Introduction

Steve Froelich

Steve Froelich

Active member
My Friend and Artistic Mentor Keith Mueller suggested that I check out the Duckboats and introduce myself. So Here I go.

I grew up in Minnesota on a spring-fed lake surrounded by cornfields. My father was an avid hunter and carpenter. I walked fields and sat in blinds from as far back as I can remember. Nearly everyday I hunted ducks in the morning and pheasants in the afternoon until everything was froze or the snow too deep.

I spent my growing up years in the Navy. 21 years started in boot camp and completed as a Commander having had the best possible job in the universe; command of a Navy Ship. While refusing to grow up, I stole a bride from Alabama and had 3 Navy brats. After getting the hint that I needed to get a job, I resigned to live in Minnesota and got a job with Lockheed Martin.

My current hunting includes the Waterfowl and Phesants of my childhood. I primarily hunt a farm in Northern Minnesota, the Mississippi River and Some Private Fields. And what I hope to make a new habit, I hunted in Alabama over Christmas break this last year. I have a 14" Jon boat and a 1959 Murcury 6hp motor that still starts on 3rd pull. Its not fast, but it is reliable. I hunt over a few of my birds but mostly Marv Meyer cedar decoys. The best tool in my arsenal is my black lab "Belle" JH. (pictured Below)

6 Years ago I start carving Decoys after a visit to the Jennings Decoy Company on my way to an AKC hunt test. I received Carving supplies for Christmas and I have never looked back. Ever. I took a class from Keith Mueller at the Krausman's Carving Studio 3.5 years agowhich propelled my ability 100-fold. Even so, I have hundreds of birds more to get where I want to go. As a carver and all around gregarious sort, I use the fact that my job takes me all over the country, to visit fellow carvers to see their shops, decoys and meet the personalities.

Last year, I made my own Duck Calls and have been telling my wife I want to make a boat. I am hoping, I'll get some ideas here. MN has some pretty tough Hunting boat laws "Must be in Vegitation", so its primarily a work horse to get from the shore to a blind with dog, decoys and friend

Anyway, look forward to watching and learning. I will share as I can.

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getting to "where you need to be" given the incridible life like look of that Lab carving that you attached....I swear it looks like its gonna bark........

Welcome aboard...

Steve
 
Welcome Steve...Good looking dog you've got...

do you have any pictures of the decoys you've done? I'd be interested in seeing some

Dani
 
Welcome aboard Steve...I'd like to see soem of your carvings too. I'm just getting ready to start myself. I always enjoy looking at the work of others.

Steve
 
Welcome Steve. I think you will find a lot in common with many of us on here. I also served in the Navy - USS Kitty Hawk, hunt over Carvin Marvin's decoys, hunt the Mississippi, etc. I'm not much of a carver but have built a couple of boats already. If you ever wanted to build a duck boat this is the place to start.

Let's see some of your decoys.
 
Welcome Steve! Good to see you as well Dave. Great decoy work from both of these guys!!!........................Kevin
 
Welcome from another Minnesotan!

I'm a huge fan of Marv Meyer's dekes.

How far north do you hunt?

Post up some more pics - dekes, hunting pics, dog stuff, etc.

Still doing the Hunt Test circuit? I'm active in the Mississippi Headwaters RC (Bemidji)

See ya around!

NR
 
Thanks for the welcomes one and all. I hunt in Mehnomen, Mn and the River Between Clearwater and Saint Cloud and also by Treasure Island. I am going to Westlake with my wife. She says I have to at least find 1 art museum and an afternoon away from ducks. Small price to pay. We will also be going to the Worlds.

Okay, For some decoys.

Here's a Coot I just finished, It has a hardwood keel now.

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Here's a Pinnie Hen I did for my wife. Mate for the pinnie in the Avatar.

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Heres a Can

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I am also Partial to Gus Wilson Style birds.

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Hey there!!! You made it!! You will love it here. The old group will be getting together in a couple of months....can't wait!! Since 5 or 6 of us are here, maybe we should do a thread about the class; that would be great!!

TTYL and welcome!! I love the coot!

KM
 
Thanks for the compliment Keith. That coot is the best pattern I have drawn to date. I am trying more and more to draw my own patterns but it really does take alot of work. Amazing what a good set of French curves, rulers and triangles will do for you. I am actually trying to draw that tucked head mallard. Its getting close, but I am wearing out the eraser on the neck transition. The powers of illustration still are too illusive. If I ever get back home, I will send it out for comment. Time is running out and I may be begging soon for a hand. I agree that we should talk about the class. Some live upload would be nice direct from Krausman's. For those interrested, my plan is to complete a pair of CT style Premium Mallards. (Think Shang Wheeler High Grade)

On the AKC---I had to give it up because of my job. I get to see momma so little as it is, the demands for my time on the weekends is tough. Its also the only time I have to work on my house maintenance. Belle is a finished retriever in every sense. I can send her on a blind retrieve and use some hand signals, but I really wish I could have sent her for her senior training. 3 kids in college won out. If you ever meet her, you will find the sweetest disposition and amazing obedience. She will however, find any place to sleep if there are no guns going off. I think she is part cat
 
Hey Steve -

Welcome aboard. Nice to see another Minnesotan (long on the "O" ya know). I'm in Woodbury so we are not that far apart.

I do most of my hunting just over the border but did start to stake out some new places also down by Treasure Island. A few years back I hunted the North Lake area but the crowds are just too much. Did some scouting around Treasure Island and did fair this year in regards to number of ducks shot but did much better on finding the spots the birds wanted to be. We had some OK shoots right down at the dam in the bay and did better going north from the public landing by the casino. Since I have a WI license, I made my way over to the WI side and launched out of Diamond Bluff and found some interesting areas. By chance, do you know anything about Marsh Lake or Gatenbein Lake? I don't understand how it can be considered private land when man made obstacles block entrance into and out of the area. It should be considered navigble in my non layer opinion. I also understand that this piece of land is owned by a consortium of bug buck lawyers in Mpls so no one wants to challenge them by hunting the area. It is a fabulous looking area if you've ever been back there.

A couple of things the Midwest members of DBHF do. We used to have an annual ice fishing day on a lake north of the metro. Called it the Travis Bruce something or another. Travis, who you will see on here once in awhile, is a southern boy who I don't think has ever seen snow. We keep trying to get him up here to fish but the wuss is afraid of the cold or something or another. We even named the day after him to get him to come but no luck.

Finally, there is a weekend gathering down on Goose Island (in LaCrosse) where a bunch of members get together for a weekend of tall tales, sharing decoys carved and boats built. Great group of guys. Rick Kyte organizes this and I'm sure a date will be picked shortly and posted on the site.

Once agaqin, welcome to the site. And very nice carvings. Maybe some day I'll take the plunge and give er a go.

Mark W
 
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