Here in the semi-tropical Midwest...

[MLBob Furia]

...we are still anxiously awaiting anything that remotely resembles winter weather. Jan 4, and I did kennel cleanup chores in a pair of running shorts and a T-shirt today.

Shooting more pictures of decoys than shells these days, but still heading out at every opportunity. Had out 21 birds in a slough on Tuesday and took these shots of group of a half-dozen cork blacks sitting off to one side.

 

[MLBob Furia]

Still beats a good day at work.

Last few pics:

 

[Mike Repp]

Those decoys are absolutly gorgeous! Really nice!

 

[Bob B]

Bob,
I really like those birds, and that camera does a great job of getting the shots. Having them in the field and set out as a rig shows the full effect of the different poses and attitudes.
I take it from your title the chances of an icicle forming on the bill of any of them is not a danger. At least they are getting a ride and I hope you get a little wind and cold to get the season back.

 

[Dave Sikorski]

Beautiful birds Bob. It's been the same down here, hot weather, but better than work.

-D

 

[TimJ]

It is hard finding words good enough for your decoys. I swear that first one in your second post is fluffed up ready to do that butt wiggle thing ducks do any second now.

Tim

 

[rfberan]

Those are extremely superb decoys. Wondered if you carved them or had them made. I have a spread done by Rich Smoker in chrisfield Marilyn that are very similar. Any chance he did those?
Thanks for the pics.

 

[Scott]

Very nice!!!!

How do you carry those out to the water? Custom foam packaging? I get the feeling that they are not tossed in the bottom of the duck boat with the dog sitting on top of them.

I'm starting to get back into carving - I just hope I can get a rig half as nice as those. I'm changing from all basswood to cork bodies this time to make things a bit easier and faster.

 

[JeffCassat]

if you can't tell a smoker decoy from bob's... you don't know decoys they look nothing alike

there isn't another decoy made like bob's. period. i hope one day someone says the same about mine

Those are extremely superb decoys. Wondered if you carved them or had them made. I have a spread done by Rich Smoker in chrisfield Marilyn that are very similar. Any chance he did those?
Thanks for the pics.

 

[MLBob Furia]

How do you carry those out to the water?

Gunnell Bags: And Rich Smoker carves one heck of a bird!.. as do a lot of other guys besides me.

 

[JeffCassat]

bob.. it wasnt' meant as a knock on any of the smoker boys.... there's just no comparison... and i don't mean that as a one is "better" than the other.. just two different styles completely

 

[MLBob Furia]

Jeff,

Didn't take it as a shot at the Smokers, but didn't want to make anyone else think that might be what was implied.
In my opinion, anyone who's taking the initiative to make the decoys he hunts over, build a boat, take their kid hunting, etc, is what this site encourages (no matter what their level of expertise).
Because we love what we do in support of our "addiction," it's easy to unintentionally step on someone's toes. Too many sites out there turning waterfowling into a competitive sport I guess.

 

[rfberan]

First, I never claimed to know decoys, if I did I wouldn't have asked the question.
Second, you have never seen the decoys that Rich made specifically for me.
Third, I'm not an idiot and why would I see these decoys on this site and have them remind me of my own decoys if there wasn't some similarity to mine at my level of inexperience?
Sometimes it is a good idea to have all the information before jumping to a conclusion, no matter how knowledgeable you may be on a subject.
Signed,
No sense wasting my time again.

 

[MLBob Furia]

Those are extremely superb decoys. Wondered if you carved them or had them made. I have a spread done by Rich Smoker in chrisfield Marilyn that are very similar. Any chance he did those?
Thanks for the pics.

rfb,

Thank you. I did carve the decoys; although, if you are fortunate enough to have a rig made by Rich Smoker you are lucky indeed. Chrisfield has a long history of decoy carvers, not the least of whom were Lem & Steve Ward.

Oh, by the way notice the smiley face in Jeff's post. Please don't quit the forum; you just joined.

 

[Wispete]

Bob, It was nice to see your decoys in the water. I have always enjoyed it when you posted pictures of your decoys. Everyone's approach to carving decoys is a little different and as we are each individuals a little different. This shows up in the carving. The great thing about this site is the variety of the things we see here, weather it be boats, decoys,methods of pursuing ducks Pete Engel "Wispete"

 

[JeffCassat]

[font=Verdana,Arial,Helvetica]rfberan.... that wasn't meant as an attack on you. i haven't seen your decoys because you didn't post them. I would love to see them and see how you feel they look like bob's. as a carver, i'm always down to see other decoys.


Jeff
[/font]

 

[Josh Ward]

...not the least of whom were Lem & Steve Ward...

Absoultly!!! I just made my second visit to the Ward museum in Salisbury MD. Saw so many new things, and learned much more than the first visit. Truly a special place....