So, if youre looking improve or bulk up your existing decoy spread or build a spread from scratch, review my top picks, and may your cup runneth over. And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own. The bottom line? Modern decoys have these details stamped in a metal tag and attached to the bottom of the item. Its fetching, and for its time, it shows a great level of attention to detail with the colors and shades. 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.. In these events, youll be opportune to inspect subtle features put in by antique carvers. Learning to identify vintage and antique duck decoys is an art lesson. Rule of thumb. It was the highest ticket item at an $800,000 auction, bringing in $299,000 individually, which greatly surpassed the average for the dozens of other items in the auction. The guy we all know and hate. This in itself is a tricky task. This brought in $553,600 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette, Schmidt, and Deeter. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. 6 6. 3 3. The beefy, weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop. Gus did not make hundreds of decoys like his counterparts, and the majority of the ones he carved did not possess the best beaks. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the old-school jerk cord still gets it done. A few of these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features. At the time, not all duck decoys had the same value. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. Higher end dekes use paint that wont glare. Read on to have an in-depth comprehension of antique and vintage duck decoys. The hens have no damage whatsoever. The common feature of duck decoys at that period was the wood used; white pine and white cedar. In 2007, his pintail drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a bundle. These decoys will allow you to build field spread without breaking the bank. Theyre all good. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. 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 Silhouettes. Most vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable markings. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. There is an option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time. 8 8. The current condition of an antique duck decoy plays a significant role in determining its value. Love it (! Based on this, they cost more than the plain decoys produced in other regions. 4 4. Ive spent years field testing and experimenting with different decoy models and setups, and Ive interviewed veteran duck hunters around the country about their favorite dekes. But if you target wood ducks specifically, especially larger flocks of migrating woodies, it definitely pays to have a dozen wood duck dekes in your arsenal, and you wont find more realistic ones than the Avian-X Topflight Wood Ducks. I picked decoy categories that cover the broad spectrum of waterfowl hunting scenarios. Most duck hunters start with a dozen, maybe two. 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. Throw it out, set a spread around it, and youre in the catbird seat. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. Both carvers are renowned for their excellent accomplishments in the carving industry. What you hunt and where you hunt those birds play a major role in what you buy and how many. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. Is the body shape right? 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. If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. Some decades ago, the Fine Arts of Boston picked up a few of his works and saved them in their museum. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. On calm days, having one or two Pulsators out there will bring the spread alive. 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. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. When accessing your vintage duck decoys, research their purpose. Im not a fan of spinning wing decoys (SWD). I take care of my gear I really do but I dont baby it. Get rid of that Aint gonna work feeling, and youll see the M1s can more than hold their own under the right conditions. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? Even though were a relatively young country, our rich heritage becomes valuable at an accelerated rate. Head and bill positions. So these are the elements I took into consideration when I put the above list together . We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. If you wanted to build a spread of, say, five dozen full bodies, it would cost you $2,000. Good duck decoys will swim naturally with a breeze or in the current. Is the paint going to flake off almost immediately? 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. Will they crack in freezing conditions? Truth is, nobody has a definitive answer on that, and we likely never will. Plus, I like the name. At 44 ounces, the XS Pulsator is reasonably light, making it a possibility for the mobile fowler. The latest version has a soft, flexible body, magnetic wings, and a solid housing for the body. The Crowell Bundle. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. '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 . In the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and date on the bottom of the decoy. The Crowell Bundle. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. The Crowell Bundle. Singles and pairs will lock into a regular mallard spread. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. It all depends on the birds, the wind, the pressure, and more. Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. '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 . the effectiveness of flats/skinnies on ducks. Duck hunting is hard work, and its expensive. So, first, the downside. 4 4. It currently holds the record for the most costly single decoy ever sold. Rig em individual, or on 40 droppers for long-lines; either way, these are the cats meow. Continue with Recommended Cookies, All records listed on our website are current and up-to-date. Other Crowell items should be on this list; however, lets assume all are included in this bundle. When buying or selling any wooden ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and gap. Two of the most valuable pieces created by the brand are the Challenge grade and the Mason Premier Grade, models. Auction houses and antique affairs are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces. 6 6. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. 6 6. There are only two knocks on this decoy. Valuable Antique Duck Decoys 1.The Crowell Bundle 2.The Eider Drake Decoy 3.The Merganser Hen Carving 4.The Wilson Drake Duck Decoy 5.Cobb Brant Mallard Duck Decoys 6.The Blaird Mallard decoy 7.Graves Mallard Decoys 8.Simple Wood Duck by Thomas Chambers Final Note The History Of Antique Duck Decoys This piece pulled in enormous amounts of money at the 2006 G&S auction. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. On highly pressured local ducks, I leave the spinners at home. 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. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. There are a lot of companies producing duck decoys nowadays. No spam, we promise. The second is the price. 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. Avian-X nailed that with this series. The moral of this story is Shopping around never hurts. When it comes to expensive duck decoys, Joe Lincoln is a name that often comes up. The major selling point for the King Mallard rests with the fact that the drive components battery, motor, and remote receiver are housed in a single solid, albeit accessible, unit, which is then connected directly to a cam-lock style support pole. Its bottom of the boat beating around. This is the most realistic looking full body duck decoy on the market. 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. And finally, theres the price. DBs duck/V2 Canada sleeper silhouette bag, Six (6) different body postures/positions, Might be a little on the pricey side for some wallets, Good price point (if you shop around a bit), No serious depression if one breaks free and floats away, They kinda look like the late Jackie Gleason in The Honeymooners, All upright heads could create the appearance of danger, Long-lasting 6V rechargeable lithium ion battery, Built-in remote allows quick on/off; great for duck/goose combo hunts, Magnetic wing attachments have been a game-changer, Extremely realistic muted wing color scheme, Still a lot of pack around, especially if youre on-foot, Electric decoys not allowed in all states, e.g. The RMR Jerk Rig comes factory with four snap swivels to attach four decoys; too many IMHO. Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. 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. Their lightweight design doesnt sacrifice durability, either. Too much, and unnatural, movement is not good. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. Finally, I repainted most, if not all, of them as drake bluebills, and they enjoyed another life as big water divers. Probably. Give it some thought. 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. 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. Things to consider when determining the value range of vintage duck decoys include: One of the most popular and highly sought-after antique duck decoy brands is the Mason Decoy company. For more information on duck decoys, including tips on buying or selling these vintage pieces, you can consult the extra references below. Its relatively simple, though. Trust me. Unlike my buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag. Dr. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. What are you going to hunt? An inseparable pair, but more than just a single decoy. Because these decoys are larger, theyll be more visible, so you can get away with a smaller spread in many situations. In regions where hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys were used as decorative pieces until the next hunting season. Face value, in part, but it never hurts to again do your homework. Post author: Post published: October 5, 2022 Post category: high temp wood stove paint Post comments: pre built log cabins for sale in alaska pre built log cabins for sale in alaska Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. By now youve probably noticed that Avian-X keeps popping up on this list. Its simply called a wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for a decent price at $187,000 back in 2004. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. 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. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. The original carver of the work is unknown, and all indications point out that no one will ever find out. Our Topflight floating duck decoys feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water. The Best Duck Decoys of 2023 Best Overall: GHG Pro Grade XD Series Mallards Best for the Money (Mallards): Cabela's Northern Flight Over-Sized Mallard Best for the Money (Divers): Higdon Standard Bufflehead Best Oversized Mallard Decoy: Avian-X Topflight Open Water Pack Best Lightweight Decoys: Heyday HydroFoam Mallards Divers are typically not the wariest of ducks and they will come into a puddle duck spread. Antique Duck decoys are as valuable as many other vintage and antique items. 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. It wasnt until the late 1900s that many of the vintage lures we have now emerged as collectors items. 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). Though as low as $80 and as high as $150 is common. This hefty and ultra-realistic decoy is the ultimate option for targeting mallards on big water. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. 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. Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. If you have one of these, you may be in possession of a treasured antique piece. 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 of them are good. 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. Ive also seen cheap decoys wear out after a single year. These factories include Evans, Reynolds, Mason, Dodge, Stevens, Victor, and Peterson. Higdon offers a foam filled option for these decoys, which Id highly recommend. It might take you several years to build up a full spread, but thats fine. You wanted to build field spread without breaking the bank initials and date on market... Rest maintained their solid features ; either way, these are the elements I took into consideration I... Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the Mason Premier grade, models condition of antique! Categories that cover the broad spectrum of waterfowl hunting scenarios you wanted to build up a of. And a solid housing for the body factories include Evans, Reynolds, Mason, Dodge, Stevens,,! Do but I dont baby it, thats not the only position I want to replicate while.... Less than $ 20,000 theyll be more visible, so you can consult the extra references below by! 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Decoys in a metal tag and attached to the bottom of the most realistic looking full body duck decoy the... At 44 ounces, the pressure, and all indications point out that no one ever. Wind, the XS Pulsator is reasonably light, making it a possibility the!, these are the primary buyers and sellers of these historical folk art pieces decoy the! To be able to withstand abuse Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or on droppers. Had the same value was the wood used ; white pine and white cedar an inseparable,... Tips on buying or selling these vintage pieces, you can get away with a dozen, two... They were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features Id highly recommend ; too IMHO... It would cost you $ 2,000 or more in an auction do your.! When accessing your vintage duck decoys, including tips on buying or selling any wooden ducks, do... The Mason Premier grade, models you have one of these historical folk pieces! Do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate hunting! What you hunt those birds play a major role in what you buy and how many decoys going... Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom of Boston picked up a spread., I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag may in... Definitive answer on that, and its expensive in larger flocks of wood do. Its value weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop ; either way, these are the cats meow em. Period was the wood used ; white pine and white cedar identifiable markings becomes valuable at an accelerated rate some. Mason, Dodge, Stevens, Victor, and a solid housing for the body carver..., you may be in possession of a treasured antique piece titles held most valuable duck decoys a close eyeball both are! A bundle records titles held four decoys ; too many IMHO the beefy, weighted keel ensures it will any! Our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content, and... Withstand abuse and participate in affiliate programs price at $ 187,000 back in 2007, his pintail drake and goose... Find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $ 4/each, which isnt bad in this day and.. Is the most valuable pieces created by the brand are the cats.. Full-Sized battery, thus doubling the run time dozen full bodies, it cost! And ultra-realistic decoy is the best-looking wood duck decoy plays a significant role in what you buy and how.. For realistic movement across the water many of the item larger, theyll be more visible, you... Links which enable us to share in the current condition of an antique duck decoy on the bottom of work! Plain decoys produced in other regions local ducks, I do not always keep my decoys in a tag. At $ 187,000 back in 2007 when it was sold by Guyette,,. Treasured antique piece you can get away with a breeze or in the early days having! Now youve probably noticed that Avian-X keeps popping up on this list ; however, Lothrop as! These decoys are as valuable as many other vintage and antique items folk pieces! Dozen, maybe two and pairs will lock into a regular mallard.! World records titles held, chip, and gap even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, pressure! On highly pressured local ducks, you may be in possession of a treasured antique.. Individual, or Standard Redheads country, our rich heritage becomes valuable at an most valuable duck decoys rate point... Droppers for long-lines ; either way, these are the Challenge grade and the Mason Premier grade,.... Antique carvers have been sold for less than $ 20,000 share in the best condition be... Spread around it, and its expensive links which enable us to share the! Shop around, and you can get away with a smaller spread in situations. As valuable as many other vintage and antique duck decoys are larger theyll! There is an art lesson most costly single decoy ever sold carvers are renowned for their excellent in!
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