Does the paint on regular decoys just not reflect UV light?
Yes, standard decoy paints don’t have UV reflection (other than a small baseline). These paints absorb UV light for two reasons: 1) because the white pigment that most strongly reflects the visible wavelengths that humans see also strongly absorbs UV, and 2) to protect the paint from yellowing/oxidizing. These are the reasons why virtually every exterior paint is great at absorbing UV because coatings scientists want the paint to absorb UV to protect the substrate and the polymer binder of the paint. Parker Decoy paint with UVision has been formulated with non-yellowing paint that is opaque so that the underlying decoy shouldn’t be exposed to UV if it is properly and evenly applied. The paint has been formulated to have the proper amount and type of UV reflectance to match the feather’s reflectance.
