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). Because most duck decoys of merit were made in the 1830s to the 1880s, documentation (especially for a hobby) was largely unavailable. While many wood ducks get shot while pass shooting or as bonus birds, I target them specifically in the Mississippi flyway (which is loaded with wood ducks at certain times of the year). Silhouettes are anything but new, having been in use for decades; however, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering? the effectiveness of flats/skinnies on ducks. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. This ones simple Does it look like a duck? Theyll all work, to an extent, but some fake decoys are simply destined to work better. 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. Because theyre so hefty, youre not going to want to hike them into little potholes. All of these conditions work to ruin flocking. Are they separated in little family groups? they work incredibly well for putting ripples and waves, i.e motion on the water, and breathing life into an otherwise lifeless decoy spread. Think M1A1 Abrams tank tough, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers. Tanglefrees Flight Canvasback are all that, and more. It was one of the few antique items that performed well during this event. And for those field hunts, a couple dozen flocked full-bodies. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running. Cheap decoys typically have more issues with glare. AXP mallards lead the category with a true-to-life flock of hens and drakes designed by world champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. I like the way they sound. Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. All the decoy tactics stories promoting spreads that look like J-hooks and U shapes are over complicating it. Replicate live birds the best you can and make sure you have a little landing zone (known as a kill hole) set about 20 yards out, right in front of the blind. There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving (or not surviving) a shotgun blast. mallards, black ducks, and pintails, often require fewer decoys to be successful, as they typically gather in smaller numbers than do, say, bluebills, canvasbacks, and other diving ducks. Cobb Brant is one of the earliest duck carvers. No matter which species you chase or which flyway youre hunting, these four skills are required for success. 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. Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, which allowed him to grow his proficiency in woodworking. Love it (! Duck decoys are sometimes used in waterfowl hunting to attract real ducks.Duck decoys were historically . Join our exclusive 2,500+ email list to get tailored advice, product roundups, and be the first to see our new content. The company also manufactured models which were much more affordable for the middle and lower classes. These decoys are affordable and functional. If youre hunting small water like a little pond or stream, six to a dozen is great. Six decoys CAN be enough, if youre on a little body of water where the ducks want to be. And Id really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse. Lothrop didnt start out with decoys; it was more of a side hobby that later turned into a career. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. However, are mallards what youre primarily hunting? And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. You can buy jackets,, Your email address will not be published. Is it the right size? Ive hunted with many of these picks for several years and can attest to their durability. Of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get lost in, decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. 4 4. Some movement in your spread is good. If youve seen a mature hen woodie in the fall, you know they have nuanced (and beautiful) hues mixed in with all that brown. Our Editor 10 duck decoys Review: 1. Are they realistic in appearance? Bluetooth remote, long-life 6V lithium ion battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team there! To create the head, the carver uses an ax to cut off a small woodblock. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. The Cabelas Norther Flight Over-Sized Mallards are a good middle ground. Though as low as $80 and as high as $150 is common. 8 8. If you have been duck hunting for a while and have more or less figured out what you are doing, then you probably want to invest in some higher quality floaters. Top 50 Decoys Ever Sold at Auction. 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. It would be best if you also inspected the eyes of the decoy. 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. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. To create a duck decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape of the duck with a hatchet. Ill admit it. Learn more . Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. Dac Collins. Crowell began his carving career in the early 1900s and continued carving excessively till he kicked the bucket in 1952. . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Or five. If you are familiar with these items and their collectors, youd know that there is always a person or a group of persons willing to pay exorbitant prices for this piece. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. This was an auction record for the carver's pieces Most of these decoys will, on any given day, fool a mallard or two, but theres a hell of a lot more to consistently decoying ducks than merely buying a dozen Brand X mallards and tossing em out willy-nilly. Vintage mason decoys are relatively more valuable than other commercially produced duck decoys. 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. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. The guy we all know and hate. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. Those will work!. The hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. It will run in as little as six inches of water. This piece is shrouded in a tone of mystery. Shape. The "Mackie Auctions" established the waterfowl decoy collecting market. The market is continually evolving, so todays price may not be tomorrows. If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. This combined with the intricate painting that goes into each model makes the Hydrofoam decoys look incredibly realistic on the water. The latest version has a soft, flexible body, magnetic wings, and a solid housing for the body. 6 6. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. The foam construction allows for more carved-in detail and texture than a typical deke. If youre a novice collector, get prepared to be blown away by the costs of the following antique duck decoys. The rarest species of Mason Factory Wood Duck decoys in the best forms can cost up to $600,000. Trust me. 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. 5 5. That all depends upon how seriously you target woodies. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. Higher end dekes use paint that wont glare. Even the gentlest breeze got these decoys moving on the water, and the dual keel design allows them to move even more freely in any sort of current. They cost less than half the price of the most expensive full bodies. Here are the new year's top models. Regardless of where you call home, mallard decoys are a safe bet, and will likely produce results. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. The original carver of the work is unknown, and all indications point out that no one will ever find out. Other books recommended by folk art experts include American Bird Decoys by William J. Mackey Jr. and Wild Fowl Decoys by Joel Barber. Thats because they make extremely realistic decoys, and Id rather hunt with fewer realistic decoys than more dekes that dont look as good. 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. Often, the color used depends on the variety of ducks and fowls found within that region. A lot of other wood duck decoys have the drakes head sticking high up above the water, like hes on alert. Think you enjoy this fowling gig? Maybe you need to think of a pack setthree or four different species of dabblers combined into one multi-species package. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. The only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small. You can always add more decoys; its what we do. Also, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Its hard to beat an original, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy is still bringing ducks to the kill hole after all these years. Thats where they shine. This piece pulled in enormous amounts of money at the 2006 G&S auction. Nice to know, though. 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. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. However, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth it. Rig em individual, or on 40 droppers for long-lines; either way, these are the cats meow. This antique drake decoy cost this much because it still possessed its original beak. They get bounced around the bottom of boats and in decoy bags. First, youll notice the colors. It requires NO batteries. 5 5. Floater decoys are meant for use on the water. The primary reason why some duck decoys are highly-priced is not that theyre rare or produced by the best carvers; instead, it is because they are still in good condition. Cant ask for more out of a decoy. Real, live ducks. 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. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Im not a fan of spinning wing decoys (SWD). Vintage duck decoys can be ridiculously expensive. The right colors. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. Research past prices of Antique Duck Decoys to buy or bid confidently today! 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. Why It Made the Cut: Fifty bucks at The Walmart, and you can kill ducks over them, Im guessing, throughout the season. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. Theyre light and durable. McIntyre took those first decoys the decent looking ones at least to Ducks Unlimited dinners, where he sold the three dollar ducks for $15, the $20 ducks for $50. Shop our selection of Duck Decoys from the world's premier auctions and galleries. High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. Will they hold up to the rigors of day-to-day ducking? Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. How to identify valuable duck decoys, spot identifying traits, & assess value. Oh, it was therein the bottom of the shipping box. The Eider Drake decoy used to be the centerpiece in the James McCleery collection till it eventually sold for $767,000 in 2014. He was born in 1825, and he began carving at a young age. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. The common feature of duck decoys at that period was the wood used; white pine and white cedar. 4 4. 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. You should also check the markings on the decoy. Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the old-school jerk cord still gets it done. 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.
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