Decoy head measurements

B

Braden Maddox

Member
Good morning,

I have a few decoys I would like to get started carving on and have side profiles only. What is the best resource to get bill widths, and various other top view measurements for duck heads? Thanks in advance.
 
Braden~


Congratulations on your venture into decoy carving.


A few thoughts spring to mind about your question:


1) The "plan view" is critical for any carving - it provides the widths to go with the heights of the "profile view". Looking back over the years - I began carving in the mid-70s - I got my measurements from a combination of live (dead, really) birds, others' patterns and experience.


2) Even with the plan and the profile patterns, there is still lots of room to carve a bird full or lean. Experience and your style will dictate where you go.


3) Precise measurements are most useful for life-size, "floating decorative" decoys. Many carvers exaggerate selected features in gunning stool - to accentuate or even caricature the personality of the species.


4) Many modern plastic decoys are manufactured from "masters" carved by true masters. Lots can be learned from their careful study and measurement.


5) Although bills lend themselves to precise measurements, most other dimensions on a bird's body are "plastic" - they can change dramatically with posture and attitude.


6) Google Images can provide lots of useful info for a carver - especially answering the many questions you'll have about the subtle shapes and contours you'll try to replicate. Just be aware that there are many misidentifications on Google Images.


Having said all that, I suggest you get yourself at least one commercial pattern as a starting point.


All the best,


SJS

 
I have carved two birds out of foam with cedar heads from patterns George Williams sent me. For my second group, I probably overstepped my talent level. I am starting to work on some birds from the life vest cork I posted about a few months back. It will be a group of 5 green wing teal and I chose the 1936 Ward Bros pattern that is listed on this site. It is the side profile for head and body, and top profile for body only. I think it is more of a life size pattern, and I have a teal pattern that is slightly oversize that I could probably shrink slightly to get general sizes.

I do have Burk's book that list some general size info for various birds, I was curious if there was another book that maybe offered more details or not.
 
Good luck Braden and remember it?s ok to make mistakes. Generally speaking I have pattern for duck bodies, so if I?m developing a new head pattern I put the side profiles together to see if they look right. My larger duck heads like canvasbacks usually start at 2.25 inches, teal etc closer to 1.75. My mallard bills measure about 1 inch across the base and smaller ducks .75. Attached is a reference page with lots of measurements. I think it came from a Burke book my Dad owns. I can scan and email actual top and side view heads if you want.View attachment 7C34193E-49E4-4871-8015-7F8BFE28C04A.jpeg
 
Braden, are you making life size, oversize? That is kind of a loaded question. for teal, I use 3/4" as bill width, based upon a 2 1/2" stock. For bigger birds, things vary-1" for mallards and blacks, using 1 5/8-2 3/4" stock. sprig are slightly thinner. woodies and widgeon, just cut outside the 3/4" lines. based upon 1 5/8" width for the head. Those measurements are based upon my decoys, which are oversized.

Yeah, the teal and widgeon bills seem close in width, BUT, I like a chunky teal.[laugh]
 
Good morning, Braden~


One more thought:


When enlarging my patterns - typically for gunning birds - I take advantage of photocopiers that can enlarge. The best ones are infinitely variable, so I can decide between 110% or 111%, for example. I've ventured as high as 130% !



I suppose one could use a copier to shrink any pattern down to 4 inches - for a certain decoy swap - too!


All the best,


SJS

 
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