How to Make Canvas & Wire Decoys

Canvas and wire decoys are simple and inexpensive decoys that you can make at home. Unlike with Styrofoam decoys, should the wire frame on your decoy become bent, you can simply rework the wire back into its original position. The wire also can be reshaped if you need to make decoys for other animals during different hunting seasons. This process works best for land-based decoys; however, you can place the decoy on a float platform if you need to use it on the water.

Things You'll Need

  • Chicken wire fencing
  • Strips of canvas
  • Fabric glue
  • Paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Create the shape for the decoy. Use metal cutters to cut a length of chicken wire and start to make the torso of the animal for your decoy. Shape the other components of the decoy and attach them to the torso.

    • 2

      Overlay and glue the canvas onto the chicken wire torso. Use small strips of canvas and, starting at the back of the decoy, work toward the front. Using smaller strips makes it easier to cover the wire frame. When placing the other strips of canvas onto the frame, apply a small amount of glue and overlap the canvas until the entire wire frame is covered.

    • 3

      Paint the canvas to match the colors of the animal you will be hunting. Be sure to use an exterior paint that is not water soluble. Allow the paint on the canvas to dry, and your canvas and wire decoy is ready to be used.