Hi yall,
My name is Spencer Tinkham. I am a 17 year old self-taught-decoy-carver and boat builder from Norfolk, VA. I am an avid hunter, fishermen, decoy collector, and outdoorsman who is very greatfull for all that God has given me. I am a kid who started tagging along with my grandfather on hunts after school when i was in Pre-School. Many people think of it as a rite of passage to hunt every day of the season. I was fortunate enough to have done that from Pre- School, until 4th grade. I loved to spend time with my grandfather on the Eastern Shore and my Munden relatives in Back Bay, VA, where i hunt some of the same blinds that were hunted by some market hunters! However, at a young age, i found out that my grandfather was loosing his battle with cancer, which he kept secret from me. When i was in Pre-School, he was given 6 months to live. Hunting with me, and spending time fishing with me was how he spent those 6 months. However, he made those 6 months, 6 yrs. He passed away on opening day when i was in 4th grade, and said to me to keep on carving (not just helping my realatives repair decoys after the season.) He instructed me to make a rig for "us" to use. He indirectly told me that he would always be with me, even if he was not physically there to pull up my waders, put me in the boat, or tie me to the boat so that i would not fall over board while picking up duck decoys. He told me this indirectly as he was in excruciating pain for every soft breath he took, and didn't want me to remember him as someone who was always in pain. He passed the messages on to my parents, and began to collect mini decoys that i made for him using boat scraps from next door, a hacksaw, and a pocket knife that was as sharp as a butter knife. After he passed away, i really was motivated to make rigs to hunt over. I developed a passion for waterfowling and anything that connects me to the water.
This past summer, one of my best friends fell out of a boat on the Eastern Shore. He broke his 4th vertabrae, and was one vertabrae from killing himself. He is now paralyzed from the neck down. He was a classmate, lacrosse team mate, neighbor, and fellow hunter and fishermen. When tragedies like this keep reoccuring, one often asks, "who's next." It changes your outlook on the world, when your two best friends both, in pain that is unimaginable, can no longer do what they love. Thus, i try to make every decoy and boat, as if it were my last. Even a 17 year old, does not know how long one can be expected to enjoy life to its fullest. I take advantage of every opportunity to help others, and take every opportunity i am given. I am fortunate enough to get to hunt with a GREAT group of guys in Back Bay, VA. I do what i love, and love what i do, and make sure to never put a question mark where God has put a period.
Thanks for taking the time to learn about me.
If you were interested in a couple tutorials, you can visit:
Carving a widgeon head: http://www.iwfca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=117
Painting a widgeon head: http://www.iwfca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=117
More about me: http://decoycarvingforum.com/May08.htm
I will try to get a few pictures up of my recent works too.
Thanks for your time,
Spencer Tinkham
Norfolk, VA
My name is Spencer Tinkham. I am a 17 year old self-taught-decoy-carver and boat builder from Norfolk, VA. I am an avid hunter, fishermen, decoy collector, and outdoorsman who is very greatfull for all that God has given me. I am a kid who started tagging along with my grandfather on hunts after school when i was in Pre-School. Many people think of it as a rite of passage to hunt every day of the season. I was fortunate enough to have done that from Pre- School, until 4th grade. I loved to spend time with my grandfather on the Eastern Shore and my Munden relatives in Back Bay, VA, where i hunt some of the same blinds that were hunted by some market hunters! However, at a young age, i found out that my grandfather was loosing his battle with cancer, which he kept secret from me. When i was in Pre-School, he was given 6 months to live. Hunting with me, and spending time fishing with me was how he spent those 6 months. However, he made those 6 months, 6 yrs. He passed away on opening day when i was in 4th grade, and said to me to keep on carving (not just helping my realatives repair decoys after the season.) He instructed me to make a rig for "us" to use. He indirectly told me that he would always be with me, even if he was not physically there to pull up my waders, put me in the boat, or tie me to the boat so that i would not fall over board while picking up duck decoys. He told me this indirectly as he was in excruciating pain for every soft breath he took, and didn't want me to remember him as someone who was always in pain. He passed the messages on to my parents, and began to collect mini decoys that i made for him using boat scraps from next door, a hacksaw, and a pocket knife that was as sharp as a butter knife. After he passed away, i really was motivated to make rigs to hunt over. I developed a passion for waterfowling and anything that connects me to the water.
This past summer, one of my best friends fell out of a boat on the Eastern Shore. He broke his 4th vertabrae, and was one vertabrae from killing himself. He is now paralyzed from the neck down. He was a classmate, lacrosse team mate, neighbor, and fellow hunter and fishermen. When tragedies like this keep reoccuring, one often asks, "who's next." It changes your outlook on the world, when your two best friends both, in pain that is unimaginable, can no longer do what they love. Thus, i try to make every decoy and boat, as if it were my last. Even a 17 year old, does not know how long one can be expected to enjoy life to its fullest. I take advantage of every opportunity to help others, and take every opportunity i am given. I am fortunate enough to get to hunt with a GREAT group of guys in Back Bay, VA. I do what i love, and love what i do, and make sure to never put a question mark where God has put a period.
Thanks for taking the time to learn about me.
If you were interested in a couple tutorials, you can visit:
Carving a widgeon head: http://www.iwfca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=313&Itemid=117
Painting a widgeon head: http://www.iwfca.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=327&Itemid=117
More about me: http://decoycarvingforum.com/May08.htm
I will try to get a few pictures up of my recent works too.
Thanks for your time,
Spencer Tinkham
Norfolk, VA
