Hagerbaumer Prints

MLBob Furia

MLBob Furia

Well-known member
As some of you may know, my original inspiration for making pickleweed decoys came from seeing them depicted in a Dave Hagerbaumer painting.

Well, recently I happened to be looking at Worth Matthewson's Sinkbox web page, and scrolled through the list of Dave's prints and artist's proofs that Worth still had available. To my surprise, a print of Pintails Over The Decoys, one of Dave's paintings depicting the use of pickleweeds was listed. I exchanged a few e-mails with Worth, who filled me in on Dave's current health status (he's 92 now and not doing well). Yesterday I received my print, and was thrilled to see that it was a proof that had actually been signed by Dave.

View attachment Hagerbaumer 001 (600 x 399).jpg

View attachment Hagerbaumer 002 (600 x 413).jpg

For those of you who are fans of Hagerbaumers art, you may want to check what still remains of the prints Worth has available. The subject matter covers waterfowl as well as upland hunting and other outdoor pursuits. There may even be a few decoys done by Dave available. Dave Hagerbaumer was a terrific artist who took his inspiration from the activities he loved to pursue. I guess that's why his appeal is so great with those who have "been there," as well.

http://www.sinkbox.com/
 
I have been a Hagerbaumer fan for a very long time. We wrote each other back and forth, in the late 90's, early 2001. I have many letters, that I still read and cherish.
Not only is he a incredible artist, hunter and writer, he's a very good Man. I sent him one of my Brant decoys, and in return he sent me a Ruffed Grouse dry point, signed and numbered 88/100.
My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I'd like his address so I can send him a card. He is for sure a American Master, and inspiration to all. One of a kind..........
 
I received one of his oval prints years ago as a gift from a former site member. Very nice piece and a real limited addition in this world of 10,000 of each size being considered a limit.

He is one very skilled man who has done as much as he can with that talent. If we could all just do half of that.

Tim
 
Bob
Dave Hagerbaumer was riding out the Armistice Day storm 1940 just South of my father and I. He was in Illinois on the Mississippi and my dad and I involved in the LaCrosse area also on the Mississippi. He has painted that storm and I was fortunate enough many years ago to find an autograph print in a small store in New Orleans. It was my prized possession until this Christmas I gave it to my son to enjoy. It would be special to have a conversation with him in the near future.
Wis boz
 
Wis boz

Man - now thats a story of importance. That storm is legendary in American Waterfowling. Makes me wonder, if the young guys & gals in our ranks know it's history.

Hope Dave and you get to talk. That would be something! Thank you for sharing your experience.
 
Hello, For those who would like to speak with Dave, his phone number is: 360 445 3432. Pacific Standard Time please. He enjoys speaking with people. Somedays. Be aware he is soon to turn 93, and somedays are much better than others in terms of how he is feeling. Overall, he is still with us, but losing ground. He and his wife came down to Oregon last summer to visit us, and I was shocked to see how very old and frail he was. Over the years we would see each other 3-4 times per year, but it had been over a year since we last got together. I got the strong feeling that he will not be with us much longer. It was all very sad.
Dave is truely a remarkable person. He first started waterfowling in 1928. He took care of his grandfather's call ducks. He and his cousin came close to death in the Armistice Day Storm. He was a marine during World War II and shot down a two crew Japanese diver bomber at Midway with his 30 cal off the beach. He once told me it was like a pair of mallards making the mistake of flying past him at low level. The plane had dropped its bomb on the airfield, and then had turned to make a pass up the beach with its machine guns. Another time while telling me the story he said: "What do the English call such a shot? A left and right?"
What always impressed me about Dave was the fact that his waterfowling was nearly 100% freelance. Done with Barnegat boats, hand carved decoys, classic guns. When he was at his height as an artist, he could have shot clubs on a daily basis. But he always declined such invitations, rather did it the hard way.
For those of you that haven't read his book, Waterfowling These Past 50 Years, you have truely missed out. I still have a few copies left. Also, be aware that Dave is still trying to make decoys. These aren't as good as he once made, but not all that bad. I have purchased an ad in the next DU Magazine for him regarding his decoys. I hope something comes of it, as his wife has told me his limited decoy carving cheers him up. Hope everyone had an ok season. It was slow at times here in western Oregon. Best, Worth Mathewson
 
Bob
Thanks for sending me Dave Hagerbaumer's telephone number. I had a long conversation with him this afternoon. We shared our Armistice Day storm experiences and hunting experiences. We even shared our WW II experiences, his as a Marine in the S. Pacific and mine in China with the Flying Tigers (14th Airforce). I had always admired his work and had purchased "The Storm" his water color of the Armistice day storm as I've previously posted. It was a pleasure talking with him and thanks to this forum it made this possible. I see Worth has posted a story on him and his telephone # also. I would suggest a call to him for it seemed to give him joy. He's a bit of duck hunting history.
wis boz
 
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