This simple mallard has an excellent definition, which is part of the reason that it fetched $214,000 and is considered one of the most valuable decoys. These decoys look killer. Instead, he hailed from Ontario, Canada. Translation? Ducks move around, even when theyre loafing on the water. Recent research points to a man by the name of Eben Weed being the original creator of this decoy, but some of the evidence is inconclusive. Garage sale mallards may cost $2 each, a call-your-buddies bargain, especially if theyre in a condition where they can be immediately used. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. Some movement in your spread is good. But, an individual duck decoy carved by him pulled in $168,000. Other books recommended by folk art experts include American Bird Decoys by William J. Mackey Jr. and Wild Fowl Decoys by Joel Barber. There is an option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time. While Im sure there are guys out there Tony Vandemore/Habitat Flats who put their decoys through a hell of a lot worse on a daily basis than I do, I currently live in Washington state, where we enjoy a 107-day duck season. One must instead learn to differentiate an actual bait from a modern decoy. However, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth it. And of those 107 days, Ill hunt three-quarters of them. First, I need the decoys to look like the real thing, and the Dive Bomb floaters certainly do have that covered. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. William Bowman Image 1: William Bowman Carved and Painted Greater Yellowlegs Christie's, London, United Kingdom (January 2007) Estimate: $65,000 - $85,000 Price Realized: $78,000 Finally, I repainted most, if not all, of them as drake bluebills, and they enjoyed another life as big water divers. (You will need to register / login for access). You incorporate it into your life, and other eccentric duck hunters with deep pockets will stop at nothing to claim some of the most coveted factory-made decoys in history. Sometimes, it could depend on the pose of the decoy; some duck decoys are carved in feeding, swimming, and even sleeping positions. And once again, does it lookyeplike a real duck? Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. Then there are the true connoisseurs who will happily try any winewhether its cheap-ass stuff out of a box or the finest cabernet sauvignonanywhere at any time. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. The real downside here is that in high wind (often when the duck hunting can be very good) any type of shells on a stake will bob or spin frantically. Research past prices of Antique Duck Decoys to buy or bid confidently today! 3 3. Non-mallards. The latest one was made less than a year ago, in 1956. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Graves Mallards. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. The scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Its a rite of passage for a lot of young men. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. $250 5 Bids. Often, the color used depends on the variety of ducks and fowls found within that region. I dont want my decoys to look like blobs of mud. Rare Mason Brant Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. Decoys the physical decoys themselves are just the beginning. the effectiveness of flats/skinnies on ducks. Manage Settings Theyre quiet and dont clank together like plastic decoys do, which is yet another reason they are so ideal for walk-in hunts. Guyette of Guyette and Deeter auctions once explained that about 90% of the available antique duck decoys had been repainted or renailed. Most duck hunters should be more concerned about how their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions. The incredible configuration of paint and realistic body positions and profiles combine to make the most lifelike floater wed seen at the timeand they still are today. 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. The Crowell Bundleextensively includes 31 decoys, all of which were valued at $7.5 million. But that way madness lies. Can you easily and securely attach an anchor line clip to the keel? Replicate this when you set up your spread. Keels wont break off. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. They get bounced around the bottom of boats and in decoy bags. Crowell put so much detail into these decoys, that they were picked up by the Fine Arts of Boston (though the timeline is unclear). Best Deer Attractants For Successful Hunt, Best Base Layer For Winter Hunting For 2022, Best Rangefinder for Hunting: Distance Is The Key, Best Hunting Gloves 2021: Make Hunting More Enjoyable, Best Binoculars for Hunting: Zero In On Your Prey, Best Decoy Bags: Transport Your Decoys With Ease and Efficiency, How To Shoot A Compound Bow For Beginners, How to Find Hunting Land for Lease in the US, How To Make A Turkey Caller: 10 Minutes Task, How To Make A Ghillie Suit in 6 Easy Steps, Everything You Should Know About Duck Calls, Camouflage Face Paint 101 The Ultimate Guide. Oh, it was therein the bottom of the shipping box. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Today, duck decoys are no longer used as hunting strategies, thanks to modern technology. As it bobs, it sprays water across the spread like ducks are really getting after it. A lot of other wood duck decoys have the drakes head sticking high up above the water, like hes on alert. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Bottom line I want them to look like ducks. They have a little gap in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break through. 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. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. I dont know how much you paid for your antique duck decoy, but youre about to be frazzled by how much people have paid for them in the past. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Here are the new year's top models. Though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived a simple life. 5 5. All expert waterfowl hunters are good at the same four things: scouting, calling and decoying, hiding, and shooting. Im not mentioning the same creators over and over again, so for the sake of transparency, its also important to note that Lothrops Ruddy Turnstone sold for $470,000 back in 2000. That means they will take up less space in a decoy bag and youll be able to load your spread into a truck instead of needing a trailer. Theres a lot of em out there, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. 3 3. Myself, Im using the M1s to beef up shallow (4 6) water floater spreads in green fields, or more often, in tidal marshes at low slack when its impossible to run keeled floaters. Some are built to float; these were used to attract large fowls like ducks and geeks who often frequent water areas. Which duck decoys are worth money? Some factories also produced some notable vintage duck decoys in the 1900s. '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 . The right colors. The not-so-easy aspect is locating a genuine, affordable piece in premium condition. So, first, the downside. How tough? While its nothing compared to Crowell, Madoffs decoy sold $4,750 at auction. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Auction houses and antique affairs are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. Although it wasnt as expensive as the paired Crowell Bundle, this single pair sold for a whopping $856,000. And theyre tough. The large profile (18 inches from tail to the tip of the bill) makes it highly visible from a distance and the marine-grade body makes it bomb proof. Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. The carve (shape and detail of the body) should look like a real duck. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island, 4. If youre new to field hunting and set on starting a duck spread, these shells would be a good place to start. By now youve probably noticed that Avian-X keeps popping up on this list. As for hunting with spinning wing decoys, theyre not the silver bullet some hunters believe them to be, especially now that so many hunters use them and ducks see them all the time. To create the head, the carver uses an ax to cut off a small woodblock. 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). Nice to know, though. Do a little homework, answer a few to-the-point questions, and youll be well on your way to filling that shop, floor to ceiling, with dozens upon dozens. My very first duck decoys back in The Day, circa 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that I used for years and years. 2. Vintage mason decoys are relatively more valuable than other commercially produced duck decoys. A few of these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. 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 . Its nothing compared to some of these world-famous decoys, but the Graves Mallards brought in $218,500 at another G&S auction. What makes a Guinness World Records title? And it flat works. And Ready? So now, head on to eBay, Etsy, 1stDibs, Amazon, or any antique store close to you to buy or list your original vintage duck decoys. Much like Crowell, Lothrop Holmes actually came from Massachusetts as well, where duck hunting was a common sport. Stephen OBrien of Copley Fine Art Auctions, Boston, said studying Adele Earnests The Art of the Decoy would go a long way in familiarizing oneself with the fine details of duck decoys.
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