Cork decoys

J

James dopkin

New member
Any advice on buying new cork black duck decoys? I live in nj and I'm new to duck hunting so any names or website of good carver. I want to get something that will last to pass on to my kid
Thanks
 
James,

There are some talented carves here and I'm sure some may have a few decoys available.
I would suggest you post a little more info as to what your looking for. Decide between gunners or some decoy art for the mantel shelf and a price range. They can vary greatly in price due to the time and effort put into them.




 
$100 won't buy too much of a spread, just a few decoys, but that should be ok for the blackies
 
George Williams, and Mike Smyser - can't go wrong with their work. Buy from each, and you'll have a good rig to pass down. Both are master Decoy makers.
 
Jim Higgins at Sneak Box decoys used to have working black ducks for about $80. I haven't been to his web site in a while.

I have 4 that I hunt alongside of a couple of yard sale LL Bean blacks. Jim's are a lot nicer, and about the same cost as the LL Beans at retail. Mine needed touch up paint after 3 years, but I think that's normal.
 
Search the monthly "workbench" threads for a style you like and contact the carver. You'll get nice gunning blacks at that price point.

Good luck with the search, there are lots of options.
 
I have a few of George's decoys that I bought second hand from a friend. They are mallards and I could not be more pleased with them. They are really nice looking decoys. Very effective and definitely something you can pass down even after many years of gunning. Good luck in your search.


Chad
 
Pat Gregory makes some very nice and durable cork Black Ducks! I also have some older LL Beans that are 40+ years old and holding up fine.


Tim
 
I suggest you check out some decoy festivals. We have several in my area and it has been a great place to meet a bunch of carver, hunters, and generally great folks. I bet there are some guys on this forum who can point you toward some nice shows in your area.
 
Regarding decoy festivals-come on over to havre de grace the first weekend in may-We have some fun competitions on the flats, below the museum--You can see decoys in their natural habitat, and bs with a bunch of us!
 
Pat Gregory makes some very nice and durable cork Black Ducks! I also have some older LL Beans that are 40+ years old and holding up fine.


Tim
Click to expand...

I own two of Pat Gregory's Shoveler gunners and they are great decoys. Personally, I keep them as shelf sitters because I liked them so much, but he makes fine birds.
 
DDD decoy in NJ that is Ed Braun father of mike braun. He still carves cork that look like they should be inb a museum. 90dl ea. You can contact mike on this site
 
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