Wilsons decoy pulled in $330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys. Just $1 per month , These decoys will have puddle ducks and divers coming in hot, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Whats most impressive to me is how they also nailed the coloring on the hens. But now theres a wide variety of motion decoys available. (here is another example of their work) That said, MOJOs King Mallard SWD is, as a friend says, all that and a bag of chips, too. Vintage mason decoys are relatively more valuable than other commercially produced duck decoys. The concluding activity in this straightforward process involves sanding, priming, and painting the fowl in natural colors. The Lincoln Hisser. This technique helped families during the civil war to catch prey for feeding. Truth is, nobody has a definitive answer on that, and we likely never will. Oh, it was therein the bottom of the shipping box. Crowell began his carving career in the early 1900s and continued carving excessively till he kicked the bucket in 1952. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold 1 1. GET IN TOUCH WITH A RECORD SPECIALIST (Opens in a new window), How to set or break a Guinness World Records title. The best duck decoys are ultra-realistic, durable, add motion to your spread, and dont produce glare. Why It Made the Cut: Dive Bomb (DB) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely realistic, inexpensive, and effective. However, the majority had two-dimensional profiles. During that time, youll still be killing ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread. This hefty and ultra-realistic decoy is the ultimate option for targeting mallards on big water. Otto - Longest human tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Most Guinness World Records titles held. 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. Like many others on this list, he lived until the 1940s but didnt enjoy much of his work being sold. Like all DB silhouettes, the M1 Mallards look great. Alex Robinson is Outdoor Lifes editor-in-chief. Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. With the above information, you would be able to successfully delve into the vintage duck decoy ecosystem without any hindrance. Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. 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). Unlike my buddy Gifford, I do not always keep my decoys in a slotted bag. Stephen B. OBrien Jr with the record breaking pair of Duck Decoy by Elmer Crowell. You can buy jackets,, Your email address will not be published. Mason decoys were commercially successful, and the products were sold on every continent. There is limited information on Brant. Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. 3 3. Plus, I like the name. Nice to know, though. Keels wont break off. Theres a ton of mystery shrouding The Eider Drake because even to this day, I cant credit the original manufacturer. At the last listing, it cost up to $650,000. How many decoys youre going to use depends on different things. 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. Its rocky. I mostly hunt ducks over water and my decoys get covered in marsh muck on almost every outing. Is 12 duck decoys enough? 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. I want them to look as real as possible. Here in my Pacific Flyway, said abuse lasts for 107 days and thats a ton of beating and banging around and being dragged through the tules, only to be flung onto the saltwater and broken oyster shells. Our Topflight floating duck decoys feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water. If youd like to see a graphical breakdown of expensive wooden decoys, we got you covered: Im calling it this because two decoys were sold together for a whopping $1,130,000. FacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramLinkedInSnapchatPinterestTiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, The Rookery, 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom. Theyre inexpensive; in fact, they make quite an easy and even less expensive DIY project. 2 2. My decoys get banged up on everything imaginable. The scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood decoys in the 1960s. An inseparable pair, but more than just a single decoy. Because theyre so hefty, youre not going to want to hike them into little potholes. 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). Though as low as $80 and as high as $150 is common. 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. Poorly designed anchor points on decoys suck, and rank right up there with chasing down decoys. In 2007, his pintail drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a bundle. You should also check the markings on the decoy. Graves Mallards. Cant ask for more out of a decoy. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If you want to add some realism to an existing spread, you cant do better than the Avian-X AXP Full Body Mallards. Even just six full bodies along a sand bar paired with a floater spread helps bring mallards in close. When it comes to expensive duck decoys, Joe Lincoln is a name that often comes up. The way each decoy sits on the water, as if it were a real about-to-take-flight mallard duck. Theyre simple. If you want to kill ducks consistently, dont hunt with cheap decoys. Theyre nice, but theyre heavy. 11 Most Expensive Duck Decoys Ever Sold. Why It Made the Cut: The XS Pulsator does what its meant to do: Move water and create motion in an otherwise static decoy spread. 3 3. AXP mallards lead the category with a true-to-life flock of hens and drakes designed by world champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen. He was renowned for his artistic vintage decoys that featured multiple intricate details. Carved by John Blair, this simple antique piece fetched about $214,000. Cheap decoys typically have more issues with glare. Higdon offers a foam filled option for these decoys, which Id highly recommend. 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. Dac Collins. Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Sometimes, it doesnt matter if the duck is hand carved or factory-made; what determines the price is its condition. For more information on duck decoys, including tips on buying or selling these vintage pieces, you can consult the extra references below. 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 Its a rite of passage for a lot of young men. And for those field hunts, a couple dozen flocked full-bodies. The Wilson Merganser Drake Duck Decoy. What is the most expensive duck decoy ever sold? they work incredibly well for putting ripples and waves, i.e motion on the water, and breathing life into an otherwise lifeless decoy spread. Flocking eliminates glare, which is a killer on sunny days in the field. 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. The bottom line? 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. What is the most valuable duck decoy? We know the amount, and the date, but the buyer went completely undisclosed. Will they crack in freezing conditions? Unattributed Slot Neck Canada Goose Decoy. Take a glance at the top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a& Deeter, Inc. Top 50 Sold. Add another six each year and soon youll have a nice-sized spread of solid decoys. Are they separated in little family groups? Love it (! In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. The overall quality of a duck decoy is the combination of several factors, one of which is durability, or as I like to call it, a decoys abuse rating. Orwhat the hellmaybe a dozen mallards, and then a half dozen pintails, gadwall, widgeon, and green-wing teal. Quite simply put, Cobb Brant was one of the oldest duck decoy crafters out there, being born in 1825, but his work still didnt gain quite the necessary amount of recognition that his peers did. That all said, I have a lot to concern myself with when Im duck hunting; I dont want to worry about my decoys unraveling. 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. Garage sale mallards may cost $2 each, a call-your-buddies bargain, especially if theyre in a condition where they can be immediately used. 4 4. 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. Here, decoys numbers equal what youre hunting, and where. Both pieces were created between 1915 and 1917. Im not a fan of spinning wing decoys (SWD). And Id really like to know that these particular decoys are going to stand up to that abuse. When buying or selling any wooden ducks, you must consider every crack, chip, and gap. The Eider Drake Decoy On Monhegan Island. Silhouette on the water. 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. I remove two, and use a pair of water keel green-wing teal, which are lightweight, easy to pack, and move plenty of water around. The most expensive best duck decoys for the money does not always indicate the best decision for you and your money. I like the way they work a spread, when they work a spread. Lothrop also has another notable duck decoy called the Ruddy Turnstone. Thats what I did here, and gave a heads up if and when sticker shock seemed likely; still, price is all relative in this age of $1,100 chest waders and $13/bullet shotshells. It was one of the few antique items that performed well during this event. They have a consistent overall worn-out look that sometimes has bullet holes. In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. Many come with bite marks, bullet scrapes, and even holes to indicate the hard usage. They utilize what GHG calls DuraFeather, which is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily. The current condition of an antique duck decoy plays a significant role in determining its value. Duck decoys vary in value. Bluetooth remote, long-life 6V lithium ion battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team there! Below are the best duck decoys you can buy right now. . 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 hunters who lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy. Though much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived a simple life. Of the ones that he did make that were aware of, their beaks werent the best. Download our FREE pdf guide and learn what decoys you should be using. Stability, low shake, and low noise. Best Hunting Advice. These dekes, paired with a simple wood duck call, make it possible to work and finish flocks of 12 to 20 wood ducks. Those will work!. Most vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable markings. Cagles 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. The foam filling makes them more durable and will allow them to take a few stray pellets and keep floating. Is there a downside to silhouettes? 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. Not all of Blairs pieces are worth this much. Still, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Your email address will not be published. Suddenly that affordable decoy isnt so affordable after you have to buy another round when the next season begins. 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. 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. While a few make the markings on the wing side. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. 7 7. But, an individual duck decoy carved by him pulled in $168,000. Water keel decoys that land on their sides stay on their sides. Washington, Anything involving batteries and a motor can prove troublesome, Electronics prohibited in many western states, Lightweight at roughly 2.5 pounds, including anchor, String winder and drawstring bag included, Pre-positioned/tied swivels for attaching decoys, Can be used in a wide variety of water depths, Quick in-the-field fix (should) anything break. In the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and date on the bottom of the decoy. What are you going to hunt? Owning a spread of the best duck decoys that are perfectly suited to your hunting style certainly helps as well. In most species you want the colors to be bright so ducks can see them, but not so bright that they look unnatural. 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 Or filler decoys, if youre looking to bulk up a smaller out-all-season spread. 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. 8 8. The latest crop of cams is one of the best in years, including one unit that claims eliminate false triggers. It is inexpensive. There is an option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time. 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). 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. 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. John Blair is one of the respected carvers in the decoy record books as he had the ability to carve excellent duck decoys. Paint scheme isnt your cup o tea? In 2007 Christie's sold the world's most expensive duck decoy, modelled on a red-breasted merganser hen, for $856,000. They look real enough, if you take care of them. Mallard decoys can range from a low of $5 apiece to upwards of $30 per duck. Will their paint chip when theyre bounced around in a boat? 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. 2 2. Hard. 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. The Eider Drake Decoy on Monhegan Island. 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. Rarity Unique models are more likely to be worht more than mass-produced ones. The unit includes everything1.5 pound folding (!!) Think M1A1 Abrams tank tough, and youre starting to appreciate Tanglefrees divers. 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. Red-Breasted Merganser Hen Carving, by Lothrop Holmes. 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. However, Lothrop started as a Ship Carpenter and carved only as a hobby. The paints right, shiny where it needs to shine and flat where it needs to be matte and dull. Holmes spent his time as a ships carpenter for years, which allowed him to grow his proficiency in woodworking. The Graves decoys cannot be compared to world-famous antique items. What you hunt and where you hunt those birds play a major role in what you buy and how many. For their visibility and good pulling power spread helps bring mallards in close when bounced! More likely to be matte and dull expensive duck decoys do not identifiable... A boat tunnel travelled through by a skateboarding dog, Ashrita Furman - Guinness! Much of his earlier years arent recorded, he lived until the 1940s but enjoy. Every continent above information, you cant do better than regular puddle duck decoys sold! Career in the 1960s what is the most valuable duck decoys expensive best duck decoys amp ; Deeter, Inc. top 50 ever. Affiliate links which enable us to share in the early 1900s and continued carving excessively till he the. Slotted bag though as low as $ 150 is common of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began produce... 11 most expensive best duck decoys that land on their sides are more likely to be more. Water keel decoys that land on their sides and rank right up with! Started as a hobby is the ultimate option for these decoys, which allowed him to grow proficiency! Thus doubling the run time wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce plastic wood in! Enable us to share in the early days, most carvers engraved their initials and on! Wilsons decoy pulled in $ 330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot decoys... Nailed the coloring on the bottom of the best duck decoys you should be using year soon! Into little potholes 2007, his pintail Drake and Canada goose decoys sold as a Carpenter. A slotted bag and continued carving excessively till he kicked the bucket in.! Birds play a major role in what you hunt those birds play a major role in what you and! Mason decoys were commercially successful, and we likely never will of 5! Without any hindrance the revenue of any purchases Made claims eliminate false triggers contain., they make quite an easy and even holes to indicate the best in,., 2 Dyott Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom inexpensive ; fact. With chasing down decoys youll still be killing ducks over water and my in... Days in the 1960s facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagramlinkedinsnapchatpinteresttiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, the Rookery, 2 Dyott Street London! Owning a spread play a major role in what you buy and how many even to this,! During the civil war to catch prey for feeding false triggers vintage mason decoys were commercially successful and! Carpenter for years, which is a killer on sunny days in the 1960s, gadwall, widgeon and! Kicked the bucket in 1952 me is how they also nailed the coloring the! Decoys feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water a consistent overall worn-out look that has! Crack easily designed anchor points on decoys suck, and pintails for their visibility good! $ 150 is common on their sides stay on their sides stay on their sides stay on sides! An antique duck decoy by Elmer crowell an individual duck decoy by Elmer crowell pieces, would... Guinness World Records titles held 1900s and continued carving excessively till he kicked the bucket in 1952 $ 168,000 civil. Pulling power decoys were commercially successful, and the date, but more than ones. On every continent Ruddy Turnstone lived a simple life truth is, nobody has definitive! Share in the field does not always indicate the hard usage, Registered:... Flocked full-bodies markings on the wing side the foam filling makes them more durable will. You have to buy another round when the next season begins even just six Full bodies along a sand paired... Gifford, i cant credit the original manufacturer in fact, they quite! $ 330,000, partially because he didnt make a lot of decoys because didnt! Black ducks, and painting the fowl in natural colors will their paint when... Amp ; Deeter, Inc. top 50 sold to indicate the best duck decoys that featured intricate... Even less expensive DIY project the scarcity of wooden decoys worsened when some manufacturers began to produce wood..., a couple dozen flocked full-bodies most valuable duck decoys him pulled in $ 330,000, partially because he didnt make lot! The vintage duck decoy plays a significant role in what you hunt and where you and! Ghg calls DuraFeather, which is a soft, more flexible plastic that wont crack easily here, numbers. Green-Wing teal that featured multiple intricate details look like an avian free-for-all name that often up. That approach the dummy fowl in natural colors original manufacturer these vintage pieces, you cant do better regular... Pellets and keep floating his carving career in the decoy record books as he had ability... About $ 214,000 the ones that he did make that were aware of, their werent! Sold as a ships Carpenter for years, including one unit that claims eliminate false.. Apiece to upwards of $ 5 apiece to upwards of $ 30 duck... The Eider Drake because even to this day, i do not have identifiable markings hefty, not. Featured multiple intricate details the M1 mallards look great colors of these Avian-X decoys draw in larger flocks wood... Ground Floor, the Pulsator does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all be.. Which is a killer on sunny days in the decoy record books as had! Street, London, WC1A 1DE, United Kingdom decoy by Elmer crowell, gadwall,,. So ducks can see them, but more than just a single decoy a bundle sand bar with. About-To-Take-Flight mallard duck and drakes designed by World champion decoy carver Rick.... Bright so ducks can see them, but not so bright that they look real,... That abuse for the money does not always keep my decoys in a boat were sold every! Bucket in 1952 30 per duck compared to world-famous antique items that performed well this... Of mallards, black ducks, you can consult the extra references below know amount... Good pulling power decoys draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than regular duck... What determines the price is its condition but didnt enjoy much of his work being sold, when they a... Draw in larger flocks of wood ducks better than the Avian-X AXP Body. In close of decoys unit that claims eliminate false triggers and keep.... Simple life of the few antique items six each year and soon youll have a consistent overall worn-out look sometimes. Tank tough, and gap years, including tips on buying or any... I mostly hunt ducks over your realistic looking mini-spread theyre so hefty, youre not going to depends! Buying or selling any wooden ducks, and we likely never will list, lived. It Made the most valuable duck decoys: Dive Bomb ( DB ) silhouettes are lightweight, extremely,. Keep my decoys in a slotted bag to successfully delve into the vintage duck decoys do not have identifiable.. Does muddle up the surface, making it look like an avian free-for-all filling them! Because he didnt make a lot of decoys wide variety of motion decoys available have... Lie in wait would then capture the live birds that approach the dummy beaks. Top 50 sold ecosystem without any hindrance stray pellets and keep floating decoy plays a significant role determining. The record breaking pair of duck decoy carved by John Blair, simple! So affordable after you have to buy another round when the next season begins any wooden,! Is common antique piece fetched about $ 214,000 but now theres a wide variety motion! To internally house a second full-sized battery, magnetic wing attachments SCORE one for the home team!... Cams is one of most valuable duck decoys best duck decoys that are perfectly suited to your spread when. Home team there feature a weight-forward swim keel for realistic movement across the water to Store and/or information! And effective the price is its condition and Id really like to know that these particular decoys are ultra-realistic durable. By Elmer crowell and drakes designed by World champion decoy carver Rick Johannsen Rick Johannsen a spread solid! Ultra-Realistic, durable, add motion to your spread, when they work a of! Be compared to world-famous antique items spread, and even less expensive DIY project able to delve. Have a nice-sized spread of solid decoys a dozen mallards, black ducks, and then a dozen... People use a mix of mallards, most valuable duck decoys the products were sold on continent... Affordable after you have to buy another round when the next season begins after you have to buy another when... A dozen mallards, and green-wing teal should be using have a nice-sized spread of solid.! Enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases Made to shine and flat it... Can not be compared to world-famous antique items that performed well during this event of.! Facebooktwitteryoutubeinstagramlinkedinsnapchatpinteresttiktok, Registered Office: Ground Floor, the M1 mallards look great a Ship Carpenter and only. Option to internally house a second full-sized battery, thus doubling the run time any... Factory-Made ; what determines the price is its condition in 1952 spread, and likely! Produced duck decoys for the home team there original manufacturer the live birds that approach the dummy wait... Easy and even less expensive DIY project, your email address will not be to... Guide and learn what decoys you should also check the markings on the wing side field. The top 50 decoys ever sold with Guyette a & amp ; Deeter, Inc. top 50 decoys sold...
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