Our own forum decoy carvers...

John Robinson

John Robinson

Well-known member
Now that my duckboat is finally done and in the water, I need to direct my attention to getting a set of nice traditional blocks for next season. Over the years I have hunted with my main hunting buddy Neil, we built his Snow Goose about six years ago. When we first started hunting together about 16 years ago, we hunted out of Neils old Lund fishing boat and put together a set of about 80 plastic decoys, our motto was you could never have too many decoys. Now Neil is an artistic guy and thought it would be cool to make his own decoys, so he taught himself to carve a few cedar block decoys. His carving was ok, but his painting was horrible, but he kept working at it.

Then around eight or nine years ago I bought Neil a big slab of HD tan cork for Christmas along with a couple decoy carving magazines and books. Well, that was the start of something good, within a couple seasons we had 16 (now 24) oversize cork decoys in the Snow Goose. We found that we did just as well with 16-20 decoys as the bigger spreads we had used for years. Anyway Neil has met and been mentored by some of the big names in decoy carving and painting, and just this past week won best in show (forgive me if I don't have the correct nomenclature), in the shooting class and he won best mallard and best wood duck (I think). This was at some contest in Louisiana, he has also won numerous ribbons at other shows around the country, just a little brag for my guy Neil Deering.

Now it's time for my boat's setup. I have already asked Neil to carve some dekes for me for a charge. He is also giving me a few of those early, ugly birds that work so well, but I would like a set of twenty or so hand carved birds for my own boat, I know from reading post on this site that there are quite a few guys right here that are world class decoy makers. As I have said, these would be working decoys that won't be babied, so I don't need or want to pay for super fancy decorative birds, but I do appreciate the art of it. I have surfed the web a bit and did like those sneak Box decoys someone mentioned on the LL Bean thread, at over $100.00 a bird that is at my very upper limit of cost. I was also impressed with Dave Church's mature response to the initial flames he got when someone posted his work here, but I prefer the smoother tan cork for myself. What do you guys think about mixing and matching a bit? Buy a few here and there from different makers and add them to the ones I get from Neil. I'm not even absolutely sold on cork versus wood, though I have no complaint with the cork we have used the past years, I like the dull look and function of it banging around in the boat.

I know you guys are all shy about self promotion, but is there anyone here who sells their own work anywhere near my budget?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

John
 
Hey John,

I am willing to trade bird for bird...I would rather have a bird to add to my spread from a fellow carving on the sight through trade then I would to receive money...It is a win win situation in my book...I recently finished 5 goldeneyes that I am willing to trade 1 bird with you...I made 1 black cork and four tan corks...I have already given a bird away this year of the goldeneyes...I do not care which species of bird you carved...Preferably a puddle or inland diver...I have never hunted sea ducks nor lived close enough to utilize them in a spread...

The following link is one of my goldeneyes completed this year...

Re: My first Block and latest carved

You'll notice in the picture my first bird to my last...I am not one that will critque anybody's bird...Like Willy McDonald, www.theduckblind.com always says, "The bird will be the final judge"...And if you'll look at my first bird you will soon notice that it looks somewhat like a duck...I have shot hundreds of bluebills over that bird...

Regards,

Kristan
 
John,

I wouldn't worry about matching them...that is part of the attraction of the hand made spread. I'm like Kristan...I'm trying to put together the most hodge-podged rig that money didn't buy. (But I'll sell you a decoy just the same)

Chuck
 
John, thanks for the kind words in your post. I don't think it really matters if the spread is all the same or not. I have seen numerous flocks of real birds that you could see a visible difference in all of them.......they weren't all clones. I personally hunt over mallards, a few Green Wings, couple Blue Wings, some Buffleheads, a cork goose or two, some corks that friends have made for me.........and basically any "test" decoys that I need some "field testing" on. I might be completely wrong, but I would say, the right place, the right calling, and the right placement/ rig of "stuff" makes for successful waterfowling. I say "stuff" because I have had to hunt over things that kind of looked like decoys....milk jugs, painted 2 liter bottles, bucket geese, lobster buoys..........the birds figured it out eventually....usually too late. My advice would be.......never turn down a decoy offer, hunt over everything. The decoy that you find ugly might be exactly what the ducks are looking for. I have personally noticed birds working differently to calling in certain areas of the country, maybe they decoy differently to different styles too! Best of luck! dc
 
John,

IMO a mixed rig is the most realistic looking rig, to echo David's thoughts. Half the fun is talking about different decoys in one's spread when the shooting is slow. I know I had a lot of time to talk this year, hehehe. I just started carving about three years ago and have met some wonderful people in the carving world. It's one of my favorite off-season activities because it makes the duck season last year-round. Someday I'll have enough decoys to start trading.... Have fun collecting.
 
Wow guys, thanks for all the quick replys. I'm going to have to wait until after the holidays to start my collecting, and it will be over the course of a year due to cash flow, but I'll definitely be contacting you guys then. I am more interested in puddle ducks, but I guess I have to keep an open mind.

John

ps, I started hunting in 1965 with my two neighbors sons and their Dad. They had about 60 of those neimann Bennetts semi inflatable plastic sprig decoys and a couple dozen wood green wing teal decoys Mr. Fink had from before the war. We hated those factory carved wood decoys as they were so heavy to carry into the field, we thought the new plastic decoys were a major improvement. I wonder if Danny Fink still has those old wooden decoys.
 
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John,

It would appear to me that you have a friend with the tools and knowledge to teach you to start making your own rig yourself. Granted, your first efforts will look awkward, but there is a learning curve.

Also, keep an eye on Ebay. You can find some new HD cork birds for $40-$60 on occasion.
 
Someday I'll have enough decoys to start trading....
Click to expand...
Hey Robinson...You ever finish a body to go with that GE head??? Maybe that could be your goal for this winter ;)
 
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