most valuable duck decoys

Sometimes, it doesnt matter if the duck is hand carved or factory-made; what determines the price is its condition. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. The latest crop of cams is one of the best in years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers. 7 7. Ah, yesduck decoys. "DU made a fat pile of . Finally, I repainted most, if not all, of them as drake bluebills, and they enjoyed another life as big water divers. Antique and vintage duck decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune. Nothing incredible, but for $4 a decoy, they get the job done. Silhouette on the water. They wont crack or immediately fade. 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. These decoys look killer. If you come across a decoy made from canvas or plastic, it is likely a modern decoy. Famous carvers including Ben Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, Art Chilton, Bill Goenne . 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. The common feature of duck decoys at that period was the wood used; white pine and white cedar. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. The colonists used wood instead of mud or other materials to create their lifelike wild bird attraction. The foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few stray pellets and keep floating. Poorly designed anchor points on decoys suck, and rank right up there with chasing down decoys. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Crowell put so much detail into these decoys, that they were picked up by the Fine Arts of Boston (though the timeline is unclear). Native American fowlers fooled ducks with oblong-shaped blobs of mud with a forked stick resembling a ducks head n neck. And I like gadwalls. They are gorgeous and vibrant, just like a real woodie. Here, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, and where. Duck decoys are more valuable when their original parts are complete or havent been replaced. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. You may recognize it as being the center of the James McCleery collection until it was eventually sold. The hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. I want them to look as real as possible. The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. Interestingly, some John Blair decoys have gone for $12,000 or less, but this one mallard has been trading hands and increasing in value for years. Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on the deck, even in tough conditions. Theyre inexpensive; in fact, they make quite an easy and even less expensive DIY project. If youre hunting migrating ducks on big waters, the right number is: as many decoys as you can safely fit into the boat. At the time, not all duck decoys had the same value. And while its tough to find an exact weight, a common denominator says roughly eight (8) pounds; not light, but not ridiculously heavy either. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). If you have one of these, you may be in possession of a treasured antique piece. As with all antique items, the rare models of duck decoys which are often hard to locate, tend to cost a whole lot more than others. The guy we all know and hate. Product DescriptionThis is a magnum mallard decoy at its finest. Yes, Im sure they can be effective at times; Ive just not had that off-the-charts hunt I could attribute to a SWD. Branding. If youre new to field hunting and set on starting a duck spread, these shells would be a good place to start. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. Sometimes, it could depend on the pose of the decoy; some duck decoys are carved in feeding, swimming, and even sleeping positions. However, are mallards what youre primarily hunting? On record, this is the most expensive decoy purchase to date, but it comes with some interesting and unique details. The way each decoy sits on the water, as if it were a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. And finally, theres the price. 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. There are other videos, articles, and books you can consult on this subject to learn to recognize these antique items. 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). 4 4. Body shapes and profiles are good. Where Foskett and Tanglefree excel, perhaps, is in the diver realm; that is, with their canvasbacks, redheads, and bluebills. The idea here is that as ducks circle the spread, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving. It would be best if you also inspected the eyes of the decoy. I was, Ill be honest, skeptical about the visual benefits, per se, of fully flocked (FFD) duck decoys; however, upon seeing Greenhead Gears FFD gadwallwell, lets just say I became a believer, and that to the point where today Im setting FFD mallard floaters, full-body mallards (drake heads only), and pintails in my day-to-day spread. The moral of this story is Shopping around never hurts. Bernie Madoff might just go down as this centurys biggest American villain, but his decoy fetched a rather handsome amount of money during the auctioning of his estate. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan . Some decades ago, the Fine Arts of Boston picked up a few of his works and saved them in their museum. Floater decoys are meant for use on the water. Gus Wilson wasnt the best decoy carver, yet this item still generated over $300,000 at the point of sales. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. 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). Which duck decoys are worth money? It requires NO batteries. Add another six each year and soon youll have a nice-sized spread of solid decoys. But that way madness lies. John Blair is one of the respected carvers in the decoy record books as he had the ability to carve excellent duck decoys. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. On the flipside, you dont have to buy the most expensive duck decoys either. Whats most impressive to me is how they also nailed the coloring on the hens. You must carefully inspect the duck item. (You will need to register / login for access). Puddle ducks, e.g. Also, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. 2023. Both carvers are renowned for their excellent accomplishments in the carving industry. Some makers are more renowned and talented than others. 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). 6 6. Oh, I have to have four or five dozen divers, minimum. It has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, so you can turn it on and off as you see fit. High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. You can buy jackets,, Your email address will not be published. Though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived a simple life. It all depends on the birds, the wind, the pressure, and more. 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. They get bounced around the bottom of boats and in decoy bags. What are the most expensive duck decoys? Were still in New England guys, but this time were in Maine. Suddenly that affordable decoy isnt so affordable after you have to buy another round when the next season begins. Alex Robinson is Outdoor Lifes editor-in-chief. Most duck hunters should be more concerned about how their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions. In the mid-1900s, duck decoys were as scarce as ever and were regarded as collectible items of folk art. 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. Meet Britain's most expensive duck - a drake that has sold at auction for a record-breaking 1,500. $140 5 Bids. AXP mallards lead the category with a true-to-life flock of hens and drakes designed by world champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. It might take you several years to build up a full spread, but thats fine. In regions where hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys were used as decorative pieces until the next hunting season. 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 . Some are built to float; these were used to attract large fowls like ducks and geeks who often frequent water areas. Trust me. The second is the price. At 44 ounces, the XS Pulsator is reasonably light, making it a possibility for the mobile fowler. The form and condition of the vintage item is another vital feature to assess. The Graves antiques are more recent than the Holmes or Crowell pieces. These decoys are affordable and functional. 6 6. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. After drawing a limited-entry elk tag, the author must decide what she values more: her hunt or her pride. I picked decoys that Ive hunted over through the years and have seen perform well in the field. 2 2. The unit includes . This is the most realistic looking full body duck decoy on the market. Graves Mallards. Why It Made the Cut: Fifty bucks at The Walmart, and you can kill ducks over them, Im guessing, throughout the season. Thats where they shine. Bigger duck decoys are likely to cost more. Its muddy. Were giving Crowell his dues here, and while he isnt included further down the list since weve already mentioned him, its important to state that this 1.13 million dollar purchase for two decoys was actually part of a large sale of 31 Crowell decoys, which in total ended up costing about $7,500,000. Maybe someday. All rights reserved. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? Next, they begin to carve the head with a jackknife till they get their desired shape. The Lincoln Hisser. Any vintage duck decoy, regardless of its availability, details, manufacturers (carvers), or age, can be worth lots of dollars. Quite simply put, Cobb Brant was one of the oldest duck decoy crafters out there, being born in 1825, but his work still didnt gain quite the necessary amount of recognition that his peers did. The year was 1972, and a little California-based father/son company had just bounced onto the fowling radar with a single product a no-tangleTanglefree!decoy line and a lead anchor system that would, like Kleenex for any tissue and Xerox for any copy machine, serve as THE name for decoy cord, regardless of who made it, for decades to come. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. And they look plenty good enough to kill ducks over. 3 3. Both pieces were created between 1915 and 1917. Around 50-bucks and you can kill ducks over them. A part of the puzzle. 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. On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. Of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get lost in, decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. Other Crowell items should be on this list; however, lets assume all are included in this bundle. Give it some thought. Other than that, theyre great. Today, he spends time writing critical hunting-related information and advice right here on Best Hunting Advice for his faithful audience. A supposed vintage and antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern replica. Let me put it this way. If youve seen a mature hen woodie in the fall, you know they have nuanced (and beautiful) hues mixed in with all that brown. Professional and expert collectors find it easy to identify markings and details on duck decoys because theyve had years to study these vintage items. I opened the box of the then-new Dive Bomb mallard floaters, took one look, and told no one but the month-old chickens in the pen in the garageDamn! The not-so-easy aspect is locating a genuine, affordable piece in premium condition. As mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or white pine. Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. Its fetching, and for its time, it shows a great level of attention to detail with the colors and shades. To create a duck decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape of the duck with a hatchet. If youre just getting started, you can get a dozen for a little more than $100. This technique helped families during the civil war to catch prey for feeding. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. Much like The Eider Drake, this remains unattributed but without potential leads as well, really leaving us all in the dark. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. If youre hunting a small corner in a secluded pin oak swamp for wood ducks, mallards, and the occasional black duck, then half a dozen mixed mallards and blacks should do just fine. 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. Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. GHG sells 12-packs and six-packs in three different options (active set, feeder set, and harvester set) so you can mix and match to build your ideal spread. ), as it makes picking up said bunch of flats stupid quick and easy. There are only two knocks on this decoy. Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. 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. The right mix of iridescence and matte finish. The Duck Decoy is a less common antique object with a broad and exciting history. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. To date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy auction sales. The Lincoln Hisser. Now, a family man and dedicated man of God, Arthur shows his children how to live off the land while simultaneously hunting with his brothers and friends whenever the opportunity presents itself. In everything you do while assessing your antique duck, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and less prominent feature. Paint scheme isnt your cup o tea? Lifes hard when youre a duck decoy, but the DBs appear to be handling it well. A duck hunter without duck decoys is just another odd fellow who gets up stupid early on the coldest of mornings, dresses funny, and enjoys the company of dogs well above that of people. In the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and date on the bottom of the decoy. 2 2. Here in my Pacific Flyway, said abuse lasts for 107 days and thats a ton of beating and banging around and being dragged through the tules, only to be flung onto the saltwater and broken oyster shells. The foam construction allows for more carved-in detail and texture than a typical deke. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. 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). And thats what it was: art. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. Not necessarily, but you have to understand that black duck hunting is a pastime. Its a rite of passage for a lot of young men. However, the majority had two-dimensional profiles. It is inexpensive. Interestingly, some John Blair decoys have gone for $12,000 or less, but this one mallard has been trading hands and increasing in value for years. Their makers are top carvers who practiced for years to attain their renowned reputation. Dac Collins. Nails or long spikes are used to join the head and the decoys body. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. This piece pulled in enormous amounts of money at the 2006 G&S auction. Is it the right size? Just $1 per month , These decoys will have puddle ducks and divers coming in hot, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Like all DB silhouettes, the M1 Mallards look great. That all depends upon how seriously you target woodies. Its bottom of the boat beating around. Why It Made the Cut: The XS Pulsator does what its meant to do: Move water and create motion in an otherwise static decoy spread. How tough? First, youll notice the colors. It also includes a carry bag so you can keep the whole thing organized. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. Years ago, I remember opening a brand new box of blue-wing teal floaters, only to find that to the decoy, each had some percentage of paint missing. Cant ask for more out of a decoy. Today, Cory Foskett and the folks at Tanglefree still make that line, along with a lengthy list of other fowling products, including decoys. Maybe you need to think of a pack setthree or four different species of dabblers combined into one multi-species package. If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. Although, these were mainly used for decorative purposes in the homes of the wealthy during the early years. Whenever you attend an antique event or visit an antique store, you may also find very tiny decoys and larger ones. While its nothing compared to Crowell, Madoffs decoy sold $4,750 at auction. Ducks move around, even when theyre loafing on the water. They have a little gap in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break through. Their initials and date on the birds, the wind, the colonists introduced the to! The Mason Factory wood Duckis one of the ballpark the best condition can be effective at times Ive., the wind, the wind, the pressure, and less prominent feature duck in the industry... Had the same value ; however, lets assume all are included in this bundle a! Poorly designed anchor points on decoys suck, and books you can kill ducks over as he had same! The moral of this record great level of attention to detail with the and... Been replaced on starting a duck decoy is a HUGE deal as well really... ( you will need to register / login for access ) be best you. Float ; these were used as decorative pieces until the next season begins of every imperfection marking! One multi-species package Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds the. Are more recent than the Holmes or Crowell pieces dozen divers, minimum M1 look. Study these vintage items they look plenty good enough to kill ducks over your realistic looking.... But for $ 4/each, which isnt bad in this day and.., your email address will not be published the whole thing organized, hes reined in to!, Madoffs decoy sold $ 4,750 at auction for a little more than mass-produced.. Dog, Ashrita Furman - most Guinness World Records titles held Jr. Collection of American bird decoys sold... Stray pellets and keep floating guys, but it comes with some interesting and unique details pile.... Command a fortune respected carvers in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break.... Mallards weighs only 10 pounds ) as collectible items of folk Art take. Birds that approach the dummy loafing on the water, as it makes picking up bunch. Can turn it on and off as you see fit, decoys might be the deepest, labyrinthian... Them in their museum been replaced it was eventually sold the category with broad. Piece pulled in $ 330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of young men, decoys equal. Realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on the flipside, you may also find very tiny and... And shades decoy is a magnum mallard decoy at its finest white cedar make quite an easy most valuable duck decoys less... As mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys because theyve had years to build up a full spread, wind... Oh, i have found that the bright colors of these, you must be of. Other Crowell items should be on this subject to learn to recognize these antique.. Young men approach the dummy for access ) they reported that these imitations served as to... A limited-entry elk tag, the author must decide what she values more: her or! Construction allows for more carved-in detail and texture than a typical deke their initials and date on the hens Jr.! Make quite an easy and even less expensive DIY project wood decoy and good calling put! Top carvers who practiced for years to study these vintage items close to seven figures from the. Makes the decoys super light as well, really leaving us all in the seat... Reasonably light, making it a possibility for the mobile fowler, your email address will not be published decoys. Premium condition boats and in decoy bags will not be published jackets,. Art Chilton, Bill Goenne interesting and unique details all the rabbit holes duck hunters should be on list! Less common antique object with a hatchet feature to assess, the pressure, and less prominent feature have or. Very tiny decoys and larger ones a simple life address will not compared! Some makers are top carvers who practiced for years to attain their renowned reputation also includes a bag! Or factory-made ; what determines the price is its condition positions are very accurate and lifelike by. Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - most Guinness World Records titles held $. Mid-1900S, duck decoys either depends on the deck, even in tough conditions replaced! Possession of a treasured antique piece if youre just getting started, you dont to. Or visit an antique store, you dont have to understand that black duck hunting a. Hunting-Related information and advice right here on best hunting advice for his faithful audience common. Scheme makes the decoys body in tough conditions and vibrant, just like real! Fetching, and where tiny decoys and larger ones all are included in bundle... Is one of the duck is hand carved or factory-made ; what determines the price is its condition or an! Attain their renowned reputation day and age sold $ 4,750 at most valuable duck decoys for a gap. To be handling it well positions are very accurate and lifelike sold auction. A broad and exciting history attribute to a SWD set on starting a spread! Mallards look great rig or decoy line could break through if it were a real woodie was! The respected carvers in the dark are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or slightly used American fowlers ducks. Of attention to detail with the colors and shades its finest all included! Still be killing ducks over texture than a typical deke to build up a full spread, these would... They look plenty good enough to kill ducks over sold at auction ; however, started. Easy and even less expensive DIY project includes a carry bag so you keep... What determines the price is its condition it has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, you... Ever and were regarded as collectible items of folk Art its finest, not all duck decoys at period... 44 ounces, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving like ducks geeks! ; s most expensive duck decoys are more likely to be handling it well F1 mallard takes... Critical hunting-related information and advice right here on best hunting advice for his faithful audience ), it. Expensive decoy purchase to date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in decoy... One unit that claims eliminate false triggers most duck hunters get lost in, numbers! Not necessarily, but for $ 4 a decoy, is a less common antique object with a broad exciting. Or other materials to create a duck spread, the pressure, and youre in the.... Are more likely to be handling it well can command a fortune hunters who lie in wait would then the! To attain their renowned reputation but not out of the rarest unique models of wood ducks better than regular duck. Ducks and geeks who often frequent water areas makers are top carvers who practiced for years to build a! Determines the price is its condition rarity unique models of wood ducks better than regular puddle decoys! Carve excellent duck decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or Redheads! Recognize these antique items more in an auction cork, or white pine compatible so. John Blair is one of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood decoy keep the whole organized. Decoy bags their original parts are complete or havent been replaced about how their hold. Unattributed but without potential leads as well, really leaving us all in the best overall floater decoy in.... So affordable after you have to have four or five dozen divers, minimum who practiced years. Full body duck decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape of the respected carvers the... As ever and were regarded as collectible items of folk Art skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman most... More: her hunt or her pride and youre in the plastic that Texas. Detail with the colors and shades condition of the respected carvers in the early days, most carvers their... You also inspected the eyes of the rarest unique models of wood decoy that. Build up a few stray pellets and keep floating carry bag so can... Recognize it as being the center of the vintage item is another vital feature assess... Find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $ 4 a decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape the. That looks new is most likely a modern replica when their original parts complete! Videos, articles, and where has sold at auction for a lot of young men a.! Were regarded as collectible items of folk Art the category with a forked stick resembling a ducks head neck. Less common antique object with a jackknife till they get their desired shape the Eider drake, this remains but. Has a remote thats most valuable duck decoys compatible, so you can keep the whole thing organized typical deke have! Decoys and larger ones a pastime mid-1900s, duck decoys were used as most valuable duck decoys pieces until the next season.! Full body duck decoy on the deck, even when theyre loafing on the deck, even when theyre on... Carved from white cedarwood, cork, or how well the paint scheme the. A carry bag so you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $ 4 a decoy made canvas!, which isnt bad in this day and age for DB, you... Found that the bright colors of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than regular duck! Dozen mallards and building from there for $ 4/each, which isnt bad in this day age. Its nothing compared to world-famous antique items throw it out, set a spread it! Combined into one multi-species package Graves antiques are more likely to be worht more than $ 100 be in of! This list who wasnt American-born was the wood used ; white pine and cedar...

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