First decoy(s); Bold enough to share?

benp

benp

Well-known member
To show anyone that is just starting out that we all started somewhere too and that you can get better, I figured it would be good to start this post up. Feel free to share a first bird and a recent bird to show how far you have come, and hopefully this will give some new people confidence to keep at it.

My first bird was made in late 2011 out of a crab pot buoy and balsa block, along with wire, large dial rod, and buckshot to make the keel and to self right. It was this bird that got me started fully in decoys and I’ll have to find a pic of a recent bird to post up.



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Good morning, Benjamin~

Great idea! I won't be back in town for another 10 days or so - but will try to dig out my first bird when I'm home. It's a (way too big) Ruddy I carved with a jackknife and rasp.

All the best,

SJS
 
Great idea I will rummage around in the basement tonight and find my first one, and post it. thanks
 
Over forty years ago.
Took a cherry log off the firewood pile (BAD choice; it was like carving a cinder block! [crazy] ), and created ........ a generic duck with an adjustable two position (swimmer/preener) head.



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Love it...I certain a lot of birds were taken over it as well over the years. My first decoys were labeled Potato Heads by all of my friendly carving peers...Because it literally looked like a potato on a duck like body. Still shot a lot of birds over those decoys and still use a handful of them today.
 
I've posted my earliest attempts before but what the hey. These were a shot at my own BS Cork decoys when I was just getting started hunting over decoys. Connett's book, Duck Decoys in hand, but no understanding how to turn patterns into decoys.

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The funny part is that I shot birds over these cubic block although the square sides would ice up and flash like mirrors.

They were reworked to improve them a bit, and the blacks were changed to broadies.


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The broad bills are still waiting for their 2nd remake - I may get there. The dozen geese were converted to brant a number of years back:


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Scott
 
Buffy about center frame is my first...still in the rig. He's a little chunky, and quite heavy, solid basswood. I made the mistake of carving it, then trying to cut the bottom off on the bandsaw do hollow...about took my thumb off and I ruined a blade! I patched the damage with some wood filler and went on to paint.


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..about took my thumb off and I ruined a blade! I patched the damage with some wood filler and went on to paint.
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[size 4]How's that wood filler on your thumb holding up ? [laugh]
 
MLBob Furia said:
Over forty years ago.
Took a cherry log off the firewood pile (BAD choice; it was like carving a cinder block! [crazy] ), and created ........ a generic duck with an adjustable two position (swimmer/preener) head.
Click to expand...

At least your painting has improved.
 
Fast forward more years than I like to think about and a few slightly different styles later and I am still largely using the same patterns and tools, but am spending more time researching actual ducks (that I don't see often) and trying to paint more realistically. I'm still carving decoys to hunt over, but also sell a few to pay for the "habit". This is all just a hobby for me to keep sane and get thru the off season.View attachment Working Hen Mallard 2017.jpgView attachment IMG_2874.JPGView attachment 067.JPGView attachment 11-10-172.jpg
 
benp said:
Here is one of my latest gunning stools, canvasback drake from Tupelo wood with acrylic paints
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Good looking can. I like the bill detail. How many decoys has it taken to get to this point for you?
 
This was my first full wood body bird. Before this one there are 6 foam birds(2 have wood heads); 3 canvas birds; and I have carved probably close to 30 miniature birds which offers great practice that takes less time and money.
One of my friends that is a decoy champion winner said I had a natural feel for carving the birds it’s just my painting I struggle the most with that I need to work harder on.

Oh yeah didn’t mention that one of the foam birds took in water and was destroyed, have made 2 other birds that ended in utter humiliation so we all have to learn to get better.
 
That's a very nice canvasback, Ben! One of the best aspects of decoy making is the combination of carving and painting required to get a species right. Most carvers will tell you they prefer one over the other...like training a retriever, always train to the weakness, never the strength, to improve on the skill.
 
This is a great post, Benjamin. Your bull can is evident in how much fun and pleasure you get from your hobby.
Al
 
Still looking for my first birds... both in solid cedar. Here is my first cork rig, so sixth bird and on...View attachment 003.JPG
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I carved five birds in sequence, 3 cans and a redhead pair with some bleach bottle decoys for diver hunts on a lake outside Ludington, Michigan in 1980. Last place I shot cans routinely. I eventually picked-up a wood rig at a garage sale to replace the bleach bottles. The last place I recall seeing the remaining birds was on the bottom shelf of a decoy storage space at a duck camp on Moss Lake.
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Lloyd, so glad to see you on. I’ve missed seeing your Brant decoys, I still admire my mini I got from you every time I walk by it. Hope to trade a few more with you, Lord willing.
Season go alright this year?
 
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