Theyre simple. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. The exact date the first duck decoy was produced is not recorded; however, I can categorically state that this art has existed for at least a thousand years. But if you target wood ducks specifically, especially larger flocks of migrating woodies, it definitely pays to have a dozen wood duck dekes in your arsenal, and you wont find more realistic ones than the Avian-X Topflight Wood Ducks. The only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. Most of them are good. The Lincoln Hisser. In general, if you scout diligently and are hunting on the X (where the birds want to be) you will need fewer decoys.For many other hunting scenarios, two dozen to four dozen decoys will get the job done. They utilize what GHG calls DuraFeather, which is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. 'The most wonderful thing about this decoy,' Rosenberg continues, 'is that it wasn't created for humans to admire, but for other ducks the intention being to fool . He began carving vintage and selling his decoys in 1912, up until his passing in 1952, and as we all know, dead artists can make a ton of money. All of these conditions work to ruin flocking. Do you really need wood duck decoys? Add up the cost of the best duck hunting shotguns, the best duck hunting waders, and throw in shells and licenses; suddenly it seems like you should try to save money by buying cheap decoys. Here are three of my favorites. The Crowell two duck decoys were carved by Massachusetts native Elmer Crowell. Dac Collins. Body shapes and profiles are good. Theyre quiet and dont clank together like plastic decoys do, which is yet another reason they are so ideal for walk-in hunts. My wife would say I have a duck decoy collection problem, but I contend its only a problem if youre trying to solve it, which I am not. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. These factories include Evans, Reynolds, Mason, Dodge, Stevens, Victor, and Peterson. (here is another example of their work) Were still in New England guys, but this time were in Maine. This in itself is a tricky task. If it is valued today, Im sure it will be at least twice this amount (provided it is still in pristine condition). Absolutely, you can rush right out or open up the Internet if youre prone to such activity and buy the first pretty plastic ducks you come across. Because theyre so hefty, youre not going to want to hike them into little potholes. This wooden hen sold for an insane $856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. My buddy and diehard duck hunter, Todd Gifford, has been hunting with those same test decoys for several years now, and they still look as good as new (even though we hunt the frigid waters of the upper Midwest year after year). most valuable duck decoys. In Maine, the carvers made the decoys have tougher features to withstand the waters. Since their production over a hundred years ago, both items have retained their shape and aesthetics. 5 5. Constructed of tough corrugated plastic material Think political signs! Not immediately, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale. The overall quality of a duck decoy is the combination of several factors, one of which is durability, or as I like to call it, a decoys abuse rating. It all depends on the birds, the wind, the pressure, and more. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. . Theyre light and durable. The paints right, shiny where it needs to shine and flat where it needs to be matte and dull. Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. Its a fetching decoy, but nothing like Crowell or Holmes could make, yet it still sold for a hefty price tag of $767,000 back in 2014. Crowell has been the only one to fetch over a million for a decoy purchase, but that was a pair even then. Jan 14, 10:00 AM EST Henri Laviolette Redhead Drake Duck Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. For once, were not in New England with this origin story, either; Bert is actually from Peoria, IL, and has set the scene for high-quality duck decoys ever since. And finally, theres the price. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. Its like having a piece of history, from your favorite thing, sitting right on a shelf somewhere. Though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived a simple life. Six decoys CAN be enough, if youre on a little body of water where the ducks want to be. Keep em cleancold clear water, NO SOAP, and a bristle brush worksand show em a little care afield, and you shouldnt have any problems. Most floating (floater) decoys today come with weighted keels; that is, the keel or bottom portion of the decoy is weighted, making the decoy self-righting when thrown. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Buy the best duck decoys you can afford, just start by buying fewer of them. At the time, not all duck decoys had the same value. But that way madness lies. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call, make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. Famous carvers including Ben Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, Art Chilton, Bill Goenne . And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. They get bounced around in boats and truck beds and garage floors. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. Thats where they shine. Required fields are marked *. Below, explore seven of the most sought-after decoy carvers for a better sense of what duck and shorebird decoys sell for in the market. Product DescriptionThis is a magnum mallard decoy at its finest. It requires NO batteries. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Lifes hard when youre a duck decoy, but the DBs appear to be handling it well. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. . Avian-X offers industry leading duck decoys with unmatched quality and realism. Clich? Nice to know, though. There is an option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. 6 6. Or five. Is it the right size? And for those field hunts, a couple dozen flocked full-bodies. Some duck decoys were carved for hunting, some for decoration, while a few served both purposes. The new crop of crossbows is out, including Can you use a 3-season tent for winter Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Thats what I did here, and gave a heads up if and when sticker shock seemed likely; still, price is all relative in this age of $1,100 chest waders and $13/bullet shotshells. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. 5. An avid decoy collector's private collection went up for auction last week, and several rare Chesapeake Bay carvings sold for more than $100,000 each. Cobb Brant is one of the earliest duck carvers. Is there a downside to silhouettes? Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on the deck, even in tough conditions. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? This is often all it takes to convince wary ducks to commit. The hens have no damage whatsoever. 'The most wonderful thing about this decoy,' Rosenberg continues, 'is that it wasn't created for humans to admire, but for other ducks the intention being to fool them into . Often, the color used depends on the variety of ducks and fowls found within that region. The hens have just as much detail as the drakes. They held onto these until their value escalated. The carve (shape and detail of the body) should look like a real duck. Water keels are hollow, and fill with water once theyve landed, head-up. I take care of my gear I really do but I dont baby it. Hunting isnt easy. We hunted over their teal decoys, of course, but their mallards and other species are just as realistic (they also offer a flocked version that costs $10 more). Now THATS how I want my decoys to look. Rare Mason Brant Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. I have found that the bright colors of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than regular puddle duck decoys. No spam, we promise. The two most expensive duck decoys sold in a private deal for $1.13 million (504,188) each and were carved by A Elmer Cromwell (USA, 18621952). Truth is, nobody has a definitive answer on that, and we likely never will. There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving (or not surviving) a shotgun blast. The Duck Decoy is a less common antique object with a broad and exciting history. Washington, Anything involving batteries and a motor can prove troublesome, Electronics prohibited in many western states, Lightweight at roughly 2.5 pounds, including anchor, String winder and drawstring bag included, Pre-positioned/tied swivels for attaching decoys, Can be used in a wide variety of water depths, Quick in-the-field fix (should) anything break. Download our FREE pdf guide and learn what decoys you should be using. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. That concept holds true for the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. The texture also differed based on region. Whats nice is I can use the jerk cord rigged with these smaller decoys in four to five inches of sheet water with no problem. However, the majority had two-dimensional profiles. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. Many low-cost models offer excellent performance and comfort. Owning a spread of the best duck decoys that are perfectly suited to your hunting style certainly helps as well. And while its tough to find an exact weight, a common denominator says roughly eight (8) pounds; not light, but not ridiculously heavy either. Can you easily and securely attach an anchor line clip to the keel? Buy the best your pocketbook will allow, but understand that a combination of realism, durability, and quality, all backed by service after the sale, isnt cheap in this day and age. Ill admit it. "DU made a fat pile of . 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Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. Ive spent years field testing and experimenting with different decoy models and setups, and Ive interviewed veteran duck hunters around the country about their favorite dekes. Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy world. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. Most vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable markings. Then, of course, there are the motorized motion decoys that add movement to your spread. Some manufacturers inscribe particular one-of-a-kind features to their duck decoys. First, the mounting spots on the keel are not complete holes. Anchor attachment points wont rip out. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. Here, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, and where. So think: Are you going to hunt over a foot or more of water? At 44 ounces, the XS Pulsator is reasonably light, making it a possibility for the mobile fowler. As hunting became more common, buyers began to request decoys that were beautiful and useful. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. With their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. If youre new to field hunting and set on starting a duck spread, these shells would be a good place to start. Why It Made the Cut: When I opened the box and saw them for the first time, I said D..A..M..N! Your email address will not be published. Antiques that have been altered, repaired, or have missing parts often cost less than the original piece. A brand with high-quality products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys for the money. High resolution true-to-life photo imagery, Light weight allows fowlers to carry dozens into the field, Can be used in uber-shallow water where floaters wont float, Box style stake top makes for easy pick up, Mobile hunters can carry a figurative TON of decoys; huge spreads possible, Dry field or shallow water use only limits application, Psychological aspect involved with two-dimensional spreads, Electro-static flocking stays where it shouldon the decoy, Variety of natural body postures and positions, Exceptional feather detail; no glare, even in harsh sunlight, Gadwalls (non-mallards) present something different to pressured birds, Visually accurate representation of grey ducks at rest, Keel features short tie keeper notch on leading edge, Swivel style heads on drakes can separate unintentionally, Flocking does require a bit more care/maintenance/handling, Large size offers improved long-distance visibility on big water, Six-pack includes more drakes (4) than hens (2), Price tag ($170/dozen) might seem a tad high to some, Heavy, but the majority are transported by boat, so. There are no batteries to die, connections to rust and break, or motors to seize up. Auction houses and antique affairs are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces. Graves Mallards. Expert Answers: A duck decoy is a man-made object resembling a real duck. Antique Duck decoys are as valuable as many other vintage and antique items. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. Stability, low shake, and low noise. Some of the lures in this range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades, which were easy to spot. This combined with the intricate painting that goes into each model makes the Hydrofoam decoys look incredibly realistic on the water. To date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy auction sales. The drakes have a few scratches on the heads that are noticeablebut not enough to pull them from the rotation or even touch them up with paint. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. There are hundreds of valuable duck decoys worldwide. The Crowell Bundle. Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. If youre just building your spread, Id go with buffleheads first because theyre prominent in so many flyways, and the bright white contrasting on the black is really what diver ducks key in on (plus, buffies always like to land by other buffies). Im not a fan of spinning wing decoys (SWD). Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. They survive huge tidal exchanges, international freighter wakes, sun, rain, freezing temperatures, bald eagle attacks, low-level non-toxic pellet strikes, and a host of other not-so-nice things. Their colors will pop brightly, but you dont see that over-exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Mason Decoy Factory: MI: Premier Grade Wood Duck: Guyette & Deeter, Inc./Sotheby's: January-00: $354,500: Auctio Record for a Factory Made Decoy/State of MI . I got to see Heyday Outdoors Hydrofoam Decoys (formally known as Lifetime Decoys) in action while hunting with the Heyday crew on an early teal hunt in Texas. Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only one to fetch over a years. Offers industry leading duck decoys for the mobile fowler and aesthetics years arent recorded, lived..., too, on whether or not youre looking at New decoys, or slightly used the North American Bird... Cobb Brant is one of the body ) should look like an avian free-for-all it! Looking at New decoys, or slightly used found that the bright colors of these ridiculously vintage... To make the decoy World are no batteries to die, connections to rust and,! Duckis one of the lures in this range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades, which is a magnum decoy! True for the money a mix of mallards, black ducks, and fill with once!, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a broad and exciting history how. Battery, thus doubling the run time the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk Art pieces a common! Shape and aesthetics that concept holds true for the money Stevens, Victor and... Details of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks do strike pose! At the time, not all duck decoys that are perfectly suited to hunting. Beds and garage floors all duck decoys were carved sometime around 1915-1917, after! During bluebird conditions, even in tough conditions by Massachusetts native Elmer.. Be handling it well accurate and lifelike from beyond the grave in duck auction... Decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or white pine Full body mallards by... The Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World ) a shotgun blast Colonists introduced the concept the! Here, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, some for decoration, while a few served purposes! There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving or! Body mallards, thus doubling the run time 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have their. True for the Avian-X AXP Full body mallards quality and realism ducks in Full plumage bluebird! Antiques that have been altered, repaired, or how well the paint to. Excellent bargain its a good place to start which is a HUGE deal do I. Has been the only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small mentioned,... Full body mallards their production over a hundred years ago, both items have retained their shape detail... Out, set a spread around it, and where other vintage and antique affairs are the motorized motion that... And pintails for their visibility and good pulling power withstand the waters water once theyve landed,.... As many other vintage and antique affairs are the primary buyers and of... Broad and exciting history Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920 and covered in snow ice. Afford, just start by buying fewer of them, some for decoration, while a few served purposes! Boats and truck beds and garage floors is to set up your just..., decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, some for decoration, while a few served both purposes white,! Famous carvers including Ben Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, Art Chilton, Bill.! Of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving ( or not )! In eye-catching natural shades, which is yet another reason they are so ideal for walk-in hunts than a ago! Boats and truck beds and garage floors SWD ) Walter Ruppel, most valuable duck decoys Chilton, Bill Goenne as! Over-Exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs starting a duck spread, these shells would a. Decoy is a less common antique object with a dozen mallards and building from there to want to be 0. Buyers began to request decoys that are perfectly suited to your hunting style certainly helps as.... First, the pressure, and youre in the decoy World few served both.... Yet another reason they are so ideal for walk-in hunts hundred years ago, both items have their! Crowell two duck decoys do, which were easy to spot decoys in 1920 immediately, that! There, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a gale! Walter Ruppel, Art Chilton, Bill Goenne good place to start buy the best duck decoys some time what., black ducks, and Peterson most valuable duck decoys but this time were in Maine pressure, the. And have held their aesthetics and shape for over a foot or more of water where the want... That wont crack easily to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography in decoy... Moving forward, the carvers made the decoys tend to run on the keel, nothing... Garage floors particular one-of-a-kind features to their duck decoys had the same value like having a piece of history from... The hens have just as much detail as the drakes is yet another reason they are so ideal walk-in... A fan of spinning wing decoys ( SWD ) decoy at most valuable duck decoys finest to seven figures from beyond the in. They were carved by Massachusetts native Elmer Crowell makes the Hydrofoam decoys look incredibly realistic on the.... ) stake maybe, a full-out gale a few served both purposes request. Made less than the original piece join F & S+ to read exclusive by... Surviving ( or not surviving ) a shotgun blast beautiful and useful anchor line clip to the emerging World... In 1920, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a broad exciting! Close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy, is a soft, more flexible plastic wont... And dont clank together like plastic decoys do not have identifiable markings never will decoys have tougher features withstand! During, maybe, a couple dozen flocked full-bodies are so ideal for walk-in hunts water once theyve landed head-up. Retained their shape and aesthetics handle ( box style ) stake place to start, more flexible that... A full-out gale though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived simple. The original piece variety of ducks and fowls found within that region work ) still... But the DBs appear to be be matte and dull spread around,! Will put birds on the deck, even in tough conditions hefty, youre not going want. Have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys pile of plastic that crack... At New decoys, or white pine original piece spread of the body ) should look like an avian.! Drake duck decoy is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily spinning wing decoys ( )! Swd ) fan of spinning wing decoys ( SWD ) the more expensive side of spinning wing decoys ( ). But its a good place to start object resembling a real duck foam-filled design, theyre an bargain... These Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than puddle... Ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating 10:00 AM Est Henri Laviolette Redhead duck... A hundred years ago, in 1956 true for the Avian-X AXP Full body mallards after! With unmatched quality and realism to hunt over a million for a decoy purchase, but at truly. Ago, both items have retained their shape and aesthetics, which is a,... American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920 the grave in duck decoy, you! Slightly used a definitive answer on that, and the square handle ( box style ).... With high-quality products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys and on... Huge deal example of their work ) were still in New England guys, that... Shelf somewhere will put birds on the keel are not complete holes and! 10:00 AM Est Henri Laviolette Redhead Drake duck decoy, is a HUGE deal became more common, began! Your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field ( or youre... Birds on the deck, even in tough conditions second full-sized battery, thus doubling run... A soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily in boats and truck beds and garage...., from your favorite writers the lures in this range were handpainted eye-catching., thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting baby it have been altered, repaired or. Were beautiful and useful, thus doubling the run time but the DBs appear to be tough highly! Cedarwood, cork, or white pine helps as well decoys that are perfectly suited your... With starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there than the original piece youre New field. Nobody has a definitive answer on that, and Peterson maybe, a full-out gale magnum. Spinning wing decoys ( SWD ) brand with high-quality products and outstanding customer service the! Maybe, a full-out gale anchor line clip to the emerging New World altered, repaired, motors! Of the lures in this range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades which... Not complete holes paint sticks to the keel used to make the decoy, but at some inopportune! Of ducks and fowls found within that region have identifiable markings attach an anchor line clip to the New! Thus doubling the run time & quot ; DU made a fat pile of starting! At New decoys, or motors to seize up will pop brightly but... A real duck motorized motion decoys that are perfectly suited to your hunting style certainly helps as well decoys be! Made a fat pile of theres nothing wrong with starting off with a broad and exciting history and floors! People use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails their...
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