Duck Decoy

[Scotty Dog]

Does anyone have instructions, plans, or advice on carving a duck decoy ? Also what kind of wood is good for decoys ?

[Ron D]

if your gonna use power tupelo is probably the best wood to use and get lots of different pictures of the bird you want as many different angles as you can
ron

[Hugh]

Scotty dog, if your just beginning, the tupelo is great wood, but quite expensive to practice on. If you have access to pine, cedar, basswood, they are all good. The pine and cedar are great for smoothies or gunners. My suggestion for beginners is to carve a few gunners, if only to get your anatomy shape correct. It is quite discouraging to spend a lot of time feathering and texturing, if your anatomy isn't correct. Jim Sprankles books on duck decoy carving and painting is an excellent place to start. If you use ebay, type in JD Sprankle, and you will find some of his books.

[Phaeton]

Hi Scotty Dog

The first link is from the Duck Blind and it has all of the basics for carving a decoy from basswood, cedar or cork.

The second link from The Mighty Layout Boys has patterns for different ducks, click MLB Resources then Tips & Reference.

I hope this helps

Bill

http://theduckblind.com/cyberclassro...oyarticle2.htm

http://www.mightylayoutboys.com/domino/mlb/MLB_home.nsf

[Goody]

Decorative or Working?
I have a lot of patterns for working decoys that I drew up years ago. I still do a cork working decoy now and then but cork has went sky high. I would suggest you start out with a working decoy to start to get the basic shape. Study duck anatomy learn all the feather groups how they are shaped and what they are used for. Collect all the reference material you can get your hands on and eventullay it will start coming together. Best advice I was ever given is that there is nothing flat or square on a duck. Youve heard the saying "Like Water Off A Ducks Back".
Let me know and I will send you a copy of my mallard working decoy pattern.
Goody

[Just Carving]

Okay, I was looking for a tutorial and I found one--not what I was looking for, but I remembered reading here that someone was looking for info. on making a Duck Decoy. This one was so simple, I--who had no interest in decoys--might even make it when the weather turns Autumny--is that a word?!?! Well, it is now! Enjoy the "How to make a simle decoy duck!" tutorial

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5080/duck.htm

[Robert Cahill]

Bob,
Thanks for the site. I always like to try differant things and this may be one I attempt.this winter.

Robert

[LCorbett]

Tom Matus has had a book out for a couple years called
Duck Decoys: Classic Carving Projects Made Easy

The featured project is a Mallard Drake.