. It will run in as little as six inches of water. 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. While wood ducks do strike this pose, thats not the only position I want to replicate while hunting. You can buy jackets,, Your email address will not be published. And thats what it was: art. I picked decoys that Ive hunted over through the years and have seen perform well in the field. The only problem is that theyre very expensive. This pulled in almost $500,000 in 2000. My buddy and diehard duck hunter, Todd Gifford, has been hunting with those same test decoys for several years now, and they still look as good as new (even though we hunt the frigid waters of the upper Midwest year after year). The rarest species of Mason Factory Wood Duck decoys in the best forms can cost up to $600,000. Decoys are meant to be used, and quite often that use isnt pretty. The concluding activity in this straightforward process involves sanding, priming, and painting the fowl in natural colors. After drawing a limited-entry elk tag, the author must decide what she values more: her hunt or her pride. Mallard decoys can range from a low of $5 apiece to upwards of $30 per duck. All the decoy tactics stories promoting spreads that look like J-hooks and U shapes are over complicating it. And Ready? High end of the ballpark for DB, but not out of the ballpark. 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. 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. If thats a problem for you, go with Higdons Standard Bluebills, Standard Ringnecks, or Standard Redheads. Join our exclusive 2,500+ email list to get tailored advice, product roundups, and be the first to see our new content. As the years went by, decoys were mass-produced and used by commercial and sports huntersto catch prey for food and sports activities, respectively. 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. Dac Collins. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. Manage Settings Product DescriptionThis is a magnum mallard decoy at its finest. Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. Most duck hunters should be more concerned about how their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions. The real downside here is that in high wind (often when the duck hunting can be very good) any type of shells on a stake will bob or spin frantically. The bottom line? No matter which species you chase or which flyway youre hunting, these four skills are required for success. They get bounced around the bottom of boats and in decoy bags. Non-mallards. The Avian-X body positions look much more natural and relaxed. And if you give them just the smallest amount of care, they will last you many years of good hunting. Can you easily and securely attach an anchor line clip to the keel? To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. 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. Here are the new year's top models. Though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived a simple life. As it bobs, it sprays water across the spread like ducks are really getting after it. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving (or not surviving) a shotgun blast. And tough, duck decoys need to be able to withstand abuse. Avian-X offers industry leading duck decoys with unmatched quality and realism. If it is valued today, Im sure it will be at least twice this amount (provided it is still in pristine condition). We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a boat? Do you really need wood duck decoys? Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. Are they all bunched together feeding? Does it appear rugged and durable? The Lincoln Hisser. Other Crowell items should be on this list; however, lets assume all are included in this bundle. Ducks move around, even when theyre loafing on the water. Youll still be money ahead. Again, Im not big on electronic duck decoys What I call tub toys but Im sure many say they have their place in the spread. He doesnt baby them, but he does keep them in slotted bags, and we expect theyll last for many seasons to come. 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. Even the gentlest breeze got these decoys moving on the water, and the dual keel design allows them to move even more freely in any sort of current. 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. The RMR Jerk Rig comes factory with four snap swivels to attach four decoys; too many IMHO. Also, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike. Lifes hard when youre a duck decoy, but the DBs appear to be handling it well. Theyre light and, obviously, stack well, meaning you can, with the help of DBs duck/V2 Canada sleeper silhouette bag, carry a whole bunch of them into the field. Nails or long spikes are used to join the head and the decoys body. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. You must carefully inspect the duck item. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. If you hunt big-water mallards and are willing to pay top dollar, you wont do better than these. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Just getting started fowling and on a budget? You may recognize it as being the center of the James McCleery collection until it was eventually sold. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. No spam, we promise. Oh, I have to have four or five dozen divers, minimum. Keep em cleancold clear water, NO SOAP, and a bristle brush worksand show em a little care afield, and you shouldnt have any problems. Let me put it this way. Yet, this particular antique keeps getting traded at higher resale values. The colonists used wood instead of mud or other materials to create their lifelike wild bird attraction. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. So now, head on to eBay, Etsy, 1stDibs, Amazon, or any antique store close to you to buy or list your original vintage duck decoys. Antiques that have been altered, repaired, or have missing parts often cost less than the original piece. Bert Graves was a more recent carver than Crowell or Holmes because he made his last decoy in 1956. This wooden hen sold for an insane $856,000 and held a record as the most expensive decoy sale for quite some time. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. It also includes a carry bag so you can keep the whole thing organized. The Crowell Bundle. 8 8. 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. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island, 4. Rare Mason Brant Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. Theres a lot of em out there, the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. 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. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call, make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous 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. At this point, hunting was growing to be a pastime for privileged individuals in England. If you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving. In regions where hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys were used as decorative pieces until the next hunting season. 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. Is it in a natural relaxed posture? Nice to know, though. Theyll last, not forever, but with end-of-the-season maintenance, for several years. A spinning wing or two. Antique Duck decoys are as valuable as many other vintage and antique items. Ive hunted with many of these picks for several years and can attest to their durability. What are you going to hunt? 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. Best Deer Attractants For Successful Hunt, Best Base Layer For Winter Hunting For 2022, Best Rangefinder for Hunting: Distance Is The Key, Best Hunting Gloves 2021: Make Hunting More Enjoyable, Best Binoculars for Hunting: Zero In On Your Prey, Best Decoy Bags: Transport Your Decoys With Ease and Efficiency, How To Shoot A Compound Bow For Beginners, How to Find Hunting Land for Lease in the US, How To Make A Turkey Caller: 10 Minutes Task, How To Make A Ghillie Suit in 6 Easy Steps, Everything You Should Know About Duck Calls, Camouflage Face Paint 101 The Ultimate Guide. That said, theres nothing wrong with starting off with a dozen mallards and building from there. Both decoys have detailed paint designs, solid bodies, flat bottoms, and hollow centers. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. On record, this is the most expensive decoy purchase to date, but it comes with some interesting and unique details. There are only two knocks on this decoy. 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. Duck Decoys. 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. (here is another example of their work) These decoys are affordable and functional. High resolution true-to-life photo imagery, Light weight allows fowlers to carry dozens into the field, Can be used in uber-shallow water where floaters wont float, Box style stake top makes for easy pick up, Mobile hunters can carry a figurative TON of decoys; huge spreads possible, Dry field or shallow water use only limits application, Psychological aspect involved with two-dimensional spreads, Electro-static flocking stays where it shouldon the decoy, Variety of natural body postures and positions, Exceptional feather detail; no glare, even in harsh sunlight, Gadwalls (non-mallards) present something different to pressured birds, Visually accurate representation of grey ducks at rest, Keel features short tie keeper notch on leading edge, Swivel style heads on drakes can separate unintentionally, Flocking does require a bit more care/maintenance/handling, Large size offers improved long-distance visibility on big water, Six-pack includes more drakes (4) than hens (2), Price tag ($170/dozen) might seem a tad high to some, Heavy, but the majority are transported by boat, so. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. As hunting became more common, buyers began to request decoys that were beautiful and useful. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. Carvers also designed a group of decoys that appear to have legs. But even with all the good-motorized decoys out there, the old-school jerk cord still gets it done. Carved by John Blair, this simple antique piece fetched about $214,000. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. With their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain. '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 . When it comes to expensive duck decoys, Joe Lincoln is a name that often comes up. Their makers are top carvers who practiced for years to attain their renowned reputation. The Crowell Bundle. Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. Rule of thumb. Guyette of Guyette and Deeter auctions once explained that about 90% of the available antique duck decoys had been repainted or renailed. Vintage and antique duck decoys look and feel old. 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. Soon after Congress approved the North American Wildlife Actand North American Migratory Bird Actin 1920, carvers stopped producing many decoys in 1920. Most duck hunters start with a dozen, maybe two. And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. 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See real ducks sitting in a marsh or field for Personalised ads content... Roundups, and the downright ugly lifes hard when youre a duck,. Good-Motorized decoys out there, the author must decide what she values more: her hunt or her pride you. Their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain used, and quite often that use isnt.! Limited-Entry elk tag, the author must decide what she values more: hunt! Jackets,, your email address will not be published look much more natural and relaxed the James collection. That use isnt pretty their beaks repaired or replaced and in decoy bags of mud or other to...