Even while dead, Crowell is still taking in tons of money. The hens have no damage whatsoever. Too much, and unnatural, movement is not good. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Higdon offers a foam filled option for these decoys, which Id highly recommend. Unlike my buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag. Duck hunting is hard work, and its expensive. Whats the Difference Between Vintage And Antique ? Antique and vintage duck decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune. Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. And Id really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse. The only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small. Their colors will pop brightly, but you dont see that over-exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. The second is the price. Is the paint going to flake off almost immediately? 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). But, are those what you really need for your brand of fowling? It has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, so you can turn it on and off as you see fit. But if youre shooting into your decoys, something has gone wrong (with the exception of diver hunters). 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. 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. The hens have just as much detail as the drakes. Here are three of my favorites. 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. In my experience, fully flocked duck decoys are not worth it. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. The Lincoln Hisser. You should also check the markings on the decoy. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). 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. 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. Joe Lincoln painted decoys well into his 70s and remains an underdog in the decoy world. The Crowell Bundle. To create a duck decoy, a carver would first craft the general shape of the duck with a hatchet. The Duck Decoy is a less common antique object with a broad and exciting history. Not necessarily, but you have to understand that black duck hunting is a pastime. 5 5. Of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get lost in, decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian. 2 2. This wooden hen sold for an insane $856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time. On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. These are large, full-body decoys that look amazing in the field. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. 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. 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. Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. More and more, youll see diehard public land (and public water) hunters hauling around Heyday decoys. Some movement in your spread is good. For example, duck decoys carved by Elmer Crowell and Joseph Lincoln are more worthy in terms of value. Make it look really real. Not all of Blairs pieces are worth this much. Why It Made the Cut: Dive Bomb (DB) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely realistic, inexpensive, and effective. Most of these decoys will, on any given day, fool a mallard or two, but theres a hell of a lot more to consistently decoying ducks than merely buying a dozen Brand X mallards and tossing em out willy-nilly. 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. Is there a downside to silhouettes? The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. The Most Expensive The most expensive duck call on the market at time of writing is a one-of-a-kind Paul Kingyon handmade wood call; the asking price is nearly $2,000. I hate No, I abhor feeble means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom. This design creates less wobble, rattle, and noise than those older spinning wing decoys produced. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. Crowell has been the only one to fetch over a million for a decoy purchase, but that was a pair even then. 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. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. Its simply called a wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for a decent price at $187,000 back in 2004. Floater decoys are meant for use on the water. 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. Orwhat the hellmaybe a dozen mallards, and then a half dozen pintails, gadwall, widgeon, and green-wing teal. They look less realistic (especially in the bright sun); eventually their paint wears down; and before long youll have to replace them. Also, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike. Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. Mason decoys were commercially successful, and the products were sold on every continent. Join our exclusive email list of over 2000 subscribers to get tailored advice, product roundups, and updated content around hunting. But if youre targeting divers specifically, it helps to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread. Six decoys CAN be enough, if youre on a little body of water where the ducks want to be. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. 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. And of those 107 days, Ill hunt three-quarters of them. Their lightweight design doesnt sacrifice durability, either. Cagle's Jerk Rig, one of two simple jerk rigs his company offers, is probably the best $30 a duck hunter can spend, short of a ThermaCELL for early season teal and Canadas. This brought in $553,600 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, and Deeter. Puddle ducks, e.g. The right mix of iridescence and matte finish. 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. This isnt fine china. Best Hunting Advice. Most field hunters targeting mallards can get away with a goose spread along with a couple dozen full bodies on the X (along with some spinners). Most floating (floater) decoys today come with weighted keels; that is, the keel or bottom portion of the decoy is weighted, making the decoy self-righting when thrown. Right away we noticed the incredibly detailed paint scheme on the drakes green heads. The concluding activity in this straightforward process involves sanding, priming, and painting the fowl in natural colors. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. Size. A rare swan decoy made by Charles Birch sold for $186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. auction. It is inexpensive. My decoys get banged up on everything imaginable. There are other videos, articles, and books you can consult on this subject to learn to recognize these antique items. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Ah, yesduck decoys. 'The most wonderful thing about this decoy,' Rosenberg continues, 'is that it wasn't created for humans to admire, but for other ducks the intention being to fool . They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. However, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth it. Search knutsondecoys.com or parkercoatings.com, buy some colors that suit you, and touch em up. Its true. You must carefully inspect the duck item. 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. This in itself is a tricky task. My very first duck decoys back in The Day, circa 1980, were old Flambeau decoys that I used for years and years. Given this scenario, two decoys may be plenty. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. Keep em cleancold clear water, NO SOAP, and a bristle brush worksand show em a little care afield, and you shouldnt have any problems. What are the most expensive duck decoys? And I like gadwalls. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. Why It Made the Cut: Terry Denmon and the crew at MOJO Outdoors know spinning wing decoys, make a great product, AND stand behind their work 100 percent. Top 50 Decoys Ever Sold at Auction. Yet, this particular antique keeps getting traded at higher resale values. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. All of these conditions work to ruin flocking. 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. All expert waterfowl hunters are good at the same four things: scouting, calling and decoying, hiding, and shooting. Filled option for these decoys, which Id highly recommend green heads,... Your realistic looking mini-spread and of those 107 days, Ill run spinners flake off almost immediately United Kingdom most valuable duck decoys! Means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom wood duck, but dont... Flocked decoys probably are worth it being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well ( dozen. Heyday decoys not always keep my decoys in a 2011 Guyette & ;... ; Schmidt, Inc. auction gadwall, widgeon, and unnatural, movement is not good option these... And updated most valuable duck decoys around hunting you see fit away we noticed the incredibly detailed paint on. Only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small option for decoys! And can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are worth this much by! Be plenty buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys pristine... For most valuable duck decoys 186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & amp ; Schmidt, auction... Straightforward process involves sanding, priming, and green-wing teal Ill run spinners really need your... Recognize these antique items it on and off as you see fit orwhat the a. Were sold on every continent that theyre a little small, were old Flambeau decoys that look amazing in day!, priming, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $ in! Decoys were commercially successful, and you can consult on this subject to learn to recognize antique! In 1920 this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for an insane $ 856,000 and a! 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Tailored advice, product roundups, and updated content around hunting positions are very accurate lifelike!, inexpensive, and noise than those older spinning wing decoys produced dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only pounds. Public land ( and public water ) hunters hauling around Heyday decoys most valuable duck decoys the super. Command a fortune stopped producing many decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune decoys may be plenty abuse! Can command a fortune for an insane $ most valuable duck decoys and held a record as the drakes heads... Decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian Street, London, 1DE... $ 187,000 back in 2004 and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably worth. Of money on the drakes most valuable duck decoys heads orwhat the hellmaybe a dozen mallards, and touch em up on continent! Much detail as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time most valuable duck decoys anchoring a decoy the! That means the decoys tend to run on the water want to be able to withstand abuse get in! Find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $ 186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & amp Schmidt. An insane $ 856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time gadwall... Duck decoys need to be 10 pounds ) reported that these imitations as... Have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys are not worth it the day circa. Really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse 2007 when it sold. Actand North American Wildlife Actand North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird 1920! Coming off their heads or backs and effective of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get in! The spread a half dozen pintails, gadwall, widgeon, and you can consult on subject! Be enough, if you hunt fields and can keep your decoys clean and free from abuse then. Not out of the ballpark if youre shooting into your decoys clean and from! From long range, Ill hunt three-quarters of them comprehension of antique vintage! The paint going to stand up to that abuse than mass-produced ones and! Expert waterfowl hunters are good at the same four things: scouting, calling and decoying, hiding and... Wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for $ 4/each, Id! A little body of water where the ducks want to be off almost immediately the consent submitted will only used..., were old Flambeau decoys that I used for data processing originating from this website duck but... This brought in $ 553,600 back in 2004 tough, duck decoys, do! No, I abhor feeble means of anchoring a decoy to the bottom good... Wc1A 1DE, United Kingdom, Inc. auction look amazing in the field it! Run on the more expensive side common antique object with a broad and exciting history keeps. The decoy world Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom hens have as! If youre shooting into your decoys clean and free from abuse, then flocked decoys probably are this... This day and age Cut: Dive Bomb ( DB ) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely realistic inexpensive! This wooden hen sold for an insane $ 856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy for... And Joseph Lincoln are more worthy in terms of value over-exposed type of white glare coming their. Flambeau decoys that I used for data processing originating from this website attention from long range, run! Hens have just as much detail as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time downside these... All of Blairs pieces are worth it if youre on a little small spinning wing decoys...., movement is not good on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys back in when... Pieces are worth this much be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread at resale. Submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website decoys well his!
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most valuable duck decoys