The History of Duck Decoys
For centuries hunters have relied on decoys to draw ducks towards them. The earliest recorded use of these decoys was by the Native American Indians around two thousand years ago, long before the establishment of British colonies. The construction of these decoys was very basic, consisting of a materials gathered from their surroundings that resembled a duck with actual feathers. Over the years the design and construction of duck decoys has changed, but their purpose remains the same.
The Earliest Known Duck Decoys
In 1912, two men, James Hart and David Pugh, filed a mineral claim to be given the legal rights to mine at a cave known as "Locklove Cave" outside of Locklove, Nevada. While their intentions were to mine bat guano, they soon discovered a stockpile of Native American artifacts buried within the cave. After their mining was completed, the duo brought the artifacts to the University of California, who realized the importance of their discovery. Several archaeological expeditions followed, including one led by Mark Harrington in 1924 in which he discovered 11 duck decoys that are the oldest known to date. So, how old just exactly are the decoys discovered by Harrington? It's unknown exactly when they were made, but they're believed to be made around 200 BP.
The decoys found by Harrington and his expedition were made from tule and marsh bullrush reed, and were adorned with actual duck feathers.
The Duck Decoy Boom
Native Americans may have used duck decoys for thousands of years, but it wasn't until around 1830 to 1850 when the use and construction of decoys became popular throughout North America. This is largely in part due to the rise in popularity of duck hunting (which was a result from the increasing demand for duck meat) and the availability of conventional firearms.
With the popularity of using duck decoys increasing, the demand for them rose as well. This led many people to start carving decoys for both their own use and for profit. Prolific carvers such as Lothrop Holmes, Elmer Cromwell, and Ira Hudson produced what many believe are the greatest duck decoys to date.
Mason Duck Decoy Factory
One of the first mass productions of duck decoys started in Detroit, Michigan at the Mason Decoy Factory in 1896. The founder of the factory, William Mason, was an avid hunter of waterfowl. In 1890, his first decoys were made from a block of cedar with carved heads, which he did all by hand. Later, when production started in the factory, they were not only carved and painted with detail, but glass eyes were added too.
The Mason Decoy Factory kept busy, shipping tens of thousands of decoys to all parts of North America. One of their greatest accomplishments, though, was a painting business that developed from their production of decoys. In 1924, they shut down production at the decoy factory and instead focused on operating their new painting business.
The Preservation of Duck Populations
Towards the end of the nineteenth century, the demand for ducks had rose to a point where it threatened the survival of many species of ducks. Hunters were simply killing too many, too quickly. To help preserve the duck populations, in 1903 Theodore Roosevelt declared Pelican Island, Florida, the first bird sanctuary in the country.
The advancements in firearms and lack of regulations on duck hunting had brought several species of ducks to the brink of extinction. In 1918, the Migratory Bird Treaty was passed by the U.S. and Canada which put strict limits on how many ducks and from what species could be hunted. This management effort has allowed the dwindling populations of many species, such as the wood duck, to prosper again.
The First Publication of Duck Decoy Collecting
In 1918, an architect by the name of Joel Barber became fascinated with duck decoys not only as a hunting tool, but as a form of art. He started carving some of his own, as well as collecting and exhibiting them. In 1934, he wrote and published his book called Wild Fowl Decoys, which introduced duck decoys as a form of art to much of North America. This book wound up being the go to guide for duck decoy collectors.
Duck Decoy Collecting Today
The hobby of collecting duck decoys has grown and expanded more than anyone could have imagined a hundred years ago. People love to collect items with history, uniqueness, and beauty, and old duck decoys have all of these.
Old duck decoys will vary greatly in price, ranging from a hundred dollars to over a million. Some of the factors that go into determining the value of antique duck decoys are the carver, age, ,condition, rarity, and history behind it.
Using Duck Decoys Today
Today, hunters still rely on the use of duck decoys to help lure ducks into their firing range. They are considered one of the most important tools at a duck hunters disposal.
Most of the decoys produced today are made from a plastic material. This plastic is durable but lacks the rich look of the old fashioned wooden decoys. Although, you can still find decoys made in other materials, such as foam, wood, and cork.
To give a more lifelike appearance on the water, some companies began producing motion duck decoys. These decoys have a mechanical function, such as flapping wings or a bobbing head, that adds motion to the otherwise still decoys. There's always debate as to whether or not they are effective, but from my experience some motion is definitely an advantage.
To use a decoy for hunting, you have to do some research and know how to effectively use the decoys. For one, you have to use the right species of ducks in your spread to draw the breed you are going to be hunting. You should also notice how populated the flocks are. You can do this by scouting the location and observing the ducks, or you could ask someone who hunts the area for advice. These are just a few of the factors that you'll need to determine when using your decoys.