Who or what started you carving decoys?

Rich Hohler

Rich Hohler

Active member
With all the talk of the history of decoys and their makers and where we all draw inspiration from I thought I would start a thread discussing where we all got our start. I find it interesting to learn how decoys have evolved over the generations starting out as a necessary tool for the market gunners and expanding into "décor" and folk art. I started carving in the early 90's when I met a gentleman who had taken a class from Willy when he still had his store in Richland Michigan. I found it fascinating that he could carve and paint a working decoy that represented the species so well without any real talent as an artist. I was quick to get signed up for the next class Willy had and after a week of evenings spent with about six other students I had a drake buffy that I was damn proud of. Willy was able to teach in a way that even a guy like me with no real talent as an artist could produce a good working decoy. Thus my addiction began. Over the years I have drawn inspiration from many other carvers and a good share of them are on this site today. I have been blessed to be a part of classes led by Jode Hillman and Pat Gregory to learn other techniques for painting the decoys I carve and have read through books and internet posts to learn even more techniques from guys like Keith Mueller, George Williams and Steve Sanford just to name a few. I see the importance of passing on the tradition of making true gunning blocks and appreciate those that do the same. I would thank Willy for getting me started and many others, some of whom I have mentioned here and others that I haven't for giving me the tools and inspiration to make the decoys I make today and keeping me out of the bars at night. I would be interested to hear where everyone else got their start and where you draw your inspiration from.
 
Decoy carving started in my family on the Illinois River in the late 1890's with my great grandfather, George Barto. He carved decoys for 60 years. Unfortunately none of his boys learned to carve decoys. In the early 1980's my wife Nancy urged me to carve decoys to restore this great tradition in my family. In 1984 I sought out Art Behemetuik of Lockport, Illinois. Art was grandpa's shop assistant and one of the few people that learned to carve from Barto. Art is actually still alive and at 86 years young, still carves decoys.

After getting started in '84, I've not stopped since... 30 years later I still enjoy doing it and thank the Lord for the gift of carving and the fine people it brings into my life. I also love seeing ducks decoy into my blocks... Both of these keep me going...

Other than my great grandpa and Art, my carving heroes include the Great Ben Schmidt, Jim Schmiedlin, Virgil Lashbrook, Perry Wilcoxen, Duncan Ducharme and Henry Taubert.

My great grandfather, George Barto...

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Art Behemetuik, my teacher shown here with Tim Speight...

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3 sizes of grandpa's mallard decoys...

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Grandpa in a skiff he built pitching his decoys on the Illinois River in the 1920's...

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Grandpa painting a mallard hen in the 1950's...

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Great post Rich! Thanks for doing this brother! Pat
 
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In the late 70's early 80's I saw a book "Game bird carving" by Burk, I convinced Mom I needed this book. My senior year 1983 I carved the gunning Blue Bill in the front of the book for a art project and was hooked.
Then life got in the way and I never carved again till about 1998-2000 when I was inspired by the internet sites to start again.
This site Duckboats being instrumental that!

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Were I get inspiration to continue, here would be one of the best places, with all the stories from people like Steve Sanford, Pat Gregory, and Bob Furia ........
I could go on on but have run out of lunch hour!!


Craig,
 
I started drawing ducks, then entered the Federal Junior Duck Stamp Program when I was in 2nd grade. I placed every year in Vermont until I was a freshman in HS. In 9th 11th and 12th grade I won for the state of Vermont and placed 15th in the U.S. my senior year. In 8th grade I tore my ACL in gym class and that sidelined me from sports for six months. I picked up a carving kit from Jennings decoy co. while I was laid up and taught myself how to carve by working away at it with a small rasp and a small knife. That decoy was a black duck a drake and hen mallard a black duck again and finally back to a hen mallard before I bought another decoy kit. That evolved into Jennings cutting my patterns for me and then buying my first band saw. Ever since I've been buying tools and cork and looking for a good cedar on the farm for heads. I lost track of how many I've carved and now that I'm on the cusp of 30 with two jobs I've had a lot less time to do it but I would bet I've carved 400-450 decoys.


Eddie
 
About 15 yeas ago my friend Chris gave me a copy of Eugene Connett's book that he had picked up at a decoy show on Long Island. He already had his own copy of the book and had recently started carving as well. So we were both getting into it and could bounce ideas back and forth.

My first first decoys were wood ducks made out of 2x8's from a big box store. I then got some black cork from Chris and soon after found a local source for white pine.

It's been a gradual process for me, I've probably only carved about 40 decoys in all. But I've had a lot of fun and really enjoy hunting over my own blocks and those of others. Hopefully someday I'll be able to spend more time at it and will be able to make an entire rig.
 
I have always felt the yearning inside of me to shape wood, but to be honest, this website was what inspired me to take the first steps toward carving waterfowl.
 
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For me it was caused by my cheapness. I wanted to try hunting over decoys and was too cheap to pay $5 for a "real" decoy at Canadian Tire, so I hacked some mallards out of firewood, painted them up, and the rest is history. I remember using bale strings for lines and old sparkplugs and nuts and bolts for weights.

This forum changed my outlook towards making decoys, as well as duck hunting, to a very great extent.

Mike
 
I've been obsessed by waterfowl since I can remember.
I know I made a ceramic scaup in high school art class..

my carving began, strangely enough with a show on public television featuring two carvers from Minnesota (I think), carving a decorative wood duck.

I loved the books by Richard Lemaster and would have to credit him for much of what I know about carving.
 
I transitioned from painting oils, and watercolors of historic decoys I studied, to carving my own to hunt over in 1982. Never took a lesson, or had a mentor, but was encouraged to make my own by my old wood shop teacher. Gunning over canvas decoys in NC in the 1970's set the hook. Can't imagine what my life would be without decoy carving, and ALL the good folks it brings into my life on a continuing basis.

That is what is so incredible about our lifestyle, it gives as much back as we put in.
 
I had started duck hunting in college in1967. I was raised in the Adirondack Mountain township of Ticonderoga, New York where everyone who hunted was primarily a deer hunter. I knew very little about decoys or the carving of such. In 1972 I took a teaching job in Westbury, Long Island and went to the Long Island Decoy show. I was fascinated with the local carvers and their decoys. I started to collect old decoys from the area (back when you could still find some stool in the outbuildings and garages of the Bay townships). Finally, I decided to try my hand at carving and I made a ringneck from a piece of red cedar( the hardest piece of wood I could have possibly chosen, but I knew nothing) After going to Cornell for a masters program, I settled into the Sacandaga Lake area teaching in a Community College and restarted my carving. After a few years, I competed In decoy shows in Clayton, Ohio, Michigan and others and carved prolifically. Now that I am retired, I spend my time hunting ducks , training my Black Lab(1 yr on 3/8/15) and I carve about three hunting decoys with decorative paint. These are primarily given to family, hunting buddies, and a few for sale. I am tempted to throw a few into the competitive show ring to see if I still can win a blue ribbon or two, but so far have not made that plunge. I use to keep an aviary of wild waterfowl species to use as models for carving and painting and miss those days!
 
Nothin' sexy, was researching about touching up plastics some years back and ran across folks carving their own birds and became intrigued. I was really into art back in highschool and the itch had started back to do some painting again and since I was already a hunter, I figured I'd marry the two. Definitely thank the internet for getting me started, being from Ga, no real mentors near by so pretty much self taught. I would have loved to have had a mentor...but I like the fact that I sort of influenced myself, learned things on my own even though it took longer, etc. Did my first bird in '09 and still at it. I said if I stuck with it 5 years that I'd set me up a shop, just did that. Enjoying it more than ever!
 
Craig~

What great birds! They all have great attitudes and sit as gunners should. Love the bold paint and those nice fat brows and cheeks.

All the best,

SJS
 
Rich et al~

I fell for decoys - and everything else about my Dad's gunning - from my earliest memories. Duckboats, decoys, clothing, calls were always around - for close inspection and play. Somewhere I have a great B&W photo of me holding a Herter's Model Perfect Black Duck decoy - age 4 or so (me, not the decoy). And, I always drew and painted - with waterfowl being the usual subjects. I very clearly remember my Dad re-painting the head on one of those Herter's - age 5 or so.

I did not carve, though, 'til after college. I painted lots of decoys from about age 12 on - and view it as a missed opportunity that I did not spend any time in the shop of family friend Bill Joeckel. Bill was one of the more prominent carvers of his time and lived just a couple of miles away. I remember seeing a Broadbill decoy mounted atop his mailbox. I also vividly recall taking Joel Barber's Wild Fowl Decoys out of our library in East Islip. The Lee Dudley Ruddy left an imprint that has not faded over the 50 intervening years. I knew right then that I would carve.

I did not begin carving in earnest until I moved back to Long Island to begin my career with DEC in 1978. Mike Scheibel was the endangered species biologist and a carver and collector. He was (still is) a member of Pattersquash Gun Club, and he knew Bud Corwin and all the LI carvers. So, for many years, we would both bring in-progress birds into the office - and also geared up for the U. S. National Decoy Show after the gunning season each March. I saw lots of great birds there and met many carvers. I still have a very-detailed set of Oldsquaw patterns that Keith Mueller mailed to me in the early 80s.

I never carved with Al "Mr. Decoy" McCormick but heard him speak many times - watched him carve at the National - visited his basement shop once - and used his Brant stool when we were rocket-netting Brant.

All the carvers here on duckboats.net have been a real help to me - both seeing all of the fine work and different approaches, learning technical stuff, and also just having a place to share my work with others who share the passion.

I suspect that each of us recognizes the wonderful role that waterfowl has played throughout our lives. The generous sharing that is a common thread is one of the best parts.

All the best,

SJS
 
Got an MFA in painting from SIU-Carbondale in 1969, and until we moved to Delaware, i was an upland hunter.
Got hooked on waterfowl around 1975, decided that the stuff on the market at that time for luring ducks was just plain drek, and began making my own rig. Since then, it has been an addiction
Spent time at Madison Mitchell's shop, also Captain Jess Urie's. The visits were eye opening, for sure.
My main regret now is that the guys just starting do not have the benefit of visiting with the icons of secoy making, and are stuck with my generation for mentors.
Keeping the decoy as a hunting tool will ALWAYS be my primary objective.
So many carvers, so few decoy makers.
 
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Art and advertising BFA degree 1975. Went on vacation to the Outer Banks and saw some stretched canvas decoys, one in a museum without canvas on it and some wood decoys. Went on vacation to Chincoteague and was able to visit Reggie Birch and Cigars shop. Started collecting Eastern Shore decoys and started carving and making stretched canvas decoys.
Joined the ODCCA and attended and competed at the shows since late eighties. Started to attend the Easton show every year since early 90,s. Hunted over an all wood decoy spread with Ky and hunted over my own dekes.
Clubs and shows are very important to our hobby. I personally like the shows that combine contemporary carvings with collectable items. Wish the two Ohio clubs would get together, it would be a lot easier to participate and enjoy.
Met a lot of good people from all over the country I consider friends even if we see each other once a year.
Ken
 
My odyssey into carving my own decoys began a few years ago.....
I was shooting video for an outdoor program and was lucky enough to video Pat Gregory, Tim Speight and Jim Willimas (all of these gentleman are Duckboats members and outstanding carvers) on a layout hunt for divers.
Over the two days of placing these gentleman in front of the lens I attempted to capture their passion and devotion for the art of carving and each day they would fill their straps with Scaup, Redheads, Canvas Backs, Buffies and Golden Eyes.
During the next week, I attempted to carve my first blocks, crude at best, and the paint jobs were horrendous, but they were "duck like". A fort night later, I was once again invited to join these men on a hunt, not to video, but to to bring a gun and share in the fun. In my bag I hid my chunks of wood from their view until they had finished putting out their awesome decoys. I then asked them if I could float these, at which point I showed them my attempted effort at a working decoy. Jim Williams quickly rigged lines and weights on them and put them into the rig. I was embarrassed seeing them floating near the works of art by numerous seasoned carvers. But in a good humored moment my decoys were nicknamed "the seven dwarfs" by my hunting companions.
Shortly after several Bills were harvested over the top of the dwarfs I remember thinking to myself that we either shot really stupid birds, or this is something, with training, that I could do....I have been addicted ever since.
Carving has been a relaxing labor of love and with each block I finish I quietly thank those gentlemen for coaching, assisting and encouraging me in my efforts. I now have carved 3 dozen long line birds and two dozen puddle ducks to hunt over.
My son Hunter has taken up the challenge of carving and it is a great way to spend time with my son.
 
Thanks for all the responses guys. It looks like there is a wide variety of where we all got our start. I've noticed a couple things in this discussion. First of all, George, you may not realize or want to admit it but we still have our "icons" of decoy making today it's just that their names have changed. I know you have taken young newbie carvers under your wing (I think you refer to them as padiwans) and showed them the ropes and I know several others have done this as well. This goes a long way toward passing on this tradition we have all come to enjoy so much. As I stated in my original post, I have been fortunate to have had the opportunity to be involved as a student to learn different techniques for carving and painting but equally important is the fact that I am in an area where there are several carvers of all levels that regularly get together for an evening of carving and sharing ideas and methods for doing what we do. I would urge anyone to get involved in such things as the reward is great both in people we meet and things we learn. I also believe that with the things available on the internet today, even guys that don't have the luxury of having a group to meet with regularly, there is still a ton of info out there to learn from. This site is certainly one of those places (thanks to Eric and the moderators) and I have found the decoy shed is also a place where there is a growing amount of information for guys that carve and collect decoys and let's not forget the many shows that bring like minded folks together to share their passion.
 
My friend Chuck Huff cut out a block at Rutgers dads house and I was hooked!! I have met a lot of great folks through it all... and got to see some sweeeet birds and some remarkable talent. The Old ways are fading!! this I don't like to see in a lot of ways. So if you get the chance PASS it on.
 
My wife used a 1/2 inch carpenters chisel for a screwdriver one day. I pitched a fit over it and she said I never used it anyway. Once I got it resharpend I carved out a tiny pintail duck from a piece of poplar. She loved it and I carved a bunny out of poplar because she loved the duck so much. It was close to Christmas so she asked what I would like to have as a gift. I told her some carving lessons. She looked around our home town (Griffin, GA) and found a guy by the name of Chris Martin. He carved decoys so that is what I went with. Didn't hurt that I was an avid duck hunter in the first place. Since then I've not looked back and still strive to better my ability.
 
I have to give a lot of credit to my Grandpa. He passed away before I ever had a chance to know him. Yet he still somehow left a very lasting impression. It was an old Mason bluebill that he had stripped the paint off of in the 50's. My Grandma gave it to me because I was a duck hunter.

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Years later my Dad told me about a guy doing a carving and painting demo at a library in Delton. With his encouragement, I went to see Willy knockout a decoy in 2 Saturdays. He made it sound so easy, I had to try it out!

Well that was 12 years ago and now I'm a carver. I've since had to pleasure of learning from Willy, Paul Rutgers, Pat Gregory, and Jode Hillman. And also from all of my SW Michigan carving friends. We are very blessed to have each other's company. The yearly decoy floats are the best!

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