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Yesterday was an exceptional day for several reasons. One reason was we had three waterfowl biologists in the pit with us. We laughed, we talked about hunting and we talked about waterfowl conservation. Being together for 12 hours we covered alot of ground. And we were treated to a special...

I so enjoy hunting honkers in the snow. A bunch around. Amazing how many mallards and homkers we saw. Fun day!

Eric Patterson contacted me today and it caused me to think how much I've neglected interacting on this forum. So many great people. My apologies for my negligence. Totally my loss. My commitment for 2024 is to be a contributor and re-establish some lost relationships.

I've had questions regarding the feather stamps that I use on my decoys. I get them from Mike Zelkowski (586) 484-0387. Mike sells sets and have been making them for years. I love mine and use them on every decoy I make. I don't believe Mike is part of this forum so, give him a call if...

Harvested some plump Illinois mallards. Time for a new decoy pattern...

A 1971 ringneck decoy made by the late Michigan decoycarver Jim Wicks. This decoy is from Jim's personal rig fitted with his classic swing weight and came with a ribbon from the 1971 International Decoy Contest. I always enjoyed my phone conversations with Jim about decoys and layout gunning...

Our duck club conditions are good. Nice mud flats. Open on Saturday...

Were able to band just under 2,000 before it shut down due to COVID-19. Thankful for the results we had. Here are some fond memories...

Some pictures from this year's scaup banding...

Merry Christmas! From our family to yours!

Earlier this year, the Peoria Riverfront Museum hosted a significant decoy exhibit called American Decoy : The Invention. In conjunction with that exhibit, WTVP in Peoria, Illinois produced this documentary. Enjoy! [https://www.wtvp.org/local-programs/the-art-of-deception

...when in the layout boat, the conditions are just right where the duck you shoot floats back to the layout boat and you can grab it... This drake lesser came right to my hand...

Good one. Nice working blue wings... Love those little blue rockets!

Group of green wing teal completed both traditional and contemporary styles...

Some recent decoys... cinnamon teal, blue wings and Delta Marsh Canvasbacks... .

Coordinated an exhibit of Decoys from both the Heron Lake and Delta Marsh Regions at the North American Decoy Collectors Show in St Charles, Illinois this past week. Paul Wait of Delta Waterfowl and I did a seminar as well. Good waterfowling history...

Despite high water making for difficult conditions, doing some scaup banding on Big Muddy... Team has banded over 3,100 scaup this season...

A significant decoy exhibit will open on February 9th running through April 28th in Peoria, Illinois at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. http://www.peoriariverfrontmuseum.org/...-decoy-the-invention A nationally significant art exhibition organized by the Peoria Riverfront Museum, American...

Finished up with a fun scaup hunt with friends. A fitting way to end duck season. A real blessing... Snow geese up next...

Tom Matus and I collaborated on a pair of goldeneye decoys made in the spirit and style of our friend Jim Schmiedlin. I did the carving of the goldeneye pair and Tom some detailing as well as the painting. We both tried to show hints of Jim in these decoys but also used our techniques as...