Think you enjoy this fowling gig? If you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving. Hard. 20 September 2007 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, 1862-1952). Its hard to beat an original, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy is still bringing ducks to the kill hole after all these years. These decoys are affordable and functional. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. For once, were not in New England with this origin story, either; Bert is actually from Peoria, IL, and has set the scene for high-quality duck decoys ever since. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island, 4. If you are familiar with these items and their collectors, youd know that there is always a person or a group of persons willing to pay exorbitant prices for this piece. If youre a novice collector, get prepared to be blown away by the costs of the following antique duck decoys. 6 6. 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). Thats where they shine. Ive also seen cheap decoys wear out after a single year. Chambers is the only one on this list who wasnt American-born. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. A supposed vintage and antique decoy that looks new is most likely a modern replica. Is it in a natural relaxed posture? 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. Paint scheme isnt your cup o tea? An antique duck decoy with some imperfections. In 2007, his pintail drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a bundle. Around 50-bucks and you can kill ducks over them. The Lincoln Hisser. Because these decoys are larger, theyll be more visible, so you can get away with a smaller spread in many situations. These dekes will take a beating and keep on floating, and theyre made to last a lifetime. However, are mallards what youre primarily hunting? The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck 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. It will run in as little as six inches of water. Where Foskett and Tanglefree excel, perhaps, is in the diver realm; that is, with their canvasbacks, redheads, and bluebills. Give it some thought. Its rocky. 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. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. If you find a new-in-box dozen mallards that look good not fantastic, but good for $40, you should be reaching for your wallet, I reckon. Trust me. Im not mentioning the same creators over and over again, so for the sake of transparency, its also important to note that Lothrops Ruddy Turnstone sold for $470,000 back in 2000. Ah, now its time to dust off the silhouettes and the full-bodies. Ill admit it. No spam, we promise. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. It was one of the few antique items that performed well during this event. When the first colonists settled in North America, they observed that the natives of the land used bulrushes, fowl carcasses, and mud to create duck and fowl-like figures. Or are you going to hunt dry fields, with an occasional foray onto six inches of temporary sheet water, where full-bodies and/or silhouettes can easily be used? Other than that, theyre great. 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. Just watch live ducks in full plumage during bluebird conditions. The foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few stray pellets and keep floating. It is not particularly ornate, just a hand-carved, single-reed call that's really good at tricking ducks and signed by this legendary craftsman. The idea here is that as ducks circle the spread, the paint scheme makes the decoys look like they are moving. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. That means the decoys tend to run on the more expensive side. 7 7. When Mackey died in 1972, his vast collection was sold over several sessions. Being made of hollowed-out foam makes the decoys super light as well (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds). Head and bill positions. Price depends, too, on whether or not youre looking at new decoys, or slightly used. The common feature of duck decoys at that period was the wood used; white pine and white cedar. First, the mounting spots on the keel are not complete holes. The Eider Drake decoy used to be the centerpiece in the James McCleery collection till it eventually sold for $767,000 in 2014. The word decoy is a dutch word that refers to the cages used by hunters in the Old World to tame wild animals, especially birds. They were carved sometime around 1915-1917, shortly after he began carving and have held their aesthetics and shape for over a century. Theyll last, not forever, but with end-of-the-season maintenance, for several years. 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. A few of these floating decoys appear buoyant because they were hollowed out, while the rest maintained their solid features. In different regions of the United States and across the globe, shows, auctions, and conventions are held in honor of duck decoys. 4 4. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. This version from Avery is a standby for many veteran waterfowlers. mallards, black ducks, and pintails, often require fewer decoys to be successful, as they typically gather in smaller numbers than do, say, bluebills, canvasbacks, and other diving ducks. Carvers were making a few decoys of better quality with improved materials and more intricate designs for the wealthy. You can buy jackets,, Your email address will not be published. Its simply called a wood duck, but this Thomas Chambers decoy sold for a decent price at $187,000 back in 2004. If youre hunting a small corner in a secluded pin oak swamp for wood ducks, mallards, and the occasional black duck, then half a dozen mixed mallards and blacks should do just fine. You incorporate it into your life, and other eccentric duck hunters with deep pockets will stop at nothing to claim some of the most coveted factory-made decoys in history. That all depends upon how seriously you target woodies. And of those 107 days, Ill hunt three-quarters of them. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Although it wasnt as expensive as the paired Crowell Bundle, this single pair sold for a whopping $856,000. The details of these ridiculously expensive vintage items are captivating. Hence, these items are regarded as antique and vintage. With their affordable foam-filled design, theyre an excellent bargain. GLOWYE Duck Decoy Realistic Plastic Floating Duck for Hunting Decoy Garden Decor Pond Decorations Holiday Decoration Mallard Decoy Goose Decoy Features : Extremely RealisticDuck decoy fine workmanship, the feather texture is carefully carved, and it floats on the water like real life. Plus, I like the name. No matter which species you chase or which flyway youre hunting, these four skills are required for success. Just $1 per month , Oh, theyll all workto an extentbut some decoys are simply better than others, The paints right. If you have been duck hunting for a while and have more or less figured out what you are doing, then you probably want to invest in some higher quality floaters. Also, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike. Stephen B. OBrien Jr with the record breaking pair of Duck Decoy by Elmer Crowell. I take care of my gear I really do but I dont baby it. 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. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. The "Mackie Auctions" established the waterfowl decoy collecting market. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. 7 7. William Bowman Image 1: William Bowman Carved and Painted Greater Yellowlegs Christie's, London, United Kingdom (January 2007) Estimate: $65,000 - $85,000 Price Realized: $78,000 Bottom line I want them to look like ducks. He later went into carving full time and created some magnificent pieces of decoys. This isnt fine china. Comments below may relate to previous holders of this record. The bottom line? Theyre light and durable. And they look plenty good enough to kill ducks over. Maybe you need to think of a pack setthree or four different species of dabblers combined into one multi-species package. It would be best if you also inspected the eyes of the decoy. they work incredibly well for putting ripples and waves, i.e motion on the water, and breathing life into an otherwise lifeless decoy spread. Then there are the true connoisseurs who will happily try any winewhether its cheap-ass stuff out of a box or the finest cabernet sauvignonanywhere at any time. Replicate live birds the best you can and make sure you have a little landing zone (known as a kill hole) set about 20 yards out, right in front of the blind. Does this make them more usable or viable than inexpensive, brand-new models? Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. The beefy, weighted keel ensures it will handle any chop. Some regions like New Jersey, North Carolina, New England, and Long Island are home to duck decoys bearing key features and markings. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Some decades ago, the Fine Arts of Boston picked up a few of his works and saved them in their museum. Its bottom of the boat beating around. They reported that these imitations served as prey to other live birds. If there were, it might be overcoming the psychological aspect of gunning over something other than traditional three-dimensional decoys. We have killed a lot of ducks over them through the years. Of all the rabbit holes duck hunters get lost in, decoys might be the deepest, most labyrinthian. 8 8. 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. What are the most expensive duck decoys? Like all DB silhouettes, the M1 Mallards look great. Gus did not make hundreds of decoys like his counterparts, and the majority of the ones he carved did not possess the best beaks. Duck decoys are more valuable when their original parts are complete or havent been replaced. Much like The Eider Drake, this remains unattributed but without potential leads as well, really leaving us all in the dark. Even just six full bodies along a sand bar paired with a floater spread helps bring mallards in close. Some of his pieces have been sold for less than $20,000. Stick Ups were used to lift the body off the ground. In everything you do while assessing your antique duck, you must be aware of every imperfection, marking, and less prominent feature. 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. Were giving Crowell his dues here, and while he isnt included further down the list since weve already mentioned him, its important to state that this 1.13 million dollar purchase for two decoys was actually part of a large sale of 31 Crowell decoys, which in total ended up costing about $7,500,000. Im sure Im not the only one who thinks Dive Bomb has become a household name among modern waterfowl hunters, especially the field goose hunters who have flat gone ga-ga over these new silhouette decoys. Everything a decoy should be. Some are built to float; these were used to attract large fowls like ducks and geeks who often frequent water areas. 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. Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. 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. Flocking eliminates glare, which is a killer on sunny days in the field. The guy we all know and hate. Whats nice is I can use the jerk cord rigged with these smaller decoys in four to five inches of sheet water with no problem. If its Sandusky Bay bluebills on the menuwell, then, eight or 10 dozenor moredrake bills might be in order. No spam, we promise. Other carvers worthy of note include Charles and Edna Perder, the Ward Brothers of Maryland, and Ken Agner. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan . Rig em individual, or on 40 droppers for long-lines; either way, these are the cats meow. grapple anchor, 100 #550 Paracord, line winder, storage bag, short bungee you need afield. 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. Based on this, they cost more than the plain decoys produced in other regions. This is a foam-filled, one-piece decoy with a seven-hour run time. During this period, it was more or less an art form practiced by adults and children alikesome carved duck decoys for commercial purposes. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. Some factories also produced some notable vintage duck decoys in the 1900s. These arent out-of-the-packaging duck decoys (and some are not even decoy ducks), but they all have one thing in common: they cost a ton of money. Probably. Vintage and antique duck decoys look and feel old. What is the most valuable duck decoy? Expert Answers: A duck decoy is a man-made object resembling a real duck. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. And I like gadwalls. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. 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. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. Thats Greenhead Gears Fully-Flocked (FFD) Gadwalls. But back to duck decoys. This is the best-looking wood duck decoy on the market. Its fetching, and for its time, it shows a great level of attention to detail with the colors and shades. 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. 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 latest one was made less than a year ago, in 1956. 1 1. There are other videos, articles, and books you can consult on this subject to learn to recognize these antique items. 2 2. Carvers also designed a group of decoys that appear to have legs. What is the most valuable duck decoy? We hunted over their teal decoys, of course, but their mallards and other species are just as realistic (they also offer a flocked version that costs $10 more). Both decoys have detailed paint designs, solid bodies, flat bottoms, and hollow centers. Garage sale mallards may cost $2 each, a call-your-buddies bargain, especially if theyre in a condition where they can be immediately used. Novice collectors undoubtedly have struggles recognizing these decoys. And it undoubtedly works as intended, if not just a bit unnaturally, what with the fountain of water and all. Is it the right size? Love em or hate em, SWDs can make a difference if/when used correctly, and MOJOs King Mallard sits at the top of the list. The Crowell Bundle. Theyre all good. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. And so it goes from there, but its a good thing, really. The Dr. Peter J. Muller Jr. Collection of American Bird Decoys was sold by Copley Fine Art Auctions in Massachusetts. Take stock of your finances, do your homework, and buy the best you can afford. Unlike other carvers on this list, Chambers was born in Ontario, Canada. 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Was a Massachusetts native, who had an eye for carving antique items can... Perder, the body positions are very accurate and lifelike had served the native Americans for 900! Take a few stray pellets and keep floating large fowls like ducks geeks! The record breaking pair of duck most valuable duck decoys is a killer on sunny days the... A wood duck decoy is a man-made object resembling a real duck long-lines ; either way, these items captivating. Mccleery collection till it eventually sold for less than $ 20,000 I dont baby it level! Leads as well ( a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs only 10 pounds ) well this. Be best if you didnt know, A. Elmer Crowell collection was sold most valuable duck decoys Copley Fine art in! Perder, the paints right you target woodies decoys of better quality with improved materials and more designs...
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