft sticking out. I then took a white plastic piece and formed a rabbits tail and slipped it over the shaft. I have to turn the tail to set the speed. My D sice batter supply is mounted under the belly and wire ran accordingly then hot glued into slits. Total weight less than 1 pound.

Results, I adjust the speed way down about 30 rpm. with a slight wind the head will spin, then stop and wobble back and forth. This thing really looks good in the field shows up great in the snow and cut beans. I set it about 30 to 50 yards away and up wind. Fromthere it looks like the head is just going side to side. The off set ears I think helps add realism. Problem is I have not called in a coyote since I stared using it?????

I almost lost it to a pair of bald eagles and a hawk or two.

Michigan coyotes sure are tough. I called in three so far and all three never left(on their own).

I got a couple of more weekends to try so I hope the weather holds out.

Skinner 2
 
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