here is a hen merganser in the hunting decoy class I carved back in the 80's.

I will try again

This is probably my favorite hunting decoy, I painted it with some original herters decoy paint. Later after the competition, the judges asked me how I got that side pocket color, I told them it was from original herters paints. It reminded them of growing up hunting with all the guys that were using herters paints back then.

I did decorative decoys too with all the feathering, I will try to post a couple of those too. This is the only full bodied decoy I have ever done.

I am trying this again, the lens must of started to get cold with the full bodied merganser. Its a balmy 36 degrees here this morning :( And I am trying to rotate again so it will come out correct.

This is frustrating, I have never gotten a picture straight up and down yet:) One more try, a male decorative merganser.

Canada goose by Big Sky Carvers out of Montana. I had seen this years ago in a local gallery and really wanted it, but I was broke and it was what seemed at the time like a lot of money. The other day I spied it on the bay, and it's home at last. I know it's decorative and not a real "user" but I like it!

https://i.imgur.com/a4XiVUGl.jpg

Nice bird. Here are two geese which live in our house. I carved the sleeper about 30 years ago, and the other began life on the Sassafras River on Chesapeake Bay. It's bill was "puppyized" by a Springer about 25 years ago, and it carries some shot marks also

John,Your goose from the Chesapeake Bay I believe is a R.Madison Mitchell. J.J.

Never thought about that. I do have a Mitchell goose decoy which has never been in the water. It's at my cabin up north. I'll try to get a picture of it in the next several days

Here is a picture of the "new" goose. At one time was sold in a Schmidt and Guyette auction. The old bird I pictured earlier, sure does look like a Mitchell, now that I can compare it to an original.

The stand I made for displaying the Goose features Winchester #4 copper paper shells as stanchions for the goose.

John,That goose looks like a Capt Harry Jobes decoy. J.J.

really like the shell theme with the goose....charlie

JJ - There's a lot of things I'm not, and decoy expert is one of them. The auction description called it Mitchell, so that's what I'm calling it, but the description may have been wrong. Regardless, I like it

If I remember correctly Jobes apprenticed and worked for Mitchell and then he left to open his own shop making decoys like Mitchell's style. Original Mitchell are valued more than Jobes.

Captain Harry Jobes died about 2 weeks ago

Here is what a friend of mine has just carved while self-quarantining in his house on Martha's Vineyard.

A decorative Pintail, from a piece of dense and figured pine.

Here area few pics of a slat goose which I did a number of years ago. My wife thinks it makes a nice planter, hence the flowerpot in the back. ARGH! Thought I had these rotated. Oh Well. Lay on your side

Here is a primitive hand-carved swan decoy from the Dames Quarter area of Deal Island, MD. The bottom is penknife-signed, "V. Robinson."

Duck hunters will likely recognize the shelving used to display these decoys.

I know a wood carver from South Carolina named Floyd Robbins. Although I am as far from an expert on carvings as one man can be I can recognize genius when I see it. Floyd has that genius, and is also a superb wingshot on woodcock with his little 20 ga. S X S. His carvings are nearly indistinguishable from real birds. Here's a recently completed quail which sold within minutes of it being offered. Everything you see was carved from wood, even the grasshopper. Hunting with Floyd is a rare privilege to be in the presence of greatness.

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/65664_600x400.jpg

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/65665_600x400.jpg

And a couple doves .........yeah, the shell box and the empty hulls are all carved from wood, too.

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/66113_600x400.jpg

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/66114_600x400.jpg

Floyd is a master! We have several works by him.

A few more of Floyd's creations ........

A wisp of snipe:

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/66124_600x400.jpg

A breathtaking 'doodle:

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/66125_600x400.jpg

And an owl with supper:

https://www.jpgbox.com/jpg/66126_600x400.jpg

He paints too. Here are my sons . . . and a quail

Very nice Mills, very very nice ! The paintings that is. The birds alright as well :)

Good likenesses, Mills. Your boys were at about that age when I first met you, and them, at a Fall Southern at Rick's.

Those are wonderful timeless portraits Mills!





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My avatar is one of Floyd's pieces too.

Wonderful stuff guys! My latest acquisition is a limited edition from Big Sky Carvers. I saw these years ago but didn't get one; I was happy to recently find one on the bay. Not nearly as detailed as Floyd's work - a different approach - but I like it...

https://i.imgur.com/x1zvwMXl.jpg

Ring-necked Duck drake carved by Thomas Tyers of Oshkosh, WI. A couple of decades ago Tom sent this bird to the World Championships in Maryland, entering it the Novice competition. Unfortunately, it didn't place. But fortunately, it then found its place on my bookshelf.

My latest ebay find by the late Hugh Moss of Traverse City Mi.

Charles Murphy
 

In response to the post of the Charles Murphy drawings I have most of all the book and drawings he did.
It is hard to find his stuff as he did not make a lot.
A blue bill by Charles Murphy made in the 80’s , a black duck made in the 70’s and a wood duck made by me in the 80’s with influence by Charley.
I knew charley and took carving and painting lessons from him in the 80’s, he also got me started collecting decoys, unfortunately died to young.
Most of his carving where miniatures.
I will post some decoys by William Foster later as well.

great ducks for sure....lots of talent...charlie

My brother moved up to a 30-foot diesel-powered “down Maine”-style fiberglass Bluefin Tuna fishing boat in 1988. It was a big deal for us.

Delivering her from where she was bought in early Spring, he asked a friend while stopping along the way at a small fishing port, what the species of diving duck was that he was seeing in the harbor. He was told that they were Sheldrakes, capable of diving 60 feet. He then decided that SHELDRAKE would make a good name for his new boat.

Familiar with how wooden half-models used by old-time boat-builders, after serving their intended purpose, often became wall decorations, I asked a young carver if he would make a ¾ model Sheldrake wall decoration to present to my brother as a Christmas gift.

The carver said he had never been asked for anything less than a full-model decoy, be it decorative or user, but would be happy to attempt what I wanted. It would be a first for him.

Pictured below is the result, front and back.

The boat has gone to a new owner; big game fishing is a matter of memories for us now; but the model still decorates my brother's home.

"Rufus" the silent drummer
 

Recently created and carved by Casey Edwards of Mason, WI is this drumming Ruffed Grouse. The bird just flew in and landed on the top of my roll-top desk and immediately started drumming. He hasn't stopped! This Ruffed Grouse is a little different from others of his species as he's a silent drummer. Those that are familiar and have spent time in the habitat in which Ruffed Grouse live know the unmistakable sound of a drumming Ruffed Grouse. Well, in this case, you're going to have to use your imagination to hear the sound. It's easy if you try!

COB,
If that bird is in orginial paint and decent condition that would be a very good buy.