| Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Outdoor Guide- Fishing, Hunting and everything outdoors...... | |
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| Kentucky Lake and Lake Barkley Outdoor Guide- Fishing, Hunting and everything outdoors...... | |
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Home Sporting Goods, Bait and Tackle Hunting Stories and Information Fishing
Stories
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When Mark Arnold goes hunting he thinks about decoys. When he builds decoys he thinks about hunting. Gifted inventors know there’s always a better mousetrap. Despite all the gadgets and magic marvels on the market, Arnold saw the need for a more lifelike decoy that was simple to use and easy to transport. He put his idea in motion seven years ago using a trial and error approach. At first it was just for his own use or a few buddies who hunted the likes of Camden bottoms where competition and hunting pressure were factors. Nowadays Arnold has a lot more hunting buddies and invitations from across the country, thanks to the success of his Mallard Master series of motion decoys that help hunters fool even the most finicky fowl. His quest to enhance the decoy spread and become a more successful duck hunter has transformed into Quest Outdoor Products. He now manufactures feeding and flying style models that not only gives the wing motion that attracts ducks from great distances but adds another dimension to the appeal with splashing water. Most hunters know realistic movement in the spread will greatly enhance even the best camouflaged blind, location, and calling expert. The addition of Mallard Master series decoys have given even the novice hunter a new level of success and that, says Arnold, makes him feel good about his products. “With the Mallard Master Pro I came up with something that both splashed water and offered wing movement. Over time I changed it from a constant motion to one with a two-second delay,” said Arnold, who builds his decoys at his shop in Camden under the watchful eye of his black Labrador “Gunner”. “There were other motion ducks on the market such as the popular Robo and MoJo but they were on a stick up in the air and stayed in one position. My feeder and swimmer ducks move around, splash, make ripples, have no wires to mess with and that’s why we came up with the slogan “as real as it gets”, said Arnold. “Ducks seemed to have gotten conditioned to the rotating wing style decoys but I think the Mallard Master series mimics feeding and swimming ducks so good that they never seem to loose their appeal.” Powered by AA size batteries, Arnold’s decoys are winging their way into the marketplace too. Dealers across the country are calling him for units and he grins with satisfaction but says it kind of cuts into his own personal hunting time. Since making the first decoy his line has expanded and this year Quest Outdoors, which is the parent company name of the Mallard Master series, offers both dove and crow decoys as well. And, a new goose decoy is in the making. This year he introduced the “Aviator 3-D” model which can be used in a dry field setup or over water as the decoy rotates its position while wings are flapping, unlike others that stay facing one direction. “I’m a hunter first and a decoy maker second,” says Arnold. “And, all the folks who work here are hunters too and we test every unit before it leaves the building. We don’t want a hunter out deep in the marsh to have a problem with his decoy so we make sure it works right before shipping.” And what about other species? It appears the Mallard Master series will attract pretty much any species of ducks ranging from divers to puddle ducks as it’s the realistic motion and splashing that lures them into gunning range. From darting greenwing teal to the window shopping mentality of pesky pintails, these decoys sure seem to get the attention of curious ducks at a distance. Waterfowlers from coast to coast know that wind and weather will always be key ingredients in the recipe for successful days. And, while hunters cannot control the weather, they do have the ability to enhance their decoy spread with the use of movement and motion, giving a more lifelike appeal to a stagnant day. Backwater potholes such as swamps, cattails, and green timber where wind doesn’t reach are excellent places to use the decoys too. “These decoys---from the feeders to the flappers---will help both the veteran and entry level waterfowler. If hunters have a bad outing the first few times out, odds are they won’t go back. I’d like to think our products help folks have a good time in the outdoors,” says Arnold, when asked about the overall reason behind it all. Like most duck hunters with leaky boots, muddy trucks, stubborn starting outboards, and the desire for cold north winds, Mark Arnold has taken his desire to be a better duck hunter to another level. With the use of technology and several sunrises of duck watching, he has created a product that stands out above the rest in a crowded field of competition. Come to think of it, that’s just where he got the idea in the first place. Several area sporting goods stores are stocking the products as season gets underway. For additional information log onto www.mallardmasterpro.com or call 1-800-951-1418.
Steve McCadams is a professional hunting and fishing guide here in the Paris Landing area. He has also contributed many outdoor oriented articles to various national publications. |
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