The History of Duck Decoys
Over the centuries, hunters have used decoys to draw the ducks to them. The earliest recorded use of these decoys was by the Native American Indians around two thousand years ago. They have been made of a wide variety of materials over the years. The materials can vary they can be reeds, wood, cork, or plastic.
Archeologists working in the western United States found duck decoys that were formed from tule or marsh bulrush reed, and were adorned with actual duck feathers. These are actually the oldest duck decoys that have ever been found in the world. The Indians used these decoys to attract the ducks to them so that they could feed their families.
The first mass production of duck decoys started in Detroit, Michigan at The Mason Decoy factory. They were made from 1896 to 1924. William Mason was an avid hunter of waterfowl. In 1890, his first decoys were made from a block of cedar with carved heads, and he did it all by hand. Later when production started, they were not only painted with detail, but glass eyes were added too.
In 1918, an architect by the name of Joel Barber became fascinated with the duck decoys as an art form. He started carving them and then went onto collecting and exhibiting them. Then in 1934, he wrote and published his book called Wild Fowl Decoys. This book wound up being the guide for collectors of decoys.
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 breed of duck decoy to draw the breed you are going to be hunting. Certain duck species aren’t necessarily drawn to decoys. 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 that hunts where you are going to be, to see which kind to buy.
Today many people not only hunt with the decoys, but also collect them. You can even find antique duck decoys that date back hundreds of years. People love the detailed carving of some of these decoys. Also, most of the older ones are unique, since they were all done by hand. You can also find a wide range of prices to fit your pocketbook too.
The decoys today have started to be made from lightweight plastic. This plastic is durable, but lacks the rich look of the old fashioned wooden decoys. But there are also duck decoys that do not just float, but have motion to go through the water like a real duck. This kind of decoy could really be successful in attracting the ducks to you.
Whether for hunting or collecting, you will have fun learning about the different kinds of duck decoys. You will probably learn something about ducks and hunting along the way too. There are many different breeds of ducks, and you can probably find decoys to fit all of them. Who knows maybe you will even decide to carve your own decoys. Then you can take some satisfaction knowing you created a piece of art.