Big Eiders on the way, EDITED with the final 6

[Troy Fields]

Here are some pictures of what's coming. My good friend and carver Jon Ketchum is building us a six decoy rig for the upcoming season. Tip to tip the birds will be 32" +/- . Jon did a prototype this past summer of foam, which I hunted with each trip. These new six will be from cork. David Clark will also be making a special padded canvas bag for these to rest in while being transported. Hope you enjoy, should make for a great rig!

Here's are two pictures of the prototype.









And these are two of the six cork.












And a size comparison with a "standard" eider.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Good morning, Troy~


Beautiful birds! Send along my appreciation to Mr. Ketchum.


All the best,


SJS

 

[Eric Patterson]

Troy

Those are really cool. They remind me of the rig Keith Mueller did a long time ago that have been posted here on several occasion.

Eric

 

[Carl]

The only thing cooler than those decoys would be me flying north next year and shooting over them.
I'm thinking i need to burn some frequent flyer miles!

 

[patrick mccarthy]

Dr. Jon makes a very nice decoy.

 

[Chris Hughes]

Talk about magnum decoys...good looking decoy.

 

[J. Overland]

That's a really cool rig. I'd definitely do a double-take if I was motoring past when you were picking up.

 

[Todd Duncan Tennyson]

Those are great looking. They are big enough so that if you wanted to use one for a project, you could make a great flower pot out of one.

 

[tod osier]

Those are sweet birds. I love the huge seaduck concept.

I made a rig of 6 whitewings that are almost that big, only floated them once, since we dont have many here.

 

[tod osier]

The only thing cooler than those decoys would be me flying north next year and shooting over them.
I'm thinking i need to burn some frequent flyer miles!

I like that idea, I need to get in a couple days gunning eider in the next couple years before heading west for good.

 

[Troy Fields]

Thanks Steve, I will.

 

[Troy Fields]

Thanks Eric. Keith is actually doing another eider rig as we speak I believe.

 

[Troy Fields]

Sounds good Carl. These will be out on the salt this season.

 

[Troy Fields]

Indeed he does Patrick. I have a few of his work. It's always a great looking spread when he shows up.

 

[Troy Fields]

Those are sweet birds. I love the huge seaduck concept.

I made a rig of 6 whitewings that are almost that big, only floated them once, since we dont have many here.

thanks Tod. Do you still have the WW scoter?

It was fun hunting the prototype last season. Always a conversation piece on the motor out and it always looked great in the set.

 

[tod osier]

I do have them, but they aren't nearly the size of the eider they are about the size of the E Allen eider/scoter.

Bobtail bodies are about 18", whereas your eider are about 24.

 

[Troy Fields]

I like those scoters Tod!!

Here are the remaining decoys that Jon made.





The group of five.






And the final bird, this very nice hen!

 

[Dani]

Those are all beauties, Troy!!!!

 

[Troy Fields]

Those are all beauties, Troy!!!!

Thanks Dani, I agree. I really like the hen. I won't see them in hand until the fall but it will be a great hunt when we float them altogether for the first time.

 

[John Ki]

Wow beautiful. I am guessing those are the keels for them, they look big enough to to bunks for a trailer