A couple new decoys...

Zach Houvener

Zach Houvener

Active member
After some inspiration over at steves I went home after holding Mlbobs wigeon and I believe mark vanderhoofs flying redhead I went home and got carving...

The first is an Ira Hudson style Blackduck flyer...
We don't get Blackducks here, but this one won't be seeing the field, only my bedroom. Its the closest I'll ever get to seeing a Black... I plan on painting it like Ira did his with scratch painting the feathers in.

flyingblackduck.jpg


and my version of a Euro widgeon "caller" that will go into my rig, as well as a little hen teal.

flyingblackduck3.jpg


Steve heres one of those clam eaters without paint...

SCAUP1.jpg



Let me know what you guys think

Zach
 
I really like the head on your black. That is an uncommon pose for carvers and judging from the pictures that you posted, it looks like you nailed it.
 
Looks pretty good Zach. Do you only carve cork/ I have never tried scratch painting on cork but I suspect that you might have an easier time on wood due to the irregularities of the cork surface.
 
I like the flowing lines of your birds. I'm anxiously awaiting photos of the finished birds.

Did you use a dowel when attaching the head on the Black Duck flyer? What flavor of wood are you using for your heads?

I'll bet there is room to hollow the body to house a battery and motor that would give those wings some movement. ;>) ;>) (where is the smart ass smiley when you need it)
 
Zach,

Your dekes look great. I Can't wait to see them finished. What brand of drawknife is that above your widgeon? I've been looking for one like that.

Chris
 
Head to the boat ramp at Everett....the one at Jetty Island....there are Black Ducks there....likely all of them are hybridized to some extent there although two years ago I saw a handful that looked as "pure" as any of the ones I've shot on the East Coast......

Obviously not native to our Coast and these are courtesy of a rich, transplanted Yankee who missed his favorite duck so much that he brought them in and kept them in a huge flight pen many many years ago.....as in a lot of endeavors that rich, bored, Yankee's undertake he eventually became bored with his hobby and let the pens deteriorate and the birds escaped and established themselves as a small local colony and at least "some" still exist.....

Not the same as the REAL THING but you can at least say you've seen them.......

Great looking stuff....love that CLEAN, SMOOTH, carving bench....that'll change.....

Steve
 
A-beck,

I was worried about that surface, but Ill sand it down real good so it will have a uniform surface.

I used a dowel to connect the flyers head to the body, it is pretty snug fit, but no this one aint turning into a mojo!

I found a great supply of White pine for the heads...it carves easy and I like how it holds detail

The drawknife with the leather sheath is a flexcut 5" draw knife...You can get one for about $45 or so...
The straight handled one is from Willy Mcdonald, It came in a kit I bought a couple years ago..

I had heard of the Black ducks on jetty island, but have never went out there to go see them...Might have to take the barnegat for a little test run!


Thanks guys

Zach
 
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Very nice.

I am just starting to alter paterns and consider some of my own. Its really cool to see how well you can take an idea and put it into cork and wood.

please post up when they get some clothes on I bet they will look really nice.

Who / what was your inspiration for the Euro? ( I think I saw the picture thats why I asked)
 
Zach

Nice decoys! I like that clean look they have, and I too am anxious to see them in paint.

Thanks for posting.

Chuck
 
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