Of all bird decoys created, duck decoys were the most commonly made, however it wasn't unusual to produce other species, such as geese, turkeys, swans, grouse, partridge, and pigeons. Or are you going to hunt dry fields, with an occasional foray onto six inches of temporary sheet water, where full-bodies and/or silhouettes can easily be used? And then it builds from there. Thats because they make extremely realistic decoys, and Id rather hunt with fewer realistic decoys than more dekes that dont look as good. They are gorgeous and vibrant, just like a real woodie. And I like gadwalls. These are large, full-body decoys that look amazing in the field. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Sometimes, it doesnt matter if the duck is hand carved or factory-made; what determines the price is its condition. 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. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Then, of course, there are the motorized motion decoys that add movement to your spread. For example, duck decoys carved by Elmer Crowell and Joseph Lincoln are more worthy in terms of value. Much like The Eider Drake, this remains unattributed but without potential leads as well, really leaving us all in the dark. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? '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 landing on the water. Trust me. First, the mounting spots on the keel are not complete holes. 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. Some duck decoys were carved for hunting, some for decoration, while a few served both purposes. 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 Learn more . Guyette of Guyette and Deeter auctions once explained that about 90% of the available antique duck decoys had been repainted or renailed. If you want to kill ducks consistently, dont hunt with cheap decoys. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. Nice to know, though. Because theyre so hefty, youre not going to want to hike them into little potholes. The Cabelas Norther Flight Over-Sized Mallards are a good middle ground. Maybe someday. Lothrop didnt start out with decoys; it was more of a side hobby that later turned into a career. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. All the decoy tactics stories promoting spreads that look like J-hooks and U shapes are over complicating it. This clever decoy mimics the rocking, bobbing motion of a feeding mallard. Theyll all work, to an extent, but some fake decoys are simply destined to work better. Stability, low shake, and low noise. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan . 8 8. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. Some of the master carvers of duck decoys such as Ben Schmidt, Joe Lincoln, Walter Ruppel, Adam Anger, Addie Nichol, Alain MacDonald, Albert Laing, Art Chilton, Babe Strubinger, Bert . most valuable duck decoys. Dr. Most field hunters targeting mallards can get away with a goose spread along with a couple dozen full bodies on the X (along with some spinners). Or five. Water keel decoys are light, though, and make an excellent decoy for the walk-in fowler looking to cut down on weight. Crowell has been the only one to fetch over a million for a decoy purchase, but that was a pair even then. But that way madness lies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The hens have just as much detail as the drakes. Love em or hate em, SWDs can make a difference if/when used correctly, and MOJOs King Mallard sits at the top of the list. GLOWYE Duck Decoy Realistic Plastic Floating Duck for Hunting Decoy Garden Decor Pond Decorations Holiday Decoration Mallard Decoy Goose Decoy Features : Extremely RealisticDuck decoy fine workmanship, the feather texture is carefully carved, and it floats on the water like real life. Some makers are more renowned and talented than others. They get bounced around in boats and truck beds and garage floors. Whenever you attend an antique event or visit an antique store, you may also find very tiny decoys and larger ones. Garage sale mallards may cost $2 each, a call-your-buddies bargain, especially if theyre in a condition where they can be immediately used. Like many others on this list, he lived until the 1940s but didnt enjoy much of his work being sold. Antique duck or fowl decoys have glass eyes. The decoys body profile and paint job are full of thoughtful details that Avian-X has made its name on. 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. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. 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. They held onto these until their value escalated. It was one of the largest amounts of money they made at their 2006 auction. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. Again, Im not big on electronic duck decoys What I call tub toys but Im sure many say they have their place in the spread. Top 50 Decoys Ever Sold at Auction. However, are mallards what youre primarily hunting? Its a rite of passage for a lot of young men. . You may recognize it as being the center of the James McCleery collection until it was eventually sold. These are hunks of plastic that are going to be abused. Give it some thought. 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. The Lincoln Hisser. It requires NO batteries. Give it a whack. An inseparable pair, but more than just a single decoy. A brand with high-quality products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys for the money. Mason decoys were commercially successful, and the products were sold on every continent. Both decoys have detailed paint designs, solid bodies, flat bottoms, and hollow centers. Its bottom of the boat beating around. And if you give them just the smallest amount of care, they will last you many years of good hunting. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. 4 4. Its relatively simple, though. These arent out-of-the-packaging duck decoys (and some are not even decoy ducks), but they all have one thing in common: they cost a ton of money. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. This decoy was purchased in 2017, whereas most of the others on this list were bought about a decade ago or longer. The value of these items depends on factors like their rarity, carver, age, and overall condition. Higdon offers a foam filled option for these decoys, which Id highly recommend. This isnt fine china. Both pieces were created between 1915 and 1917. Hunting isnt easy. The right colors. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. Make it look really real. The scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s. To date, the record price for a decoy is $856,000, sold in 2007 by Guyette & Deeter in a joint auction with Christie's. This piece is shrouded in a tone of mystery. Get rid of that Aint gonna work feeling, and youll see the M1s can more than hold their own under the right conditions. Arthur Anderson grew up in rural Indiana, where he spent much of his time going on hunting trips with friends from a young age, and braving the outdoors to get the most authentic hunting experience possible. Although, these were mainly used for decorative purposes in the homes of the wealthy during the early years. You want soft-to-the-touch realism from a decoy without breaking the bank? This is often all it takes to convince wary ducks to commit. In Maine, the carvers made the decoys have tougher features to withstand the waters. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call, make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. But many hunters dont need that many full body duck decoys. Will they crack in freezing conditions? My decoys get banged up on everything imaginable. In 2007, his pintail drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a bundle. Let me put it this way. Also, because you can remove the heads on these shells, you can stack them. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. 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. But, are those what you really need for your brand of fowling? Unlike my buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag. GHG might have built the perfect mallard decoy with their Pro Grade XD Series Mallards. But if youre targeting divers specifically, it helps to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread. The "preening pintail drake" and the "sleeping Canada goose" were both sold to an anonymous buyer on 20 September 2007 in a sale brokered by Stephen O'Brien Jr Fine Arts in Boston, USA. And while its tough to find an exact weight, a common denominator says roughly eight (8) pounds; not light, but not ridiculously heavy either. 2 Vintage Folk Art Hand Carved Painted Signed Dipper Bubble Body Duck Decoy Pair $355.00 16 bids $14.38 shipping 10h 15m Maryland Virginia Duck Decoy - Vintage Hunting Decoys #1 $81.00 15 bids $16.50 shipping 10h 50m carved duck decoy $300.00 25 bids $13.46 shipping 1h 38m or Buy It Now ANTIQUE JAMES T. HOLLY CANVASBACK DRAKE DECOY WITH BRAND Since their production over a hundred years ago, both items have retained their shape and aesthetics.
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