Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. Were giving Crowell his dues here, and while he isnt included further down the list since weve already mentioned him, its important to state that this 1.13 million dollar purchase for two decoys was actually part of a large sale of 31 Crowell decoys, which in total ended up costing about $7,500,000. Suddenly that affordable decoy isnt so affordable after you have to buy another round when the next season begins. I dont know how much you paid for your antique duck decoy, but youre about to be frazzled by how much people have paid for them in the past. Carvers were making a few decoys of better quality with improved materials and more intricate designs for the wealthy. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. Theyll last many seasons, and they are affordable. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. Cant ask for more out of a decoy. Cornfield greenheads? An antique duck decoy with some imperfections. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. Theres a ton of mystery shrouding The Eider Drake because even to this day, I cant credit the original manufacturer. High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. 3 3. This technique had served the Native Americans for over 900 years; hence the Colonists sought to improve this technique quickly. Vintage and antique duck decoys have different designs, depending on their intended purpose. Is the keel rigid, or does it flex, meaning it might be relatively short-lived and a trouble spot? The latest crop of cams is one of the best in years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers. 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. No matter which species you chase or which flyway youre hunting, these four skills are required for success. To date, the record price for a decoy is $856,000, sold in 2007 by Guyette & Deeter in a joint auction with Christie's. The bottom line? 2 2. In the mid-1900s, duck decoys were as scarce as ever and were regarded as collectible items of folk art. Still, he brought in $168,000 almost a century later for this single duck decoy. Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. The Lincoln Hisser. But back to duck decoys. 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. Poorly designed anchor points on decoys suck, and rank right up there with chasing down decoys. Their colors will pop brightly, but you dont see that over-exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Much like Crowell, Lothrop Holmes actually came from Massachusetts as well, where duck hunting was a common sport. My very first duck decoys back in The Day, circa 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that I used for years and years. In the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and date on the bottom of the decoy. 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. Graves Mallards. The decoys body profile and paint job are full of thoughtful details that Avian-X has made its name on. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. 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. On calm days, having one or two Pulsators out there will bring the spread alive. Some of the lures in this range were handpainted in eye-catching natural shades, which were easy to spot. Its nothing compared to some of these world-famous decoys, but the Graves Mallards brought in $218,500 at another G&S auction. (here is another example of their work) 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. At this point, hunting was growing to be a pastime for privileged individuals in England. Is 12 duck decoys enough? 20 September 2007 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, 1862-1952). Hunting divers often calls for big spreads on big waters, so if youre in a diver hot zone, Id recommend getting a few of the Standard Diver packs, which includes redhead, bluebill, and ringneck species. 2023. They get bounced around the bottom of boats and in decoy bags. If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. What is the most valuable duck decoy? But if youre targeting divers specifically, it helps to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread. 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. they work incredibly well for putting ripples and waves, i.e motion on the water, and breathing life into an otherwise lifeless decoy spread. Ive hunted with many of these picks for several years and can attest to their durability. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. But, an individual duck decoy carved by him pulled in $168,000. Theyll all work, to an extent, but some fake decoys are simply destined to work better. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? Branding. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. Instead of hollow plastic, they are made entirely of EVA foam, which is the same material Crocs are made from. Anchor attachment points wont rip out. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. Theyre light and durable. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. Just $1 per month , These decoys will have puddle ducks and divers coming in hot, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Instead, he hailed from Ontario, Canada. Face value, in part, but it never hurts to again do your homework. 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. I take care of my gear I really do but I dont baby it. 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.. Any vintage duck decoy, regardless of its availability, details, manufacturers (carvers), or age, can be worth lots of dollars. When Mackey died in 1972, his vast collection was sold over several sessions. If youre just getting started, you can get a dozen for a little more than $100. 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. Perfectly positioned weighted keels ensure a smooth natural ride, even in rough water, while what Ill call the high-vis colors on the drakes truly POP against the oft-dark surface conditions. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. The guy we all know and hate. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). Then, of course, there are the motorized motion decoys that add movement to your spread. Native American fowlers fooled ducks with oblong-shaped blobs of mud with a forked stick resembling a ducks head n neck. 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). 5. Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Vintage mason decoys are relatively more valuable than other commercially produced duck decoys. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. 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. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. Antiques that have been altered, repaired, or have missing parts often cost less than the original piece. 4 4. This piece is shrouded in a tone of mystery. It has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, so you can turn it on and off as you see fit. On any given day, a dozen decoys will work or 100 dozen wont work. When accessing your vintage duck decoys, research their purpose. And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own. 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. Flocked decoys, especially completely flocked decoys, require some additional care above and beyond that given all-plastic blocks. Join our exclusive email list of over 2000 subscribers to get tailored advice, product roundups, and updated content around hunting. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. You can always count on the . However, as these terms are often interchangeable, its important to note that this decoy was actually a structure, not just a carving or decoy duck. Other books recommended by folk art experts include American Bird Decoys by William J. Mackey Jr. and Wild Fowl Decoys by Joel Barber. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. A duck hunter without duck decoys is just another odd fellow who gets up stupid early on the coldest of mornings, dresses funny, and enjoys the company of dogs well above that of people. First, the mounting spots on the keel are not complete holes. Duck decoys do not and cannot have a fixed price. The word decoy is a dutch word that refers to the cages used by hunters in the Old World to tame wild animals, especially birds. Sure, it may be to hook me, the fisherman, but if thats it, Im sold. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. These factories include Evans, Reynolds, Mason, Dodge, Stevens, Victor, and Peterson. They are gorgeous and vibrant, just like a real woodie. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. As mentioned earlier, all pre-modern duck decoys are carved from white cedarwood, cork, or white pine. It would be best if you also inspected the eyes of the decoy. They wont crack or immediately fade. Silhouette on the water. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. So, heres why, and at the risk of repeating myself, Im a HUGE fan of jerk cords. Six decoys CAN be enough, if youre on a little body of water where the ducks want to be. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. The unit includes everything1.5 pound folding (!!) Maybe you need to think of a pack setthree or four different species of dabblers combined into one multi-species package. When it comes to expensive duck decoys, Joe Lincoln is a name that often comes up. When buying or selling any wooden ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and gap. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. Rig em individual, or on 40 droppers for long-lines; either way, these are the cats meow. A rare swan decoy made by Charles Birch sold for $186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. auction. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. Below are the best duck decoys you can buy right now. Shape. Since their production over a hundred years ago, both items have retained their shape and aesthetics. Crowell put so much detail into these decoys, that they were picked up by the Fine Arts of Boston (though the timeline is unclear). Of all bird decoys created, duck decoys were the most commonly made, however it wasn't unusual to produce other species, such as geese, turkeys, swans, grouse, partridge, and pigeons. 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. 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