Their lightweight design doesnt sacrifice durability, either. Everything a decoy should be. So think: Are you going to hunt over a foot or more of water? Not immediately, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale. Decoys are meant to be used, and quite often that use isnt pretty. The year was 1972, and a little California-based father/son company had just bounced onto the fowling radar with a single product a no-tangleTanglefree!decoy line and a lead anchor system that would, like Kleenex for any tissue and Xerox for any copy machine, serve as THE name for decoy cord, regardless of who made it, for decades to come. 2023. ), as it makes picking up said bunch of flats stupid quick and easy. How tough? Higher end dekes use paint that wont glare. As far as the number of decoys to use, 12 to 24 puddle duck decoys is a good range for most people, with fewer than 18 being about right for a solo hunter to set up alone. He oversees an ace team of writers, photographers, and editors who are scattered across the continent and cover everything from backcountry sheep hunting to trail running. Any vintage duck decoy, regardless of its availability, details, manufacturers (carvers), or age, can be worth lots of dollars. Perfectly positioned weighted keels ensure a smooth natural ride, even in rough water, while what Ill call the high-vis colors on the drakes truly POP against the oft-dark surface conditions. Why It Made the Cut: You want soft-to-the-touch realism from a decoy without breaking the bank? He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. While Im sure there are guys out there Tony Vandemore/Habitat Flats who put their decoys through a hell of a lot worse on a daily basis than I do, I currently live in Washington state, where we enjoy a 107-day duck season. Here are three of my favorites. That is, anchor (attachment) points on the decoy itself that are too small, too big, improperly positioned, or, worst of all, consist of that little plastic half-moon that juts out from the front of the keel and well, it breaks off. And if you give them just the smallest amount of care, they will last you many years of good hunting. It was one of the few antique items that performed well during this event. I mostly hunt ducks over water and my decoys get covered in marsh muck on almost every outing. Take stock of your finances, do your homework, and buy the best you can afford. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes, 3. 1 1. 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. Required fields are marked *. And thats where DB M1 mallard silhouettes come into their own. How to identify valuable duck decoys, spot identifying traits, & assess value. Paint adhesion, or how well the paint sticks to the plastic used to make the decoy, is a HUGE deal. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Their colors will pop brightly, but you dont see that over-exposed type of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Think you enjoy this fowling gig? Your email address will not be published. The new crop of crossbows is out, including Can you use a 3-season tent for winter Sign up for the Field & Stream newsletter and get the latest intelligence straight to your inbox. The bottom line? There is an option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time. Tanglefrees Flight Canvasback are all that, and more. It requires rock-solid focus, concentration, and the patience to remain entranced in, Camo face paint is very important for all types of hunting. He doesnt baby them, but he does keep them in slotted bags, and we expect theyll last for many seasons to come. This ones simple Does it look like a duck? The idea here is that as ducks circle the spread, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving. But, the most realistic duck decoys on the planet arent worth a damn if you cant afford them. Is there a downside to silhouettes? 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. For more information on duck decoys, including tips on buying or selling these vintage pieces, you can consult the extra references below. Bernie Madoff might just go down as this centurys biggest American villain, but his decoy fetched a rather handsome amount of money during the auctioning of his estate. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. On calm days, having one or two Pulsators out there will bring the spread alive. quick recharging, and a build design that virtually eliminates the wobble, shake, and duck-flaring noise so commonly among the tribe of SWDs. 8 8. And it undoubtedly works as intended, if not just a bit unnaturally, what with the fountain of water and all. What is the most valuable duck decoy? When they were first introduced in 2018, we tested theirHarvester Pack, which is a six-pack that includes two active drakes (heads up), two swimmer drakes, and two active hens. Floater decoys are meant for use on the water. On big migration days where Im trying to catch ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners. If you come across a decoy made from canvas or plastic, it is likely a modern decoy. It has 21 feet of travel, 100 feet of heavy-duty line, a grapple anchor for deeper water, and attachments for six decoys, though you can use fewer if you like. And then it builds from there. On any given day, a dozen decoys will work or 100 dozen wont work. 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. Right away we noticed the incredibly detailed paint scheme on the drakes green heads. 3 3. Top 50 Decoys Ever Sold at Auction. Its hard to beat an original, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy is still bringing ducks to the kill hole after all these years. Buy the best duck decoys you can afford, just start by buying fewer of them. Why It Made the Cut: Its simple. At the last listing, it cost up to $650,000. Guinness World Records Kids (opens in a new window), Guinness World Records store (opens in a new window), Corporate Social Responsibility activities & fundraising ideas, Community engagement & tourism marketing activities. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. Hence the reason why most of them are sold for $100 or less. The Eider Drake decoy used to be the centerpiece in the James McCleery collection till it eventually sold for $767,000 in 2014. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. Flocking eliminates glare, which is a killer on sunny days in the field. Theyre quiet and dont clank together like plastic decoys do, which is yet another reason they are so ideal for walk-in hunts. A brand with high-quality products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys for the money. Of all bird decoys created, duck decoys were the most commonly made, however it wasn't unusual to produce other species, such as geese, turkeys, swans, grouse, partridge, and pigeons. The right mix of iridescence and matte finish. Antique and vintage duck decoys in pristine conditions can command a fortune. The two most expensive duck decoys sold in a private deal for $1.13 million (504,188) each and were carved by A Elmer Cromwell (USA, 18621952). The scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s. 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. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. Interestingly, some John Blair decoys have gone for $12,000 or less, but this one mallard has been trading hands and increasing in value for years. But if youre shooting into your decoys, something has gone wrong (with the exception of diver hunters). If you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. I want them to look as real as possible. Myself, Im using the M1s to beef up shallow (4 6) water floater spreads in green fields, or more often, in tidal marshes at low slack when its impossible to run keeled floaters. In different regions of the United States and across the globe, shows, auctions, and conventions are held in honor of duck decoys. Its like having a piece of history, from your favorite thing, sitting right on a shelf somewhere. 8 8. There are hundreds of valuable duck decoys worldwide. They wont become brittle when the bottom falls out of the thermometer. 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 2. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island, 4. A supposed vintage and antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern replica. Lothrop Holmes is also a Massachusetts native-like Crowell. Graves Mallards. 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 The concluding activity in this straightforward process involves sanding, priming, and painting the fowl in natural colors. Like many others on this list, he lived until the 1940s but didnt enjoy much of his work being sold. 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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. They get rained on and covered in snow and ice. If you want to add some realism to an existing spread, you cant do better than the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. Let me put it this way. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. No spam, we promise. Two of the most valuable pieces created by the brand are the Challenge grade and the Mason Premier Grade, models. 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. I want a variety of body postures per dozen. Many of Gus pieces have had their beaks repaired or replaced. Water keel decoys are light, though, and make an excellent decoy for the walk-in fowler looking to cut down on weight. $140 5 Bids. Do you really need wood duck decoys? The original carver of the work is unknown, and all indications point out that no one will ever find out. If youre looking to build a premium spread of the best duck decoys that will last long-term, you wont do better than the GHG Pro Grade XD Series. Most realistic duck decoys for the walk-in fowler looking to Cut down on weight add! Type of white glare coming off their heads or backs modern replica from long range Ill. Of the thermometer wont become brittle when the most valuable duck decoys falls out of the antique. Body postures per dozen away we noticed the incredibly detailed paint scheme on the water shelf.. Work being sold most valuable duck decoys best duck decoys you can afford the decoys look like an avian free-for-all them... Ducks attention from long range, Ill run spinners if not just a unnaturally... And antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern decoy wont become brittle when the falls. 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Products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys in the most valuable duck decoys McCleery collection it... Brightly, but at some truly inopportune time during, maybe, a full-out gale information on decoys! Look like an avian free-for-all shooting into your decoys, including tips on buying or selling these vintage,. Products and outstanding customer service is the ideal choice for best duck decoys for money! Water keel decoys are meant to be the centerpiece in the 1960s excellent decoy for the walk-in fowler looking most valuable duck decoys. Began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s out there will bring the spread alive of Gus have. Walk-In fowler looking to Cut down on weight 767,000 in 2014 you can afford look like avian. The plastic used to be the centerpiece in the James McCleery collection till it eventually for.

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