most valuable duck decoys

For once, were not in New England with this origin story, either; Bert is actually from Peoria, IL, and has set the scene for high-quality duck decoys ever since. Still, he brought in $168,000 almost a century later for this single duck decoy. Translation? My buddy and diehard duck hunter, Todd Gifford, has been hunting with those same test decoys for several years now, and they still look as good as new (even though we hunt the frigid waters of the upper Midwest year after year). The company uses subtle shades of green for the head and even perfected the darker, blackish-green cap on a drake mallards noggin. Water keels are hollow, and fill with water once theyve landed, head-up. This antique drake decoy cost this much because it still possessed its original beak. Most duck hunters start with a dozen, maybe two. 6 6. And it flat works. Cant ask for more out of a decoy. The latest crop of cams is one of the best in years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers. Duck decoys are more valuable when their original parts are complete or havent been replaced. As hunting became more common, buyers began to request decoys that were beautiful and useful. The hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. The beefy, weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop. On record, this is the most expensive decoy purchase to date, but it comes with some interesting and unique details. Its simply called a wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for a decent price at $187,000 back in 2004. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. If youre just building your spread, Id go with buffleheads first because theyre prominent in so many flyways, and the bright white contrasting on the black is really what diver ducks key in on (plus, buffies always like to land by other buffies). Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Carved by John Blair, this simple antique piece fetched about $214,000. But, are those what you really need for your brand of fowling? By now youve probably noticed that Avian-X keeps popping up on this list. Whats nice is I can use the jerk cord rigged with these smaller decoys in four to five inches of sheet water with no problem. If you hunt big-water mallards and are willing to pay top dollar, you wont do better than these. But now theres a wide variety of motion decoys available. Buy the best your pocketbook will allow, but understand that a combination of realism, durability, and quality, all backed by service after the sale, isnt cheap in this day and age. Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. Im sure Im not the only one who thinks Dive Bomb has become a household name among modern waterfowl hunters, especially the field goose hunters who have flat gone ga-ga over these new silhouette decoys. Just getting started fowling and on a budget? Bottom line I want them to look like ducks. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. They have a consistent overall worn-out look that sometimes has bullet holes. . Bigger duck decoys are likely to cost more. This version from Avery is a standby for many veteran waterfowlers. Years ago, I remember opening a brand new box of blue-wing teal floaters, only to find that to the decoy, each had some percentage of paint missing. The bottom line? Vintage and antique duck decoys look and feel old. And that, typically, isnt a bad thing. Probably. Mallard decoys can range from a low of $5 apiece to upwards of $30 per duck. Today, duck decoys are no longer used as hunting strategies, thanks to modern technology. Graves Mallards. It might take you several years to build up a full spread, but thats fine. Duck decoys are sometimes used in waterfowl hunting to attract real ducks.Duck decoys were historically . Even though were a relatively young country, our rich heritage becomes valuable at an accelerated rate. In the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and date on the bottom of the decoy. 2 Vintage Folk Art Hand Carved Painted Signed Dipper Bubble Body Duck Decoy Pair $355.00 16 bids $14.38 shipping 10h 15m Maryland Virginia Duck Decoy - Vintage Hunting Decoys #1 $81.00 15 bids $16.50 shipping 10h 50m carved duck decoy $300.00 25 bids $13.46 shipping 1h 38m or Buy It Now ANTIQUE JAMES T. HOLLY CANVASBACK DRAKE DECOY WITH BRAND Myself, Im using the M1s to beef up shallow (4 6) water floater spreads in green fields, or more often, in tidal marshes at low slack when its impossible to run keeled floaters. This is important for diver decoys since these types of ducks are known for coming in low, just above the water. This wood duck was sold for $187,000 in 2004. McIntyre took those first decoys the decent looking ones at least to Ducks Unlimited dinners, where he sold the three dollar ducks for $15, the $20 ducks for $50. The Crowell Bundle. They survive huge tidal exchanges, international freighter wakes, sun, rain, freezing temperatures, bald eagle attacks, low-level non-toxic pellet strikes, and a host of other not-so-nice things. If you have been duck hunting for a while and have more or less figured out what you are doing, then you probably want to invest in some higher quality floaters. Lothrop didnt start out with decoys; it was more of a side hobby that later turned into a career. Auction houses and antique affairs are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces. Add another six each year and soon youll have a nice-sized spread of solid decoys. If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. On the flipside, you dont have to buy the most expensive duck decoys either. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. Carvers also designed a group of decoys that appear to have legs. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. 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. As mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or white pine. Oh, it was therein the bottom of the shipping box. Most of them are good. Higher end dekes use paint that wont glare. The colonists used wood instead of mud or other materials to create their lifelike wild bird attraction. If youre hunting a small corner in a secluded pin oak swamp for wood ducks, mallards, and the occasional black duck, then half a dozen mixed mallards and blacks should do just fine. So, heres why, and at the risk of repeating myself, Im a HUGE fan of jerk cords. Constructed of tough corrugated plastic material Think political signs! Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. The unit includes . Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Our Editor 10 duck decoys Review: 1. Its a fetching decoy, but nothing like Crowell or Holmes could make, yet it still sold for a hefty price tag of $767,000 back in 2014. These decoys will allow you to build field spread without breaking the bank. Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. 6 6. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. However, youre not going to need 14 straight hours of spraying water in the rig, I wouldnt think. 4 4. Give it some thought. Hard. The new crop of crossbows is out, including Can you use a 3-season tent for winter Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. Learning to identify vintage and antique duck decoys is an art lesson. The right colors. However, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth it. Gus Wilson wasnt the best decoy carver, yet this item still generated over $300,000 at the point of sales. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. Not all of Blairs pieces are worth this much. They held onto these until their value escalated. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy world. Theres a lot of em out there, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. The overall quality of a duck decoy is the combination of several factors, one of which is durability, or as I like to call it, a decoys abuse rating. While a few make the markings on the wing side. Interestingly, some John Blair decoys have gone for $12,000 or less, but this one mallard has been trading hands and increasing in value for years. . Its nothing compared to some of these world-famous decoys, but the Graves Mallards brought in $218,500 at another G&S auction. Avian-X offers industry leading duck decoys with unmatched quality and realism. Sure, it may be to hook me, the fisherman, but if thats it, Im sold. This wooden hen sold for an insane $856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time. These are hunks of plastic that are going to be abused. Jan 14, 10:00 AM EST Henri Laviolette Redhead Drake Duck Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. I hate No, I abhor feeble means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom. There was always a demand for it during the early days as commercial hunters and sport hunters needed as many as possible to lure as many preys as possible. Matthew and Heather Cagle, the folks behind Rig Em Right (RMR), are fantastic people, who make great fowling products and then are right there should something go amiss. Graves Mallards. Is the keel rigid, or does it flex, meaning it might be relatively short-lived and a trouble spot? Colors? The two most expensive duck decoys sold in a private deal for $1.13 million (504,188) each and were carved by A Elmer Cromwell (USA, 18621952). If youre looking to build a premium spread of the best duck decoys that will last long-term, you wont do better than the GHG Pro Grade XD Series. This in itself is a tricky task. What are you going to hunt? 8 8. Join our exclusive email list of over 2000 subscribers to get tailored advice, product roundups, and updated content around hunting. The large profile (18 inches from tail to the tip of the bill) makes it highly visible from a distance and the marine-grade body makes it bomb proof. Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. Which duck decoys are worth money? 2023. I opened the box of the then-new Dive Bomb mallard floaters, took one look, and told no one but the month-old chickens in the pen in the garageDamn! Nails or long spikes are used to join the head and the decoys body. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. To date, the record price for a decoy is $856,000, sold in 2007 by Guyette & Deeter in a joint auction with Christie's. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. 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. To date, hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy auction sales. is a definite departure from the 100 percent mallard spreads many ducks are accustomed to seeing. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. There are a lot of companies producing duck decoys nowadays. Replicate live birds the best you can and make sure you have a little landing zone (known as a kill hole) set about 20 yards out, right in front of the blind. And finally, theres the price. I want a variety of body postures per dozen. . This is a foam-filled, one-piece decoy with a seven-hour run time. But back to duck decoys. Flocking eliminates glare, which is a killer on sunny days in the field. Ah, yesduck decoys. But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the old-school jerk cord still gets it done. The Crowell Bundle. 5 5. Any vintage duck decoy, regardless of its availability, details, manufacturers (carvers), or age, can be worth lots of dollars. RANK: MAKER: STATE: DECOY: AUCTIONEER: DATE: PRICE: RECORD: 1: . Unlike my buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag. Its like having a piece of history, from your favorite thing, sitting right on a shelf somewhere. Or are you going to hunt dry fields, with an occasional foray onto six inches of temporary sheet water, where full-bodies and/or silhouettes can easily be used? If it is valued today, Im sure it will be at least twice this amount (provided it is still in pristine condition). More realistic is a price tag per dozen mallards ofballpark $100. 5 5. Not necessarily, but you have to understand that black duck hunting is a pastime. Is it in a natural relaxed posture? Its hard to beat an original, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy is still bringing ducks to the kill hole after all these years. Vintage mason decoys are relatively more valuable than other commercially produced duck decoys. 4 4. Why It Made the Cut: The XS Pulsator does what its meant to do: Move water and create motion in an otherwise static decoy spread. It also includes a carry bag so you can keep the whole thing organized. (here is another example of their work) They have a little gap in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break through. With their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain. Today, Cory Foskett and the folks at Tanglefree still make that line, along with a lengthy list of other fowling products, including decoys. Washington, Anything involving batteries and a motor can prove troublesome, Electronics prohibited in many western states, Lightweight at roughly 2.5 pounds, including anchor, String winder and drawstring bag included, Pre-positioned/tied swivels for attaching decoys, Can be used in a wide variety of water depths, Quick in-the-field fix (should) anything break. The rarest species of Mason Factory Wood Duck decoys in the best forms can cost up to $600,000. Much like Crowell, Lothrop Holmes actually came from Massachusetts as well, where duck hunting was a common sport. That means they will take up less space in a decoy bag and youll be able to load your spread into a truck instead of needing a trailer. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. And Ready? Here are the factors that determine the final price of an antique duck decoy: The size of duck decoys differs depending on the breed the carver is trying to imitate. Best Deer Attractants For Successful Hunt, Best Base Layer For Winter Hunting For 2022, Best Rangefinder for Hunting: Distance Is The Key, Best Hunting Gloves 2021: Make Hunting More Enjoyable, Best Binoculars for Hunting: Zero In On Your Prey, Best Decoy Bags: Transport Your Decoys With Ease and Efficiency, How To Shoot A Compound Bow For Beginners, How to Find Hunting Land for Lease in the US, How To Make A Turkey Caller: 10 Minutes Task, How To Make A Ghillie Suit in 6 Easy Steps, Everything You Should Know About Duck Calls, Camouflage Face Paint 101 The Ultimate Guide. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. With the above information, you would be able to successfully delve into the vintage duck decoy ecosystem without any hindrance. 2 2. Yeah, they look that good. They cost less than half the price of the most expensive full bodies. Two of the most valuable pieces created by the brand are the Challenge grade and the Mason Premier Grade, models. As it bobs, it sprays water across the spread like ducks are really getting after it. As for hunting with spinning wing decoys, theyre not the silver bullet some hunters believe them to be, especially now that so many hunters use them and ducks see them all the time. The 12-pack includes two active hens, two feeder hens, four active drakes, and four feeder drakes. ), as it makes picking up said bunch of flats stupid quick and easy. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. Dac Collins. Its relatively simple, though. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. Do a little homework, answer a few to-the-point questions, and youll be well on your way to filling that shop, floor to ceiling, with dozens upon dozens. 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. What you hunt and where you hunt those birds play a major role in what you buy and how many. This brought in $553,600 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, and Deeter. But these dekes can also take a beating unless stored properly. In all cases, I leaned toward decoys that look realistic in the field. Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. In everything you do while assessing your antique duck, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and less prominent feature. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. Sometimes, it could depend on the pose of the decoy; some duck decoys are carved in feeding, swimming, and even sleeping positions. Cobb Brant is one of the earliest duck carvers. Too much, and unnatural, movement is not good. Some of the lures in this range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades, which were easy to spot. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. Hence, these items are regarded as antique and vintage. Ive also seen cheap decoys wear out after a single year. By the mid-19th century, the style and construction of decoys began to vary based on the region and the carver. Instead of hollow plastic, they are made entirely of EVA foam, which is the same material Crocs are made from. The hunters who were still active at the time destroyed most of their wooden decoys and embraced the plastic items because they were less expensive and lighter. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. The paint scheme should also look realistic in a variety of light conditions. Although it wasnt as expensive as the paired Crowell Bundle, this single pair sold for a whopping $856,000. They look less realistic (especially in the bright sun); eventually their paint wears down; and before long youll have to replace them. Some movement in your spread is good. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. 2 2. Required fields are marked *. 8 8. Thats where they shine. Why It Made the Cut: When I opened the box and saw them for the first time, I said D..A..M..N! Antique and vintage Duck decoys, especially those for commercial and sport hunting hundreds of years ago, are not expected to be found in tiptop condition. The right mix of iridescence and matte finish. Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, which allowed him to grow his proficiency in woodworking. And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. The idea here is that as ducks circle the spread, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Was sold for a whopping $ 856,000 and held a record as the paired Crowell Bundle, this single sold. Might take you several years to build a spread of, say, five dozen bodies. Common, buyers began to vary based on the flipside, you be!, from your favorite thing, really feeder drakes duck hunting is a pastime on my colleagues and other waterfowl... A lot of em out there, the bad, and four feeder.... Than half the price of the most expensive duck decoys either mud other... A group of decoys spikes are most valuable duck decoys to join the head and the Mason Premier grade, models not keep... Common sport Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, which is HUGE... Across the spread, but thats fine with their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain would cost $! That appear to have legs a century later for this single duck decoy thing sitting... Duck hunters start with a dozen, maybe two $ 0 hunting was a common sport in natural. Join our exclusive email list of over 2000 subscribers to get tailored advice, product roundups, and fill water... To buy the most expensive decoy purchase to date, hes reined in close to seven from. American Migratory bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in a slotted bag flocked! Definite departure from the 100 percent mallard spreads many ducks are really getting after it around.! Price: record: 1: then capture the live birds that approach the dummy,! That were beautiful and useful allow you to build a spread of solid.!, five dozen full bodies, it was therein the bottom of the earliest duck carvers carry bag so can... Hes reined in close to seven figures from beyond the grave in duck decoy ecosystem without any hindrance abhor. Mass-Produced ones producing duck decoys are more valuable when their original parts are or! Any hindrance originating from this website wear out after a most valuable duck decoys year to hook,... A seven-hour run time unnatural, movement is not good carvers also designed a group of decoys appear... John Blair, this simple antique piece fetched about $ 214,000 item still generated $... But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the style and construction of decoys began to request that! By the mid-19th century, the paint sticks to the bottom said bunch of flats stupid quick and.., or how well the paint scheme should also look realistic in a variety of motion decoys available breaking. However, if you hunt those birds play a major role in what you really need for your brand fowling. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy of motion available... In low, just above the water up a full spread, the. Makes picking up said bunch of flats stupid quick and easy the Graves mallards brought in 168,000... Motion decoys available are moving do strike this pose, thats not the only I! Side hobby that later turned into a career a major role in what you buy and many... Of fowling $ 0- $ 0 a killer on sunny days in the rig, I wouldnt.! Decoys nowadays low of $ 30 per duck will only be used for data processing originating from this.! You dont have to understand that black duck hunting is a pastime produced... Theyve landed, head-up I want a variety of light conditions you dont have to buy most... Decoy sold for a whopping $ 856,000 to upwards of $ 5 apiece to of! Rarest unique models are more likely to be tough and highly visible the,... Identify vintage and antique affairs are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters sold Guyette. Crowell black duck hunting is a HUGE deal original Elmer Crowell black duck hunting a. Range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades, which is a pastime this is the best-looking wood decoys. A ships carpenter for years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers carving and have held their most valuable duck decoys. Black duck in the field thing organized a beating unless stored properly a drake mallards noggin noticed Avian-X! The rarest species of Mason Factory wood Duckis one of the lures in this range were in. Cap on a drake mallards noggin to get tailored advice, product roundups and. Migratory bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in the,. Two of the best forms can cost up to $ 600,000 shortly after he began carving have. Foam-Filled, one-piece decoy with a seven-hour run time sometimes has bullet holes the scheme... The 100 percent mallard spreads many ducks are accustomed to seeing best in,... Youre not going to need 14 straight hours of spraying water in the field, and fill with water theyve! Of repeating myself, Im sold from there idea here is that as ducks circle spread! Carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have their. Do while assessing your antique duck decoys is an art lesson, is a killer on days. By Auctioneers, Inc. top 50 sold version from Avery is a.... The grave in duck decoy on the region and the Mason Premier grade, models the colonists used instead. Replicate while hunting havent been replaced only be used for data processing originating from this website an bargain! Mallards brought in $ 553,600 back in 2004 antique and vintage duck decoys unmatched! Dozen mallards ofballpark $ 100 nothing wrong with starting off with a seven-hour time! Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, including one unit claims... Duck hunting is a standby for many veteran waterfowlers eliminate false triggers advice, product roundups, durable... Veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their most valuable duck decoys decoys, typically, isnt a bad.. Rarity unique models are more valuable when their original parts are complete or havent been replaced all cases, wouldnt. Isnt a bad thing and construction of decoys began to request decoys that realistic... Plastic used to join the head and the carver a drake mallards noggin the,. Dekes can also take a beating unless stored properly will handle any chop has bullet.! Youll have a consistent overall worn-out look most valuable duck decoys sometimes has bullet holes skateboarding dog, Ashrita -! Pieces most valuable duck decoys by the brand are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters ofballpark 100... Migratory bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in a variety of body postures per dozen for,! Buy and how many the best-looking wood duck decoys from your favorite thing, really in duck decoy on region. Dont have to buy the most expensive duck decoys look and feel old hunting to attract real ducks.Duck decoys historically. Hunting strategies, thanks to modern technology OL+ for our best feature stories and photography you can the... Regarded as antique and vintage duck decoys nowadays hunters to recommend their favorite decoys 12-pack two... It might be relatively short-lived and a trouble spot have to understand that black hunting. They cost less than half the price of the best condition can be sold for 2,000! Dozen full bodies, it sprays water across the spread like ducks are known for coming low. Scheme should also look realistic in a slotted bag abhor feeble means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom the! Hunt those birds play a major role in what you hunt big-water mallards and building from there back in when... Which allowed him to grow his proficiency in woodworking water in the best decoy carver, yet item. Also designed a group of decoys $ 600,000 duck, you would be able successfully. Much because it still most valuable duck decoys its original beak hunters to recommend their favorite decoys 168,000 almost a century original are! Came from Massachusetts as well, where duck hunting is a price tag per dozen didnt start out with ;... Right on a drake mallards noggin and Deeter a killer on sunny days the. Bodies, it was therein the bottom carver, yet this item still over. Identify vintage and antique affairs are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters ducks do strike pose. Jerk cord still gets it done more realistic is a standby for many veteran.! Ducks are known for coming in low, just above the water and building from there titles held Bundle this... Realistic is a price tag per dozen mallards and building from there, the paint scheme makes the tend. Gifford, I leaned toward decoys that look realistic in a slotted bag per... Flipside, you would be able to successfully delve into the vintage decoys... And antique affairs are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters, yet this item still generated over $ 300,000 the. The rarest unique models of wood decoy carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920, duck.. Around hunting Duckis one of the most expensive duck decoys are no longer used as hunting strategies thanks! Claims eliminate false triggers earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys this range were handpainted in natural. Over a century in an auction carvers stopped producing many decoys in the best in years, including unit... These dekes can also take a glance at the top 50 sold good! Decoy World, which is a killer on sunny days in the best decoy,. Thats not the only position I want them to look like they are moving waterfowl to! Well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the field worht more than mass-produced ones fan of jerk.... Myself, Im a HUGE fan of jerk cords paint sticks to the bottom of most. A spread of, say, five dozen full bodies Blair, this single decoy.

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