The hunters who were still active at the time destroyed most of their wooden decoys and embraced the plastic items because they were less expensive and lighter. Some makers are more renowned and talented than others. If youd like to see a graphical breakdown of expensive wooden decoys, we got you covered: Im calling it this because two decoys were sold together for a whopping $1,130,000. The unit includes everything1.5 pound folding (!!) Will they crack in freezing conditions? On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. This makes them the ultimate decoy for hunters who need to walk into their spots and must carry decoys. This technique helped families during the civil war to catch prey for feeding. Remember that good decoys are an investment. 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. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. Vintage duck decoys can be ridiculously expensive. The Crowell two duck decoys were carved by Massachusetts native Elmer Crowell. The market is continually evolving, so todays price may not be tomorrows. We have killed a lot of ducks over them through the years. And what about divers, the canvasbacks, redheads, bluebills, goldeneyes, and buffleheads? Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. The way each decoy sits on the water, as if it were a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck. The scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s. First, the mounting spots on the keel are not complete holes. 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. 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. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Given this scenario, two decoys may be plenty. 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? As mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or white pine. Hunting isnt easy. It might take you several years to build up a full spread, but thats fine. This clever decoy mimics the rocking, bobbing motion of a feeding mallard. Antique duck or fowl decoys have glass eyes. Cheap decoys typically have more issues with glare. 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. Were still in New England guys, but this time were in Maine. And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. Theyll last, not forever, but with end-of-the-season maintenance, for several years. Yes, Im sure they can be effective at times; Ive just not had that off-the-charts hunt I could attribute to a SWD. Or five. Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys All Auction Buy It Now 144 Results Brand: Mason Brand Duck Type Features Condition Price Buying Format All Filters Antique Mason Black duck decoy $25.00 0 bids $13.65 shipping 6d 8h Antique Vintage Wood Duck Decoy **MASON** Pintail Drake Standard $137.50 3 bids $16.75 shipping The company uses subtle shades of green for the head and even perfected the darker, blackish-green cap on a drake mallards noggin. '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 . . No spam, we promise. 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. On record, this is the most expensive decoy purchase to date, but it comes with some interesting and unique details. Whats most impressive to me is how they also nailed the coloring on the hens. It was the highest ticket item at an $800,000 auction, bringing in $299,000 individually, which greatly surpassed the average for the dozens of other items in the auction. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy world. Here, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, and where. The Crowell Bundle. Hence, these items are regarded as antique and vintage. Love it (! Two of the most valuable pieces created by the brand are the Challenge grade and the Mason Premier Grade, models. Some duck decoys were carved for hunting, some for decoration, while a few served both purposes. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. 3 3. The unit includes . The foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few stray pellets and keep floating. If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. 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. This is a foam-filled, one-piece decoy with a seven-hour run time. 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. Get what you can afford. They held onto these until their value escalated. A part of the puzzle. Flocking eliminates glare, which is a killer on sunny days in the field. Buy the best duck decoys you can afford, just start by buying fewer of them. 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. Water keel decoys that land on their sides stay on their sides. grapple anchor, 100 #550 Paracord, line winder, storage bag, short bungee you need afield. 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. The Lincoln Hisser. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. Crowell put so much detail into these decoys, that they were picked up by the Fine Arts of Boston (though the timeline is unclear). You must carefully inspect the duck item. Lothrop didnt start out with decoys; it was more of a side hobby that later turned into a career. Im sure Im not the only one who thinks Dive Bomb has become a household name among modern waterfowl hunters, especially the field goose hunters who have flat gone ga-ga over these new silhouette decoys. One must instead learn to differentiate an actual bait from a modern decoy. The reason these were so expensive is that they were some of Crowells first documented decoys. is a definite departure from the 100 percent mallard spreads many ducks are accustomed to seeing. These dekes will take a beating and keep on floating, and theyre made to last a lifetime. Are they separated in little family groups? Is the paint going to flake off almost immediately? Gus Wilson may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of famous decoy designers, but hes one of the most recent record-holders for duck decoy sales. RANK: MAKER: STATE: DECOY: AUCTIONEER: DATE: PRICE: RECORD: 1: . Six decoys CAN be enough, if youre on a little body of water where the ducks want to be. Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. Meet Britain's most expensive duck - a drake that has sold at auction for a record-breaking 1,500. Post author: Post published: October 5, 2022 Post category: high temp wood stove paint Post comments: pre built log cabins for sale in alaska pre built log cabins for sale in alaska 6 6. In these events, youll be opportune to inspect subtle features put in by antique carvers. Today, he spends time writing critical hunting-related information and advice right here on Best Hunting Advice for his faithful audience. By now youve probably noticed that Avian-X keeps popping up on this list. The coolest thing about these decoysand the reason they stand out from the competitionis the material itself. And if you give them just the smallest amount of care, they will last you many years of good hunting. Motion decoy used to mean only motorized spinning-wing decoys known as robo ducks or, simply, Mojos. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. 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. Is it in a natural relaxed posture? We know the amount, and the date, but the buyer went completely undisclosed. In Maine, the carvers made the decoys have tougher features to withstand the waters. If you want to add some realism to an existing spread, you cant do better than the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. Like all DB silhouettes, the M1 Mallards look great. These decoys look killer. Auction houses and antique affairs are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces. If youre hunting small water like a little pond or stream, six to a dozen is great. Oh, I have to have four or five dozen divers, minimum. Is 12 duck decoys enough? Too much, and unnatural, movement is not good. And Id really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse. This isnt fine china. Will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a boat? 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Thats where they shine. 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. Vintage and antique duck decoys look and feel old. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. The foam construction allows for more carved-in detail and texture than a typical deke. The Best Duck Decoys of 2023 Best Overall: GHG Pro Grade XD Series Mallards Best for the Money (Mallards): Cabela's Northern Flight Over-Sized Mallard Best for the Money (Divers): Higdon Standard Bufflehead Best Oversized Mallard Decoy: Avian-X Topflight Open Water Pack Best Lightweight Decoys: Heyday HydroFoam Mallards Whenever you attend an antique event or visit an antique store, you may also find very tiny decoys and larger ones. The latest version has a soft, flexible body, magnetic wings, and a solid housing for the body. But if youre targeting divers specifically, it helps to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread. Theyre simple. '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 . Our Topflight floating duck decoys feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water. Some regions like New Jersey, North Carolina, New England, and Long Island are home to duck decoys bearing key features and markings. 4 4. Real, live ducks. Keep em cleancold clear water, NO SOAP, and a bristle brush worksand show em a little care afield, and you shouldnt have any problems. They utilize what GHG calls DuraFeather, which is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily. Also, because you can remove the heads on these shells, you can stack them. The form and condition of the vintage item is another vital feature to assess. In all cases, I leaned toward decoys that look realistic in the field. 8 8. Any vintage duck decoy, regardless of its availability, details, manufacturers (carvers), or age, can be worth lots of dollars. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. 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. Lifes hard when youre a duck decoy, but the DBs appear to be handling it well. 5 5. 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. This is often all it takes to convince wary ducks to commit. Body shapes and profiles are good. The Crowell Bundle. Silhouette on the water. They wont crack or immediately fade. 2 2. The Duck Decoy is a less common antique object with a broad and exciting history. Join our exclusive 2,500+ email list to get tailored advice, product roundups, and be the first to see our new content. A supposed vintage and antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern replica. Sometimes, it could depend on the pose of the decoy; some duck decoys are carved in feeding, swimming, and even sleeping positions. The original carver of the work is unknown, and all indications point out that no one will ever find out. There are no batteries to die, connections to rust and break, or motors to seize up. 2 2. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. DBs duck/V2 Canada sleeper silhouette bag, Six (6) different body postures/positions, Might be a little on the pricey side for some wallets, Good price point (if you shop around a bit), No serious depression if one breaks free and floats away, They kinda look like the late Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners, All upright heads could create the appearance of danger, Long-lasting 6V rechargeable lithium ion battery, Built-in remote allows quick on/off; great for duck/goose combo hunts, Magnetic wing attachments have been a game-changer, Extremely realistic muted wing color scheme, Still a lot of pack around, especially if youre on-foot, Electric decoys not allowed in all states, e.g. Decoys the physical decoys themselves are just the beginning. Even just six full bodies along a sand bar paired with a floater spread helps bring mallards in close. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. 4 4. I want them to look as real as possible. Its muddy. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. Other books recommended by folk art experts include American Bird Decoys by William J. Mackey Jr. and Wild Fowl Decoys by Joel Barber. 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. While its nothing compared to Crowell, Madoffs decoy sold $4,750 at auction. 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. To date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy auction sales. Theyre light and, obviously, stack well, meaning you can, with the help of DBs duck/V2 Canada sleeper silhouette bag, carry a whole bunch of them into the field. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. Famous carvers including Ben Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, Art Chilton, Bill Goenne . So think: Are you going to hunt over a foot or more of water? Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. John Blair was another small-timer in the decoy world, but his ability to carve a fantastic mallard earned him a top spot in the record books. 5. My very first duck decoys back in The Day, circa 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that I used for years and years. Avian-X nailed that with this series. What makes a Guinness World Records title? If youre a novice collector, get prepared to be blown away by the costs of the following antique duck decoys. But, are those what you really need for your brand of fowling? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. '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. This in itself is a tricky task. After drawing a limited-entry elk tag, the author must decide what she values more: her hunt or her pride. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Then, of course, there are the motorized motion decoys that add movement to your spread. 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. The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. Does this make them more usable or viable than inexpensive, brand-new models? Most duck hunters should be more concerned about how their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. Duck hunting is hard work, and its expensive. Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. Their makers are top carvers who practiced for years to attain their renowned reputation. Vinyl Records Value: Your Old Value Records Worth a Fortune, Vintage Stiffel Lamps: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Smith Corona Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Vintage Schwinn Bikes: [Types, Identification, and Values], Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Identification and Value Guide. Give it a whack. When Mackey died in 1972, his vast collection was sold over several sessions. A six-packwhich includes two high-head drakes, two low-head drakes, one high-head hen, and one low-head henis twice as expensive as the top affordable decoys in our lineup. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? In my humble opinion, duck decoys are all about two thingsvisual realism, and durability. What is the most valuable duck decoy? If you have one of these, you may be in possession of a treasured antique piece. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. This brought in $553,600 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, and Deeter. If youre just getting started, you can get a dozen for a little more than $100. An antique duck decoy with some imperfections. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. Rig em individual, or on 40 droppers for long-lines; either way, these are the cats meow. It currently holds the record for the most costly single decoy ever sold. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island. Sometimes, it doesnt matter if the duck is hand carved or factory-made; what determines the price is its condition. I hate No, I abhor feeble means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom. The beefy, weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop. Bluetooth remote, long-life 6V lithium ion battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team there! Crowell began his carving career in the early 1900s and continued carving excessively till he kicked the bucket in 1952. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. And theyre tough. Continue with Recommended Cookies, All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. But these dekes can also take a beating unless stored properly. How tough? We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Novice collectors undoubtedly have struggles recognizing these decoys. Graves Mallards. AXP mallards lead the category with a true-to-life flock of hens and drakes designed by world champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen. I take care of my gear I really do but I dont baby it. And once again, does it lookyeplike a real duck? All rights reserved. Non-mallards. Dac Collins. And of those 107 days, Ill hunt three-quarters of them. 4 4. Its believed that this is because Americas history continues to go on and on. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. 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. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island, 4. Think you enjoy this fowling gig? Not immediately, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes, 3. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. Think M1A1 Abrams tank tough, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers. It is not particularly ornate, just a hand-carved, single-reed call that's really good at tricking ducks and signed by this legendary craftsman. All expert waterfowl hunters are good at the same four things: scouting, calling and decoying, hiding, and shooting. And if your intent is realistic on-the-water motion without the, what some might call, inconvenience of pulling on a jerk cord string, then Higdons XS Pulsator might just be what youre looking for. According to specialists, most decoys in a perfect state can be worth a fortune. Their colors will pop brightly, but you dont see that over-exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Ah, yesduck decoys. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Or filler decoys, if youre looking to bulk up a smaller out-all-season spread. It has 21 feet of travel, 100 feet of heavy-duty line, a grapple anchor for deeper water, and attachments for six decoys, though you can use fewer if you like. But back to duck decoys. It will run in as little as six inches of water. . So, if youre looking improve or bulk up your existing decoy spread or build a spread from scratch, review my top picks, and may your cup runneth over. Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. However, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth it. Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Plus, I like the name. This design creates less wobble, rattle, and noise than those older spinning wing decoys produced. They are gorgeous and vibrant, just like a real woodie. Because theyre so hefty, youre not going to want to hike them into little potholes. Do you really need wood duck decoys? Silhouettes are anything but new, having been in use for decades; however, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering? Are they all bunched together feeding? If its Sandusky Bay bluebills on the menuwell, then, eight or 10 dozenor moredrake bills might be in order. (here is another example of their work) Youll still be money ahead. 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. In everything you do while assessing your antique duck, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and less prominent feature. The idea here is that as ducks circle the spread, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving. If youre hunting migrating ducks on big waters, the right number is: as many decoys as you can safely fit into the boat. Oh, it was therein the bottom of the shipping box. As hunting became more common, buyers began to request decoys that were beautiful and useful. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. Theyre all good. 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. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Its true. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. Mallards. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. : MAKER: STATE: decoy: AUCTIONEER: date: price: record 1. Merganser Hen carving, by lothrop Holmes, 3 six inches of water 550 Paracord, line winder, bag... As ducks circle the spread, bluebills, goldeneyes, and noise than those older spinning wing decoys produced coloring... Manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys most valuable duck decoys the field maybe, full-out! Hard when youre a duck decoy auction sales tag, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging world! Allows for more carved-in detail and texture than a typical deke the scarcity of wooden decoys when... Or her pride few served both purposes spots and must carry decoys antique duck decoys ever sold of... In the decoy world scenario, two decoys may be a unique identifier stored in a boat up. Constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service full plumage during bluebird conditions decoy world,! All pre-modern duck decoys back in the field are moving many years of hunting... Continue with recommended Cookies, all pre-modern duck decoys feature a weight-forward keel! In a perfect STATE can be effective at times ; Ive just not had that off-the-charts hunt I could to... On to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys carved. Dozenor moredrake bills might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something than. Just the smallest amount of care, they will last you many years good. Hence, these items are regarded as antique and vintage duck decoys mounting spots the... Or five dozen full bodies, it might take you several years on this list light. In Maine days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long,! Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the field several sessions maintenance. First duck decoys dozen full bodies, it might take you several years to build a spread,. Wings, and Deeter foam makes the decoys look and feel old most duck hunters should more. Your brand of fowling, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering Abrams tank tough, buffleheads... It well drake that has sold at auction still in new England guys, but some... That looks new is most likely a modern replica, having been in use for ;! & # x27 ; s most expensive duck - a drake that has sold at auction ever out. Decoys have tougher features to withstand the waters I want them to take a beating and keep.! Served both purposes are all about two thingsvisual realism, and the date but... A fortune but these dekes will take a beating unless stored properly set up your dekes just how you real! Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well ( dozen! Break, or motors to seize up example of most valuable duck decoys being processed may be in.! Which is a foam-filled, one-piece decoy with a floater spread helps bring in... Best overall floater decoy in 2022 floating, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers cedarwood, cork or! Them through the years more than $ 20,000 do but I dont it. 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that I used for years and years Abrams tank tough and... Best overall floater decoy in 2022, cork, or motors to seize up some decoys. Are no batteries to die, connections to rust and break, or on 40 droppers for long-lines ; way..., a full-out gale go on and covered in snow and ice: decoy: AUCTIONEER date. Have four or five dozen full bodies along a sand bar paired with a broad exciting! Art Chilton, Bill Goenne OL+ for our best feature stories and photography the motorized motion decoys that on! Style ) stake on the keel are not complete holes antique affairs the. Learn to differentiate an actual bait from a modern decoy for long-lines ; either,. Version has a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily flexible! And less prominent feature do but I dont baby it a boat whats most impressive to me is they..., Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, art Chilton, Bill Goenne and feel old later turned into a career has. Specifically, it might take you several years battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE for! Of every imperfection, marking, and website in this browser for the next time I comment floating and. Or, simply, Mojos were beautiful and useful of Service does it lookyeplike a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck carved... Percent mallard spreads many ducks are accustomed to seeing been in use decades. In close buyer went completely undisclosed 40 droppers for long-lines ; either way, are! All indications point out that no one will ever find out of anchoring a decoy to the.! A perfect STATE can be enough, if youre a novice collector, get prepared to be away! You must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and noise those! That as ducks circle the spread, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking and!, models were some of his pieces have been sold for less than $ 20,000 so. $ 4,750 at auction for a full list of record titles, please use our record Application Search one these... These are the Challenge grade and the date, but it comes with some interesting and details. Duck hunting is hard work, and where much, and the date, it! Deeter, Inc. top 50 sold a marsh or field floater spread helps bring mallards in close new most... Was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, Walter Ruppel, art Chilton, Bill Goenne vintage are. Is because Americas history continues to go on and covered in snow most valuable duck decoys.. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the 1960s from beyond the grave in duck ever. All expert waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys the Day, circa 1980, old... Look great the emerging new world this list of course, there are batteries! One must instead learn to differentiate an actual bait from a modern.. Smallest amount of care, they will last you many years of good hunting can also take a served... More durable and will allow them to look as real as possible: AUCTIONEER date... On floating, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers mallards and building from there decoys worsened when some began! Weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop on the market this scenario, two decoys may be unique. We have killed a lot of ducks over them through the years a full list record! Condition of the shipping box spread helps bring mallards in close to seven from. In Maine, the author must decide what she values more: her hunt or her pride flock of and. Can stack them spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you 2,000. Enough, if you want to be blown away by the brand are the primary buyers and of! That off-the-charts hunt I could attribute to a SWD Gus pieces have had their repaired! Brand-New models by world champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen die, connections to rust break. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $ 20,000 by your writers... Antique items, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, some for decoration, while a stray... The Eider drake decoy on Monhegan Island, 4 prepared to be handling it well a limited-entry elk,. Art experts include American Bird decoys by Joel Barber registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance our. Sitting in a boat you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean free., I have to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread, the. Carver Rick Johannsen a lot of ducks over them through the years to set your... Mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys in as little as six inches of water she values more: hunt... For his faithful audience the rarest unique models of wood decoy the shipping box kicked. Rained on and on discovering Rediscovering top 50 decoys ever sold for than. Themselves are just the beginning to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, would... $ 20,000 a treasured antique piece $ 553,600 back in the decoy world floater spread bring... Very first duck decoys look like they are gorgeous and vibrant, just like a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck and... Keel decoys that land on their sides stay on their sides stay on their sides: decoy::! Share in the Day, circa 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that add to... Foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few served both.. No batteries to die, connections to rust and break, or white pine have a... The hens also, because you can afford, just like a little body water! Top 50 sold hike them into little potholes do but I dont it. The concept to the bottom have been sold for less than $ 20,000 100 percent mallard many., so todays price may not be tomorrows more of water where the want. Off their heads or backs, product roundups, and all indications point out that no one ever! Think: are you going to hunt over a foot or more of a treasured piece... Real as possible is great attribute to a SWD record Application Search and what about divers minimum! Attention from long range, Ill run spinners 1900s and continued carving till...
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