My wife would say I have a duck decoy collection problem, but I contend its only a problem if youre trying to solve it, which I am not. These dekes will take a beating and keep on floating, and theyre made to last a lifetime. Bluetooth remote, long-life 6V lithium ion battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team there! 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. Make it look really real. Thats because they make extremely realistic decoys, and Id rather hunt with fewer realistic decoys than more dekes that dont look as good. Avian-X offers industry leading duck decoys with unmatched quality and realism. Dac Collins. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. Does this make them more usable or viable than inexpensive, brand-new models? Since 1984, "We have brought in a $134 million in decoy sales." The most expensive decoys ever solda preening Pintail Drake and a Canada goose by the late master carver Elmer Crowellwent for one million each in 2007. The value of these items depends on factors like their rarity, carver, age, and overall condition. Truth is, nobody has a definitive answer on that, and we likely never will. Floater decoys are meant for use on the water. The hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on the deck, even in tough conditions. Although, these were mainly used for decorative purposes in the homes of the wealthy during the early years. And for those field hunts, a couple dozen flocked full-bodies. And theyre tough. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. However, the majority had two-dimensional profiles. You may recognize it as being the center of the James McCleery collection until it was eventually sold. If youd like to see a graphical breakdown of expensive wooden decoys, we got you covered: Im calling it this because two decoys were sold together for a whopping $1,130,000. Is 12 duck decoys enough? Required fields are marked *. Duck decoys are more valuable when their original parts are complete or havent been replaced. 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. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. Stephen OBrien of Copley Fine Art Auctions, Boston, said studying Adele Earnests The Art of the Decoy would go a long way in familiarizing oneself with the fine details of duck decoys. Download our FREE pdf guide and learn what decoys you should be using. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. 2. 2023. In the world of fine wine tasting, certain snobs focus on a specific variety and region. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. 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. This wood duck was sold for $187,000 in 2004. Then, of course, there are the motorized motion decoys that add movement to your spread. Created by Gus Wilson, this antique item broke one of the antique duck decoy sales record recently. Theyre inexpensive; in fact, they make quite an easy and even less expensive DIY project. When accessing your vintage duck decoys, research their purpose. Vintage and antique duck decoys look and feel old. So think: Are you going to hunt over a foot or more of water? Much like The Eider Drake, this remains unattributed but without potential leads as well, really leaving us all in the dark. High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. Most vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable markings. The 750 gallon-per-hour bilge pump at the heart of the Pulsator is powered by a 12V lithium ion battery, which, says Higdon, will provide up to seven hours of service, and, whats better, will recharge in 180 minutes. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. Even while dead, Crowell is still taking in tons of money. Too much, and unnatural, movement is not good. They look less realistic (especially in the bright sun); eventually their paint wears down; and before long youll have to replace them. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. At the last listing, it cost up to $650,000. Because most duck decoys of merit were made in the 1830s to the 1880s, documentation (especially for a hobby) was largely unavailable. Hence, these items are regarded as antique and vintage. We know the amount, and the date, but the buyer went completely undisclosed. Yes, Im sure they can be effective at times; Ive just not had that off-the-charts hunt I could attribute to a SWD. Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, which allowed him to grow his proficiency in woodworking. Heres some great starter decoys. Is the body shape right? However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. To create the head, the carver uses an ax to cut off a small woodblock. At the time, not all duck decoys had the same value. The coolest thing about these decoysand the reason they stand out from the competitionis the material itself. 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. The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. I dont want my decoys to look like blobs of mud. Theyre all good. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. This is the most realistic looking full body duck decoy on the market. Paint wont erode. 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. Keep em cleancold clear water, NO SOAP, and a bristle brush worksand show em a little care afield, and you shouldnt have any problems. GLOWYE Duck Decoy Realistic Plastic Floating Duck for Hunting Decoy Garden Decor Pond Decorations Holiday Decoration Mallard Decoy Goose Decoy Features : Extremely RealisticDuck decoy fine workmanship, the feather texture is carefully carved, and it floats on the water like real life. If you are familiar with these items and their collectors, youd know that there is always a person or a group of persons willing to pay exorbitant prices for this piece. Can you easily and securely attach an anchor line clip to the keel? It all depends on the birds, the wind, the pressure, and more. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. Rule of thumb. Still, he brought in $168,000 almost a century later for this single duck decoy. If you have one of these, you may be in possession of a treasured antique piece. 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. Branding. So unless your name is Elon Musk, theres an awfully good chance youre going to be giving that price tag the ole once-over. So, first, the downside. 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 And that, typically, isnt a bad thing. He was renowned for his artistic vintage decoys that featured multiple intricate details. Think M1A1 Abrams tank tough, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers. So now, head on to eBay, Etsy, 1stDibs, Amazon, or any antique store close to you to buy or list your original vintage duck decoys. The market is continually evolving, so todays price may not be tomorrows. These decoys will allow you to build field spread without breaking the bank. Around 50-bucks and you can kill ducks over them. 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). Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Sometimes, it doesnt matter if the duck is hand carved or factory-made; what determines the price is its condition. Like all DB silhouettes, the M1 Mallards look great. John Blair was another small-timer in the decoy world, but his ability to carve a fantastic mallard earned him a top spot in the record books. 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. The Crowell two duck decoys were carved by Massachusetts native Elmer Crowell. Antique duck or fowl decoys have glass eyes. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. Its believed that this is because Americas history continues to go on and on. On record, this is the most expensive decoy purchase to date, but it comes with some interesting and unique details. We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the old-school jerk cord still gets it done. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. They wont crack or immediately fade. 4 4. Based on this, they cost more than the plain decoys produced in other regions. Youll still be money ahead. 8 8. They held onto these until their value escalated. They cost less than half the price of the most expensive full bodies. Gus Wilson may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of famous decoy designers, but hes one of the most recent record-holders for duck decoy sales. 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 This antique drake decoy cost this much because it still possessed its original beak. Are they the most common duck in your neck of the woods? If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. The Crowell Bundle. Water keel decoys that land on their sides stay on their sides. Many low-cost models offer excellent performance and comfort. 2 2. The way each decoy sits on the water, as if it were a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck. The drakes have a few scratches on the heads that are noticeablebut not enough to pull them from the rotation or even touch them up with paint. If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. And thats what it was: art. As far as the number of decoys to use, 12 to 24 puddle duck decoys is a good range for most people, with fewer than 18 being about right for a solo hunter to set up alone. Bert Graves was a more recent carver than Crowell or Holmes because he made his last decoy in 1956. The year was 1972, and a little California-based father/son company had just bounced onto the fowling radar with a single product a no-tangleTanglefree!decoy line and a lead anchor system that would, like Kleenex for any tissue and Xerox for any copy machine, serve as THE name for decoy cord, regardless of who made it, for decades to come. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy world. Nothing incredible, but for $4 a decoy, they get the job done. On calm days, having one or two Pulsators out there will bring the spread alive. Its fetching, and for its time, it shows a great level of attention to detail with the colors and shades. According to specialists, most decoys in a perfect state can be worth a fortune. John Blair was a PA native and spent most of his time outdoors when he wasnt carving duck decoys. Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. 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