First, let me say that decoy now seems to mean any realistic carving of a bird. The decoy field is no longer limited to edible birds, and most of the hand carved duck decoys are not meant to be used as hunting decoys. That said, I should also point out that some of them are extremely detailed and the carver has spent a great deal of time on the carving. If they ended up in the water or full of shot, I would be extremely unhappy, if I were the maker.

Duck decoys can be made from any light wood, like balsa, cork or pine. Hunting decoys need to have enough weight to ride in the water like real ducks, but the weight is often provided by a metal keel added when the carving is complete. The metal keeps the decoy upright in choppy water and lets the decoy swing into the wind and current like a real duck. Decoys for hunting will be inflatable, or made from plastic or cheaper materials and mass produced, so losing one or more to the wind, water or shot damage is not a big deal.

Since the decoy field is not limited to hunted birds, the carvers have branched out to almost all birds. Usually they are still native birds, but they include song birds, hawks, owls, woodpeckers, herons and egrets, shore birds like petrels and sand pipers, grouse, pheasant, quail, hummingbirds, etc. The smaller birds are usually carved at life size, while the medium size birds may be carved at life size or smaller. The tall birds, like the herons, are carved at less than life size unless they are intended to be placed outdoors.

The standing carved birds, unlike floating carved duck decoys, require legs and a base. The base may be driftwood or some other reasonable branch from the bird’s habitat. The legs vary from straight wooden dowels, which match the less detailed, sleeker bird carvings, to cast metal legs that have realistic knees and feet. These last are de riguer for the most realistically carved wooded birds.

Sometimes the wood is polished and left with the grain showing on duck decoys and other bird carvings. Although this does not provide the realism that carved and colored plumage does, these decoys can be quite beautiful, and sometimes fit into a room’s decor more easily that the realistically painted birds do. In addition, the carver has the choice of carving duck decoys with highly realistic plumage, some carved definition of feathers, or can leave the wood form smooth and just paint in the feathers when painting the bird. All ranges of detail, from smooth to highly carved, can be found among the hand carved birds, and the choice is the carver’s and the purchaser’s preference. Once the carving and painting are complete, one or more coats of a clear finish are added to protect the paint job and preserve the wood.

Which brings us to prices for duck decoys for sale. Most hand carved display decoys are at least $100. Small bird carvings may be somewhat less than this price, but such a bird carving may be less detailed, or smaller than life size. The prices above $100 depend on the size of the bird, the amount of details carved or painted on the decoy (the carver’s time), and the reputation of the carver him or herself. Some duck decoys are priced at $500 or more. As you are buying art in some cases, the price may be warranted.

Vintage and antique duck decoys can be pretty rudimentary, usually because they were meant to be used and shot up. Even the painting may be rudimentary, and these decoys look a lot less like the real birds than the hand carved duck decoys produced today. In addition, the older duck decoys were probably started from a hunk of wood, while today’s carvers can purchase blanks that already have the form of the duck or goose done, to which they need only add refinements and the final carving, coloration and clear coat.

The carved ducks and geese made today do not always have a solid body. Some goose or swan figures are made with a slatted, shaped body that is hollow instead of solid. This gives them a rustic look, and these are definitely indoor birds. There are also goose and swan decoys where the body has been carved out from the top so they can be used as magazine holders. Some duck decoys are made as flying ducks, being half a duck and meant to be hung on the wall. One of the better wall mounted birds is a woodpecker carved in the round, with his head turned to survey the room. Floating half ducks can be mounted on plaques for signs or trophies, and ducks and other birds are made in small versions as hanging ornaments for Christmas trees or other displays.

There are many duck decoy carvers, both from past generations and those working today. This is by no means an inclusive list: Charles Perdew, Cline McCalpin, Gary Starr, Ken White, Robert Kelly, Dick Rhode, Rick Johanssen, Kevin Thor Williams (KTW). The important thing is to find a carver you like and collect his duck decoys, or select your favorite bird and get it from many carvers so you can see the many different ways the bird is carved.

Collecting hand carved duck decoys and other bird carvings can be very satisfying whether you have ever hunted or not. Look for your favorite birds as hand carving figures. You will be astonished at the variety available, and the artistry the carvings exhibit.

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