Enjoying those duck decoys

In my office at the moment sit four decoys for the Ducks Unlimited auction on Friday evening. They range from a working decoy to museum quality duck reproductions. Sitting on a filing cabinet, they face me from across the room. But Thursday evening they will travel to the arena to part of the auctions of Ducks Unlimited. I have enjoyed looking at decoys since my wife some 30 years ago gave me a mallard decoy as a gift. It began a long enjoyment of collecting duck carvings.
Creating duck decoys goes back thousands of years. Natives of North America used cattails, bull rushes to make floating decoys to attract ducks to roosting or hunting areas, where they could be bow hunted or netted. In the north, the Cree use tamarack branches to make standing goose decoys that are used to attract birds in the annual spring and fall hunts. Fish decoys were also used by first nations when the lakes and streams were frozen to attract larger prey fish. Some resembled smaller fish, frogs, snakes, mice and other animals. Holes were cut and the fish attracted to the decoys were speared.
The art of carving fish and duck decoys has progressed. In much of Minnesota fish decoys are still used for spear fishing. Master carvers today sell their carvings in collector shops. Many working decoys have been found in antique stores across North America and are highly sought after. A record price of over $1 million has been paid for the work of a carver.
Decorative decoys from simple folk art to highly detailed replicas
This Friday night, Gladys Martin will offer up the last of her late husband’s working decoys. Bill carved working decoys and used them to attract ducks on Rainy Lake. It was his hobby and a passion. Today few hunters carve their floating decoys, instead choosing to go to a hunting store and purchase readymade rubber or foam replica ducks. Another old carver, Bruce Caldwell will offer up a blue bill that has ducked a million pellets on Rainy Lake.
Both decoys are hand painted and represent a dying art in carving. Today when decoys are carved, they are done for decorative purposes. Randy Sisco’s ducks were always prized. Dr. Spencer used carving to hone his dexterity for surgery.
Three ducks will go forward on Friday night from Malcolm Douglas. A life size replica of a pin tail with every vein carved on every feather should be a highlight. Painstakingly detailed, hundreds of hours were consumed by Malcolm in 1994 as he carved and painted the Pintail decoy. He has also offered up a pair of Red Head duck decoys that he created in 1992. His attention to detailing the colour and feathering of the male and female make them true works of art.
The works of district carvers is unique. Local carvers have carved and painted mallards, blue bills, loons, wood ducks, and mergansers, with most having a cherished place in home and cabins. Anyone bidding on the decoys that are being offered will have a one of a kind piece of folk art for their home or cabin.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher