Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. It requires rock-solid focus, concentration, and the patience to remain entranced in, Camo face paint is very important for all types of hunting. First, youll notice the colors. Heres some great starter decoys. Bluetooth remote, long-life 6V lithium ion battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team there! The colonists used wood instead of mud or other materials to create their lifelike wild bird attraction. Whenever you attend an antique event or visit an antique store, you may also find very tiny decoys and larger ones. Here are three of my favorites. Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. No matter which species you chase or which flyway youre hunting, these four skills are required for success. The rarest species of Mason Factory Wood Duck decoys in the best forms can cost up to $600,000. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. It has 21 feet of travel, 100 feet of heavy-duty line, a grapple anchor for deeper water, and attachments for six decoys, though you can use fewer if you like. A lot of other wood duck decoys have the drakes head sticking high up above the water, like hes on alert. You incorporate it into your life, and other eccentric duck hunters with deep pockets will stop at nothing to claim some of the most coveted factory-made decoys in history. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. These are hunks of plastic that are going to be abused. A spinning wing or two. ), as it makes picking up said bunch of flats stupid quick and easy. If youre just getting started, you can get a dozen for a little more than $100. He doesnt baby them, but he does keep them in slotted bags, and we expect theyll last for many seasons to come. Not all of Blairs pieces are worth this much. If you want to add some realism to an existing spread, you cant do better than the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. The second is the price. Which duck decoys are worth money? Add up the cost of the best duck hunting shotguns, the best duck hunting waders, and throw in shells and licenses; suddenly it seems like you should try to save money by buying cheap decoys. Or five. The primary reason why some duck decoys are highly-priced is not that theyre rare or produced by the best carvers; instead, it is because they are still in good condition. Paint wont erode. Often, the color used depends on the variety of ducks and fowls found within that region. This simple mallard has an excellent definition, which is part of the reason that it fetched $214,000 and is considered one of the most valuable decoys. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. Keels wont break off. These decoys are affordable and functional. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. The Eider Drake decoy used to be the centerpiece in the James McCleery collection till it eventually sold for $767,000 in 2014. When the first colonists settled in North America, they observed that the natives of the land used bulrushes, fowl carcasses, and mud to create duck and fowl-like figures. 4 4. Regardless of where you call home, mallard decoys are a safe bet, and will likely produce results. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? Are they separated in little family groups? Graves Mallards. 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Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Mason decoys were commercially successful, and the products were sold on every continent. Bernie Madoff might just go down as this centurys biggest American villain, but his decoy fetched a rather handsome amount of money during the auctioning of his estate. So, heres why, and at the risk of repeating myself, Im a HUGE fan of jerk cords. Search knutsondecoys.com or parkercoatings.com, buy some colors that suit you, and touch em up. If youve seen a mature hen woodie in the fall, you know they have nuanced (and beautiful) hues mixed in with all that brown. If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. The Duck Decoy is a less common antique object with a broad and exciting history. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. You should also check the markings on the decoy. (here is another example of their work) I mostly hunt ducks over water and my decoys get covered in marsh muck on almost every outing. The Lincoln Hisser. If you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving. It is not particularly ornate, just a hand-carved, single-reed call that's really good at tricking ducks and signed by this legendary craftsman. We hunted over their teal decoys, of course, but their mallards and other species are just as realistic (they also offer a flocked version that costs $10 more). Mason Decoy Factory: MI: Premier Grade Wood Duck: Guyette & Deeter, Inc./Sotheby's: January-00: $354,500: Auctio Record for a Factory Made Decoy/State of MI . Real, live ducks. If it is valued today, Im sure it will be at least twice this amount (provided it is still in pristine condition). You must carefully inspect the duck item. Theyre all good. This isnt fine china. Even while dead, Crowell is still taking in tons of money. To create a duck decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape of the duck with a hatchet. No, they dont look like they came out of the workshop of Fred Zink or Dave Smith, but youre not paying $20 a decoy either. Theyre light and durable. When youre scouting, pay close attention to how and where the ducks are positioned. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. All rights reserved. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. 5. This was an auction record for the carver's pieces Buy the best duck decoys you can afford, just start by buying fewer of them. Nails or long spikes are used to join the head and the decoys body. 7 7. Is the keel rigid, or does it flex, meaning it might be relatively short-lived and a trouble spot? Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Cornfield greenheads? I remove two, and use a pair of water keel green-wing teal, which are lightweight, easy to pack, and move plenty of water around. Its hard to beat an original, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy is still bringing ducks to the kill hole after all these years. Some duck decoys were carved for hunting, some for decoration, while a few served both purposes. This piece is shrouded in a tone of mystery. Does it appear rugged and durable? If youre hunting migrating ducks on big waters, the right number is: as many decoys as you can safely fit into the boat. Full-bodies and silhouettes can be used both on dry ground and on the water, the latter with some modifications and improvisations, both of which can be and typically are a royal pain in the behind. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. $250 5 Bids. What are the most expensive duck decoys? Where Foskett and Tanglefree excel, perhaps, is in the diver realm; that is, with their canvasbacks, redheads, and bluebills. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. When it comes to duck decoys, Im like that second type of wine drinker; Ill try anything, at least once. On early season hunts where youre targeting small groups of ducks, you can get away with as few as six decoys placed in the right spot. In different regions of the United States and across the globe, shows, auctions, and conventions are held in honor of duck decoys. Arthur Anderson grew up in rural Indiana, where he spent much of his time going on hunting trips with friends from a young age, and braving the outdoors to get the most authentic hunting experience possible. A few of these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features. And theyre tough. In all honesty, despite the high costs of these antique duck decoys, there are some passionate decoy duck collectors and hunters with more than enough money who would immediately pick up any of these converted decoys as soon as they were put up for sale. Required fields are marked *. Also, because you can remove the heads on these shells, you can stack them. Much like Crowell, Lothrop Holmes actually came from Massachusetts as well, where duck hunting was a common sport. How to identify valuable duck decoys, spot identifying traits, & assess value. The carve (shape and detail of the body) should look like a real duck. Ive hunted with these decoys for several seasons now and I beat the ever-loving hell out of them. Now THATS how I want my decoys to look. Replicate this when you set up your spread. Hunting isnt easy. To date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy auction sales. Valuable Antique Duck Decoys 1.The Crowell Bundle 2.The Eider Drake Decoy 3.The Merganser Hen Carving 4.The Wilson Drake Duck Decoy 5.Cobb Brant Mallard Duck Decoys 6.The Blaird Mallard decoy 7.Graves Mallard Decoys 8.Simple Wood Duck by Thomas Chambers Final Note The History Of Antique Duck Decoys High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. That is, anchor (attachment) points on the decoy itself that are too small, too big, improperly positioned, or, worst of all, consist of that little plastic half-moon that juts out from the front of the keel and well, it breaks off. And it undoubtedly works as intended, if not just a bit unnaturally, what with the fountain of water and all. If you come across a decoy made from canvas or plastic, it is likely a modern decoy. In all cases, I leaned toward decoys that look realistic in the field. In my humble opinion, duck decoys are all about two thingsvisual realism, and durability. "DU made a fat pile of . And once again, does it lookyeplike a real duck? If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. 3 3. The "preening pintail drake" and the "sleeping Canada goose" were both sold to an anonymous buyer on 20 September 2007 in a sale brokered by Stephen O'Brien Jr Fine Arts in Boston, USA. The 12-pack includes two active hens, two feeder hens, four active drakes, and four feeder drakes. I got to see Heyday Outdoors Hydrofoam Decoys (formally known as Lifetime Decoys) in action while hunting with the Heyday crew on an early teal hunt in Texas. Nice to know, though. Size. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. Based on this, they cost more than the plain decoys produced in other regions. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. Are they spread out loafing? This technique had served the Native Americans for over 900 years; hence the Colonists sought to improve this technique quickly. Remember that good decoys are an investment. First, I need the decoys to look like the real thing, and the Dive Bomb floaters certainly do have that covered. Stephen B. OBrien Jr with the record breaking pair of Duck Decoy by Elmer Crowell. Face value, in part, but it never hurts to again do your homework. Water keels are hollow, and fill with water once theyve landed, head-up. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. The Crowell Bundle. At the time, not all duck decoys had the same value. Were still in New England guys, but this time were in Maine. If its Sandusky Bay bluebills on the menuwell, then, eight or 10 dozenor moredrake bills might be in order. Carvers also designed a group of decoys that appear to have legs. Because these decoys are larger, theyll be more visible, so you can get away with a smaller spread in many situations. Its muddy. In 2007, his pintail drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a bundle. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Vinyl Records Value: Your Old Value Records Worth a Fortune, Vintage Stiffel Lamps: Value and Price Guide, Vintage Smith Corona Typewriter: History, Models, and Value, Vintage Schwinn Bikes: [Types, Identification, and Values], Vintage Rooster Cookie Jar Identification and Value Guide. And I like gadwalls. An antique duck decoy with some imperfections. These decoys look killer. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. Probably. These decoys will allow you to build field spread without breaking the bank. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? It has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, so you can turn it on and off as you see fit. It currently holds the record for the most costly single decoy ever sold. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. Silhouette on the water. Vintage and antique duck decoys have different designs, depending on their intended purpose. Theyll all work, to an extent, but some fake decoys are simply destined to work better. As it bobs, it sprays water across the spread like ducks are really getting after it. grapple anchor, 100 #550 Paracord, line winder, storage bag, short bungee you need afield. But, the most realistic duck decoys on the planet arent worth a damn if you cant afford them. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. Are they the most common duck in your neck of the woods? Instead of hollow plastic, they are made entirely of EVA foam, which is the same material Crocs are made from. Non-mallards. Is the paint going to flake off almost immediately? The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. If youre new to field hunting and set on starting a duck spread, these shells would be a good place to start. This decoy was purchased in 2017, whereas most of the others on this list were bought about a decade ago or longer. And while its tough to find an exact weight, a common denominator says roughly eight (8) pounds; not light, but not ridiculously heavy either. Antique duck or fowl decoys have glass eyes. More and more, youll see diehard public land (and public water) hunters hauling around Heyday decoys. So think: Are you going to hunt over a foot or more of water? This brought in $553,600 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, and Deeter. It is inexpensive. Dr. Think M1A1 Abrams tank tough, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers. And Id really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Meet Britain's most expensive duck - a drake that has sold at auction for a record-breaking 1,500. Thats because the Pulsators themselves are moving, but they also create little ripples that move the decoys close to them. William Bowman Image 1: William Bowman Carved and Painted Greater Yellowlegs Christie's, London, United Kingdom (January 2007) Estimate: $65,000 - $85,000 Price Realized: $78,000 In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. They have a little gap in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break through. The value of these items depends on factors like their rarity, carver, age, and overall condition. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call, make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. One of the rarest decoy models ever is the Mason Factory wood duck, which had the highest grade for $690,000 in 2014! Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. . . Its believed that this is because Americas history continues to go on and on. Many of them snapped off and were replaced, but this one hit such a high price point because the original beak is still completely intact. The latest crop of cams is one of the best in years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers. The Crowell Bundle. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. The coolest thing about these decoysand the reason they stand out from the competitionis the material itself. Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys All Auction Buy It Now 144 Results Brand: Mason Brand Duck Type Features Condition Price Buying Format All Filters Antique Mason Black duck decoy $25.00 0 bids $13.65 shipping 6d 8h Antique Vintage Wood Duck Decoy **MASON** Pintail Drake Standard $137.50 3 bids $16.75 shipping Are they realistic in appearance? They wont become brittle when the bottom falls out of the thermometer. On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. I was, Ill be honest, skeptical about the visual benefits, per se, of fully flocked (FFD) duck decoys; however, upon seeing Greenhead Gears FFD gadwallwell, lets just say I became a believer, and that to the point where today Im setting FFD mallard floaters, full-body mallards (drake heads only), and pintails in my day-to-day spread.
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