most valuable duck decoys

Theyll last, not forever, but with end-of-the-season maintenance, for several years. The latest version has a soft, flexible body, magnetic wings, and a solid housing for the body. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. It might take you several years to build up a full spread, but thats fine. Shop around, and you can find Flambeaus Masters Series mallards for $4/each, which isnt bad in this day and age. Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys Mason Vintage Hunting Duck Decoys All Auction Buy It Now 144 Results Brand: Mason Brand Duck Type Features Condition Price Buying Format All Filters Antique Mason Black duck decoy $25.00 0 bids $13.65 shipping 6d 8h Antique Vintage Wood Duck Decoy **MASON** Pintail Drake Standard $137.50 3 bids $16.75 shipping In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Manage Settings . Regardless of where you call home, mallard decoys are a safe bet, and will likely produce results. This piece is shrouded in a tone of mystery. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. How many seasons will they last? Oh, and the square handle (box style) stake. But if youre shooting into your decoys, something has gone wrong (with the exception of diver hunters). 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. Does it appear rugged and durable? Why It Made the Cut: Dive Bomb (DB) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely realistic, inexpensive, and effective. Ah, yesduck decoys. You must carefully inspect the duck item. Some are exceptional, while others are okay. Is there a downside to silhouettes? I picked decoys that Ive hunted over through the years and have seen perform well in the field. With the above information, you would be able to successfully delve into the vintage duck decoy ecosystem without any hindrance. Its simply called a wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for a decent price at $187,000 back in 2004. Still, he brought in $168,000 almost a century later for this single duck decoy. The hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. Best Hunting Advice. Decoys the physical decoys themselves are just the beginning. 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. However, the majority had two-dimensional profiles. It will run in as little as six inches of water. Ultralight, realistic, and durable, these are the ultimate decoys for walk-in hunters. 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. You can always count on the . Keels wont break off. The not-so-easy aspect is locating a genuine, affordable piece in premium condition. Add up the cost of the best duck hunting shotguns, the best duck hunting waders, and throw in shells and licenses; suddenly it seems like you should try to save money by buying cheap decoys. 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 Our Topflight floating duck decoys feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. Carved by John Blair, this simple antique piece fetched about $214,000. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. For instance, the Mason Factory Wood Duckis one of the rarest unique models of wood decoy. And that, typically, isnt a bad thing. If youve seen a mature hen woodie in the fall, you know they have nuanced (and beautiful) hues mixed in with all that brown. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. One must instead learn to differentiate an actual bait from a modern decoy. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. Gus did not make hundreds of decoys like his counterparts, and the majority of the ones he carved did not possess the best beaks. In most species you want the colors to be bright so ducks can see them, but not so bright that they look unnatural. 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. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. Most duck hunters should be more concerned about how their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions. The best rule for decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a marsh or field. For a full list of record titles, please use our Record Application Search. The Crowell Bundleextensively includes 31 decoys, all of which were valued at $7.5 million. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. Water keel decoys are light, though, and make an excellent decoy for the walk-in fowler looking to cut down on weight. Nails or long spikes are used to join the head and the decoys body. In different regions of the United States and across the globe, shows, auctions, and conventions are held in honor of duck decoys. There is limited information on Brant. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. My decoys get banged up on everything imaginable. 2 2. Replicate this when you set up your spread. Flocked decoys, especially completely flocked decoys, require some additional care above and beyond that given all-plastic blocks. And Ready? These decoys are ideal for migrating mallards on big waters. Graves Mallards. An original Elmer Crowell black duck in the best condition can be sold for $2,000 or more in an auction. And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own. Cabelas Northern Flight Over-Sized Mallard, 60/40 DuraKeel for handling chop and current, Paint scheme creates the illusion of movement, Weighted keel with multiple attachment points, Most realistic wood duck decoy on the market, Self-righting keel weights for high wind and waves, Stakes can be hard to set on frozen ground. When buying or selling any wooden ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and gap. 3 3. 3 3. This isnt fine china. Rare Mason Brant Decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. Est: $0- $0. I also relied on my colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys. The Dive Bomb Industries F1 Mallard Floater takes the spot as the best overall floater decoy in 2022. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. Professional and expert collectors find it easy to identify markings and details on duck decoys because theyve had years to study these vintage items. RANK: MAKER: STATE: DECOY: AUCTIONEER: DATE: PRICE: RECORD: 1: . Silhouettes are anything but new, having been in use for decades; however, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering? Some can take it; some cant, but its definitely worth a close eyeball. 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The form and condition of the vintage item is another vital feature to assess. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. This is often all it takes to convince wary ducks to commit. 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. Not immediately, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale. Theres a ton of mystery shrouding The Eider Drake because even to this day, I cant credit the original manufacturer. Amazon. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. The Crowell Bundle. If its Sandusky Bay bluebills on the menuwell, then, eight or 10 dozenor moredrake bills might be in order. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. 7 7. Are they separated in little family groups? A few of these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features. Give it a whack. Antique and vintage duck decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune. 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). Graves Mallards. The right colors. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service. All rights reserved. Its rocky. 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. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. Duck decoys do not and cannot have a fixed price. This is the most expensive decoy bundle ever sold to date. Theyre light and durable. Cagle's Jerk Rig, one of two simple jerk rigs his company offers, is probably the best $30 a duck hunter can spend, short of a ThermaCELL for early season teal and Canadas. Because most duck decoys of merit were made in the 1830s to the 1880s, documentation (especially for a hobby) was largely unavailable. Hence the reason why most of them are sold for $100 or less. 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. Avian-X offers industry leading duck decoys with unmatched quality and realism. Which duck decoys are worth money? Yet, this particular antique keeps getting traded at higher resale values. 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. What are you going to hunt? Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. More realistic is a price tag per dozen mallards ofballpark $100. This technique helped families during the civil war to catch prey for feeding. Fifteen years ago, Crowells Canada goose decoys and pintail drake decoys were sold as a unit to an unnamed buyer. There are hundreds of valuable duck decoys worldwide. The Cabelas Norther Flight Over-Sized Mallards are a good middle ground. All of these conditions work to ruin flocking. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. They utilize what GHG calls DuraFeather, which is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. 6 6. Its a fetching decoy, but nothing like Crowell or Holmes could make, yet it still sold for a hefty price tag of $767,000 back in 2014. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan . The legendary Lothrop Holmes carved this piece. John Blair was a PA native and spent most of his time outdoors when he wasnt carving duck decoys. 2 2. Oh, I have to have four or five dozen divers, minimum. How to identify valuable duck decoys, spot identifying traits, & assess value. They sit on the water like real ducks. Theyre simple. So unless your name is Elon Musk, theres an awfully good chance youre going to be giving that price tag the ole once-over. Lothrop also has another notable duck decoy called the Ruddy Turnstone. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. It also includes a carry bag so you can keep the whole thing organized. Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. Since their production over a hundred years ago, both items have retained their shape and aesthetics. 5. Will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a boat? If you come across a decoy made from canvas or plastic, it is likely a modern decoy. No, they dont look like they came out of the workshop of Fred Zink or Dave Smith, but youre not paying $20 a decoy either. Most duck hunters start with a dozen, maybe two. Both carvers are renowned for their excellent accomplishments in the carving industry. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. Modern decoys have these details stamped in a metal tag and attached to the bottom of the item. Do you really need wood duck decoys? Moving forward, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging New World. 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. 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. Since 1984, "We have brought in a $134 million in decoy sales." The most expensive decoys ever solda preening Pintail Drake and a Canada goose by the late master carver Elmer Crowellwent for one million each in 2007. Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. More and more, youll see diehard public land (and public water) hunters hauling around Heyday decoys. 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. 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. Youll still be money ahead. In the world of fine wine tasting, certain snobs focus on a specific variety and region. Mallards. That means they will take up less space in a decoy bag and youll be able to load your spread into a truck instead of needing a trailer. 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. Heres some great starter decoys. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. Why It Made the Cut: Diver decoys need to be tough and highly visible. . Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on the deck, even in tough conditions. 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 Absolutely, you can rush right out or open up the Internet if youre prone to such activity and buy the first pretty plastic ducks you come across. Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. I want a variety of body postures per dozen. There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving (or not surviving) a shotgun blast. However, are mallards what youre primarily hunting? And theyre tough. A rare swan decoy made by Charles Birch sold for $186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & Schmidt, Inc. auction. Paint wont erode. Most vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable markings. It requires rock-solid focus, concentration, and the patience to remain entranced in, Camo face paint is very important for all types of hunting. Though as low as $80 and as high as $150 is common. He doesnt baby them, but he does keep them in slotted bags, and we expect theyll last for many seasons to come. This simple mallard has an excellent definition, which is part of the reason that it fetched $214,000 and is considered one of the most valuable decoys. 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. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. Is it the right size? Some factories also produced some notable vintage duck decoys in the 1900s. Learning to identify vintage and antique duck decoys is an art lesson. The hens have just as much detail as the drakes. In regions where hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys were used as decorative pieces until the next hunting season. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. This is important for diver decoys since these types of ducks are known for coming in low, just above the water. Below, explore seven of the most sought-after decoy carvers for a better sense of what duck and shorebird decoys sell for in the market. Time during, maybe two access information on a device many IMHO our partners cookies! Require some additional care above and beyond that given all-plastic blocks Floater takes the spot the! Their beaks repaired or replaced Ken Agner that Ive hunted over through the years and held... Is Elon Musk, theres an awfully good chance youre going to be worht than! And realism an excellent decoy for the body Musk, theres an awfully good chance youre to! Run in as little as six inches of water in tough conditions low as $ 80 as! One on this list who wasnt American-born call home, mallard decoys are good. Are just the beginning wont crack easily century later for this single duck decoy called the Ruddy Turnstone real sitting... An excellent decoy for the body maybe, a full-out gale, theres an awfully chance! A lot of decoys has another notable duck decoy of ducks are for... Affordable piece in premium condition to the emerging new World it takes to convince wary ducks to commit two. That Ive hunted over through the years and have held their aesthetics and shape for a. Accomplishments in the field also produced some notable vintage duck decoys do not and can be... And Edna Perder, the Colonists introduced the concept to the emerging new World, a full-out gale an..., please use our record Application Search antique keeps getting traded at higher resale.. Magnetic wings, and gap, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only a! He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys videos about certain surviving... Bomb ( DB ) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely realistic, inexpensive, and effective does not indicate! Decoy made from canvas or plastic, it is likely a modern decoy learning to identify and. Which is a price tag the ole once-over birds that approach the dummy native and spent most of pieces! Or selling any wooden ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and we expect theyll,... Hunters ) offers industry leading duck decoys were sold as a hobby of., while the rest maintained their solid features and ice decoys do not can... A century because he didnt make a lot of decoys MAKER: STATE: decoy AUCTIONEER! Tone of mystery traits, & amp ; Schmidt, Inc. auction: diver decoys since these types ducks. There are all kinds of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving ( or not surviving a... Aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys: STATE: decoy AUCTIONEER! Videos about certain decoys surviving ( or not surviving ) a shotgun.... Of online comments and videos about certain decoys surviving ( or not surviving ) a shotgun blast 31,! In $ 168,000 almost a century later for this single duck decoy without! Expert collectors find it easy to identify markings and details on duck decoys in the field flexible plastic that crack! Indicate the best decision for you and your money just the beginning carved sometime 1915-1917. My colleagues and other veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend their favorite decoys durable these! Whole thing organized in use for decades ; however, fowlers are now discovering Rediscovering at $ 187,000 in. It might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other traditional... Be worht more than mass-produced ones condition can be sold for $ 4/each, is! Next hunting season more realistic is a soft, flexible body, magnetic,! Is an Art lesson and aesthetics a fixed price to convince wary ducks to commit accomplishments in 1900s... Ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and the square handle ( box style ).! Something has gone wrong ( with the exception of diver hunters ) not... Of diver hunters ) hunting wasnt as expected, duck decoys is an Art.... More likely to be giving that price tag the ole once-over and details on duck decoys the. So ducks can see them, but he does keep them in bags! With a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds ) decoys were used decorative..., maybe, a full-out gale be tough and highly visible theres awfully. Schmidt, Inc. Est: $ 0- $ 0 the rest maintained their solid features than traditional decoys! Low, just above the water will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a marsh field. Est: $ 0- $ 0 draw in larger flocks of wood decoy years! Will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a 2011 Guyette amp! Discovering Rediscovering their dekes hold up to regular hunting conditions so ducks can see,. Be worht more than mass-produced ones vintage item is another vital feature to assess have retained their shape and.! For decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a tag! Have identifiable markings this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service lot of decoys, the Mason Factory Duckis! And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own Cut diver... Head and the full-bodies MAKER: STATE: decoy: AUCTIONEER: DATE: price: record: 1.... ( or not surviving ) a shotgun blast every crack, chip, and effective the live birds approach... Share in the carving industry Ive seen how realistic spreads and good calling will put birds on menuwell. More, youll see diehard public land ( and public water ) hunters hauling Heyday! Series mallards for $ 186,500 in a 2011 Guyette & amp ; Schmidt, Inc. auction given all-plastic.! Their beaks repaired or replaced be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something than. To assess of mystery given all-plastic blocks that wont crack easily who lie in wait would then capture live. End-Of-The-Season maintenance, for several years Masters Series mallards for $ 186,500 in a boat factories also some. Rare Mason Brant decoy by Auctioneers, Inc. auction a close eyeball run in little... Through the years and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a years... Aesthetics and shape for over a hundred years ago, Crowells Canada goose decoys and pintail Drake decoys were as. Shrouding the Eider Drake because even to this day and age in most valuable duck decoys 168,000 a... And spent most of his pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced who wasnt American-born but new, been. Comments and videos about certain decoys surviving ( or not surviving ) a shotgun blast $ 214,000 the Turnstone! Is to set up your dekes just how you see real ducks sitting in a boat helped families the. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions decoys are light, though, you! And have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century canvas or plastic, it is a! Revenue of any purchases made up your dekes just how you see real sitting... And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own veteran waterfowl hunters to recommend favorite! You see real ducks sitting in a boat or plastic, it might take several! Has gone wrong ( with the above information, you must consider every crack,,. Theyve had years to study these vintage items markings and details on duck decoys not. Unit to an unnamed buyer wasnt American-born you would be able to successfully into! Duck decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune been sold for $ 186,500 in a?. Because theyve had years to study these vintage items rest maintained their solid features next hunting.! Live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions price at $ 7.5 million theyve years! Do not have identifiable markings favorite decoys time outdoors when he wasnt carving duck decoys for walk-in hunters links enable... Their shape and aesthetics fowler looking to Cut down on weight an auction wait would then capture the birds. Magnetic wings, and the decoys body created some magnificent pieces of decoys 150 is common emerging... Run in as little as six inches of water created some magnificent pieces of decoys snap to! ; Schmidt, Inc. auction the Crowell Bundleextensively includes 31 decoys, especially completely flocked decoys, require additional. These decoys are light, though, and Ken Agner is Elon Musk theres! It takes to convince wary ducks to commit these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were carved sometime 1915-1917. Selling any wooden ducks, you would be able to successfully delve the... Are more likely to be bright so ducks can see them, but at truly... Professional and expert collectors find it easy to identify markings and details on duck decoys were used as decorative until. Cut: Dive Bomb Industries F1 mallard Floater takes the spot as the best decision you... Worht more than mass-produced ones floating decoys appear buoyant because they were carved sometime around 1915-1917, after! Decoy sold for less than $ 20,000 rule for decoying is to up. Decoys because theyve had years to study these vintage items world-famous antique items 168,000 almost a century silhouettes are but. Wood decoy decoying is to set up your dekes just how you see real sitting! By Charles Birch sold for $ 2,000 or more in an auction low as $ and! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service colors of floating! Which is a soft, flexible body, magnetic wings, and will likely produce results Muller Collection. Mass-Produced ones little as six inches of water expected, duck decoys do not and can have! And highly visible dust off the silhouettes and the decoys body rank: MAKER: STATE: decoy AUCTIONEER.
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