Waterfowl Decoy Reproductions For Collectors And Hunters

Almost every image of a hunting cabin features at least one duck decoy perched on a shelf or maybe on a fireplace mantel. Waterfowl decoys are a familiar artifact to most of us, especially those who grew up around ponds and lakes where duck hunting was common.

Decoys were originally crafted purely for the purpose of luring ducks, geese, and other waterfowl within the reach of hunters. In America, at least, hand carved decoys eventually became sought after collectible items. And today they have evolved to the status of artwork.

But the history of wooden duck decoys and other waterfowl decoys goes back a ways. Possibly back more than 2,000 years, to be exact.

The Lure of Waterfowl Decoys

Decoys are not a recent tradition among hunters.

In fact, according to one source,

“Duck decoys were constructed from reeds by Native Americans that lived during the Archaic period (2,000 years ago) west of the Colorado Plateau. Archaeologists working in Nevada found nearly a dozen ancient duck decoys cached in Lovelock Cave, a large cave that opens up onto fossil Lake Lahontan.”

Apparently, the arid environment preserved these ancient reed decoys and the tule duck decoy was later named the official Nevada state artifact in 1995. However, none of the eleven specimens recovered from Lovelock Cave stayed in Nevada. Today, they are all part of the collection at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. 

By the time the Europeans had begun settling in what they called the New World, a culturally different approach to waterfowl decoy construction began to form.

An article from a Missouri newspaper relates that,

“Indians learned to use mud, reeds and crude wooden blocks. Cree Indians in Saskatchewan still use these primitive decoys. Later, white hunters started nailing goose or duck skins to blocks of wood.

Members of duck hunting clubs from the beginning of the 1900s didn’t like crude decoys, so a market was born for wooden decoys that could be laid out in strings for fooling ducks. These decoys were built to sit up straight in the water and float. Artistic painting completed the decoy that looked like any number of ducks or geese. Today some are worth considerable amounts of money.”

Over the years, many of these hand carved decoys are highly sought after collectibles and can fetch high dollars from collectors. 

For example, Steve and Lem Ward of Crisfield, Maryland, were brothers who started carving wooden decoys for hunting in 1916 and stopped in the 1960s. Although they were untrained artists, many of their decoys are worth over $100,000 and occasionally two or three times that.

Fortunately, for those who appreciate the look and tradition of duck and waterfowl decoys, it is possible to acquire beautiful reproductions at a fraction of those collector prices.

Hand Carved Decoys for Your Collection

At Wild Wings, we have brought together a large and varied collection of waterfowl decoy reproductions.

Our Wild Wings collection of reproductions of hand carved decoys capture both the beauty of various species of waterfowl, while preserving the tradition of using decoys for hunting waterfowl.

If you are a goose hunter, duck hunter, or decoy collector - or you have one on your holiday gift list - you will appreciate the sheer beauty and lifelike detail of our superb decoys. These quality reproductions of hand carved decoys include many waterfowl species, such as mallards, wood ducks, pintails, geese, swans, loons, and many more.

Our gorgeous and finely detailed reproductions have been created by several master carvers, including Sam Nottleman, Phil Galatas, and Wayne Murray. While certainly not intended for use on the water, of course, these handsome decoys will be the perfect addition to your den, cabin, or even a hunting-themed home. 

And they make the perfect anytime gift for the duck and goose hunters in your life.

Our eclectic collection of handcrafted decoy reproductions and original artwork pieces include fence post decoys, large and small decoys, antique decoys, a “Master Carver” selection, and even a life-size Reno Bottom Bluebill, or scaup. 

Waterfowl Decoys and Other Bird Art from Wild Wings

Wild Wings offers exclusive hand carved duck decoys, as well as other types of bird and avian wildlife art. We have well over three dozen decoy items along with hundreds of images available in limited-edition prints, wrapped canvases, and framed pieces by the nation's best wildlife artists.

In addition to waterfowl decoy reproductions, prints, and paintings, a wide variety of other bird-themed art pieces can be found that will be perfect in your own home or cabin. And they can also make wonderful gifts for the bird-lover in your life!

Our wildlife artwork features stunning bird art pieces from artists such as Sam Nottleman, Wayne Murray, and Phil Galatas, along with artwork from notable artists including Guy Hobbs, Jim Kasper, Michael Sieve, and Persis Clayton Weirs. Browse through our collection today to find the perfect piece for you, or a friend or loved one.

Wild Wings is the leader in wildlife themed art, and we pioneered the wildlife art industry with over 2,500 print editions produced since 1968.

Today, Wild Wings stocks over 1,000 outdoor and wildlife art prints representing more than 70 of America’s top artists and our Wildlife Art collection offers buyers the perfect combination of beauty, quality, comfort, and uniqueness.