Shape. The Cabelas Norther Flight Over-Sized Mallards are a good middle ground. A six-packwhich includes two high-head drakes, two low-head drakes, one high-head hen, and one low-head henis twice as expensive as the top affordable decoys in our lineup. Of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get lost in, decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian. Vintage and antique duck decoys have different designs, depending on their intended purpose. 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. In my experience, fully flocked duck decoys are not worth it. Here are three of my favorites. Just getting started fowling and on a budget? In the mid-1900s, duck decoys were as scarce as ever and were regarded as collectible items of folk art. What is the most valuable duck decoy? This wood duck was sold for $187,000 in 2004. Some people pick up carving vintage or whittling as a hobby, but this man did it so excessively that his work is still revered over a century later. But back to duck decoys. Some of the master carvers of duck decoys such as Ben Schmidt, Joe Lincoln, Walter Ruppel, Adam Anger, Addie Nichol, Alain MacDonald, Albert Laing, Art Chilton, Babe Strubinger, Bert . The beefy, weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. Continue with Recommended Cookies, All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. 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. Those will work!. It is inexpensive. Constructed of tough corrugated plastic material Think political signs! 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). Unlike other carvers on this list, Chambers was born in Ontario, Canada. 2 2. Now, a family man and dedicated man of God, Arthur shows his children how to live off the land while simultaneously hunting with his brothers and friends whenever the opportunity presents itself. This wooden hen sold for an insane $856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time. He made one of the most realistic goose decoys out there, showing a Canada goose in mid-motion that really makes it look like theyre scurrying along the water while the decoy bobs. But, an individual duck decoy carved by him pulled in $168,000. The unit includes everything1.5 pound folding (!!) The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. Theres a ton of mystery shrouding The Eider Drake because even to this day, I cant credit the original manufacturer. '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 them into landing on the water. Even while dead, Crowell is still taking in tons of money. The carve (shape and detail of the body) should look like a real duck. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. The foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few stray pellets and keep floating. Bottom line I want them to look like ducks. 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. Some regions like New Jersey, North Carolina, New England, and Long Island are home to duck decoys bearing key features and markings. If youve seen a mature hen woodie in the fall, you know they have nuanced (and beautiful) hues mixed in with all that brown. First, youll notice the colors. If you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving. The latest one was made less than a year ago, in 1956. The original carver of the work is unknown, and all indications point out that no one will ever find out. You can always add more decoys; its what we do. Give it some thought. Will they hold up to the rigors of day-to-day ducking? 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. Keels wont break off. Cheap decoys typically have more issues with glare. Divers are typically not the wariest of ducks and they will come into a puddle duck spread. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Though as low as $80 and as high as $150 is common. $140 5 Bids. Mallards. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. At the last listing, it cost up to $650,000. Duck hunting is hard work, and its expensive. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. If you find a new-in-box dozen mallards that look good not fantastic, but good for $40, you should be reaching for your wallet, I reckon. He was renowned for his artistic vintage decoys that featured multiple intricate details. In general, if you scout diligently and are hunting on the X (where the birds want to be) you will need fewer decoys.For many other hunting scenarios, two dozen to four dozen decoys will get the job done. The Crowell two duck decoys were carved by Massachusetts native Elmer Crowell. The decoys body profile and paint job are full of thoughtful details that Avian-X has made its name on. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. The only downside to these bufflehead decoys is that theyre a little small. Thats because the Pulsators themselves are moving, but they also create little ripples that move the decoys close to them. The right mix of iridescence and matte finish. The individual most expensive decoy actually belongs to Lothrop Holmes, but since it was still purchased for a lower denomination, it comes in at number two. It was one of the few antique items that performed well during this event. Is the body shape right? Not immediately, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale. The Crowell Bundle. I have found that the bright colors of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than regular puddle duck decoys. Both carvers are renowned for their excellent accomplishments in the carving industry. Body shapes and profiles. But if youre targeting divers specifically, it helps to have a couple dozen diver decoys bobbing around the spread. No spam, we promise. Other books recommended by folk art experts include American Bird Decoys by William J. Mackey Jr. and Wild Fowl Decoys by Joel Barber. 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. An avid decoy collector's private collection went up for auction last week, and several rare Chesapeake Bay carvings sold for more than $100,000 each. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. Because most duck decoys of merit were made in the 1830s to the 1880s, documentation (especially for a hobby) was largely unavailable. The hens have just as much detail as the drakes. 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. Stick Ups were used to lift the body off the ground. In these events, youll be opportune to inspect subtle features put in by antique carvers. Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. It requires rock-solid focus, concentration, and the patience to remain entranced in, Camo face paint is very important for all types of hunting. 4 4. Nothing incredible, but for $4 a decoy, they get the job done. 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. Recent research points to a man by the name of Eben Weed being the original creator of this decoy, but some of the evidence is inconclusive. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Body shapes and profiles are good. Professional and expert collectors find it easy to identify markings and details on duck decoys because theyve had years to study these vintage items. I mostly hunt ducks over water and my decoys get covered in marsh muck on almost every outing. In everything you do while assessing your antique duck, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and less prominent feature. Today, Cory Foskett and the folks at Tanglefree still make that line, along with a lengthy list of other fowling products, including decoys. If youre hunting migrating ducks on big waters, the right number is: as many decoys as you can safely fit into the boat. If you want to kill ducks consistently, dont hunt with cheap decoys. 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. Graves Mallards. Trust me. Ive hunted with many of these picks for several years and can attest to their durability. Head and bill positions. Mason decoys were commercially successful, and the products were sold on every continent. 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. The RMR Jerk Rig comes factory with four snap swivels to attach four decoys; too many IMHO. And if your intent is realistic on-the-water motion without the, what some might call, inconvenience of pulling on a jerk cord string, then Higdons XS Pulsator might just be what youre looking for. 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. Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. Silhouette on the water. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. 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). 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. Search knutsondecoys.com or parkercoatings.com, buy some colors that suit you, and touch em up. The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. The smoothing and fine-tuning aspect would be completed with a drawknife. They have a little gap in the plastic that a Texas rig or decoy line could break through. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. 6 6. This piece pulled in enormous amounts of money at the 2006 G&S auction. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Youll still be money ahead. Their colors, detail, and body positions are all excellent. This pulled in almost $500,000 in 2000. And it flat works. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. Duck decoys vary in value. It has a remote thats Bluetooth compatible, so you can turn it on and off as you see fit. The current condition of an antique duck decoy plays a significant role in determining its value. Join our exclusive 2,500+ email list to get tailored advice, product roundups, and be the first to see our new content. In regions where hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys were used as decorative pieces until the next hunting season. By the mid-19th century, the style and construction of decoys began to vary based on the region and the carver. 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. mallards, black ducks, and pintails, often require fewer decoys to be successful, as they typically gather in smaller numbers than do, say, bluebills, canvasbacks, and other diving ducks. Even though were a relatively young country, our rich heritage becomes valuable at an accelerated rate. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. Jan 14, 10:00 AM EST Henri Laviolette Redhead Drake Duck Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. Hence the reason why most of them are sold for $100 or less. Shop our selection of Duck Decoys from the world's premier auctions and galleries. Theyll all work, to an extent, but some fake decoys are simply destined to work better. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes, 3. Its a rite of passage for a lot of young men. This technique helped families during the civil war to catch prey for feeding. Carvers were making a few decoys of better quality with improved materials and more intricate designs for the wealthy. 4 4. When youre scouting, pay close attention to how and where the ducks are positioned. That concept holds true for the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. For more information on duck decoys, including tips on buying or selling these vintage pieces, you can consult the extra references below. 5 5. Their makers are top carvers who practiced for years to attain their renowned reputation. Most of them are good. 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. On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. Product DescriptionThis is a magnum mallard decoy at its finest. And then it builds from there. Its true. Is it the right size? Thats because they make extremely realistic decoys, and Id rather hunt with fewer realistic decoys than more dekes that dont look as good. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. The unit includes . A supposed vintage and antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern replica. In all cases, I leaned toward decoys that look realistic in the field. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. Probably. 2 2. Theyre all good. This was an auction record for the carver's pieces Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? Silhouettes are anything but new, having been in use for decades; however, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering? They sit on the water like real ducks. As with all antique items, the rare models of duck decoys which are often hard to locate, tend to cost a whole lot more than others. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. My decoys get banged up on everything imaginable. Get what you can afford. 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