All~
I just repaired one of my earliest decoys. I carved this Coot sometime in 1980 - when I was living in western New York, working out of DEC's Buffalo office. The Lake Plains (of Erie and Ontario) have some big marshes and so birds like Least Bitterns, Gallinules and American Coot. I carved a pair to add to my Mallard/Black Duck rig. All were hollow Basswood, painted with acrylics.
Its mate was a tucked head bird. I liked it a lot - but so did someone else. It was the first decoy I ever sold.
This bird is going to an old LI friend who collects Coot (freshwater, not sea duck i.e., Chalkbills and not Skunkheads or Pumpkinbills....) decoys. I had to repair the tip of the bill first.
As I was new to carving, I had not yet found good eyes. Today, I would use pinpoint pupils from McKenzie Taxidermy (which I think are made by Tohickon).
I carved a bit of details on the aft end.
I also tried the 2-horned keel for anchor line storage. I never have gotten used to them, though, so always wrap my decoys 'round their bodies - the way I learned as a boy.
I actually repaired the bill in time for last weekend's Duckboat Show. My friend liked it - but I did not. I took it back home to shorten the repaired bill by about an 1/8-inch....
41 years later, I am proud of the bird - but recognize that I carried the bill too far aft onto the face near the hinge.
All the best,
SJS
Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com
I just repaired one of my earliest decoys. I carved this Coot sometime in 1980 - when I was living in western New York, working out of DEC's Buffalo office. The Lake Plains (of Erie and Ontario) have some big marshes and so birds like Least Bitterns, Gallinules and American Coot. I carved a pair to add to my Mallard/Black Duck rig. All were hollow Basswood, painted with acrylics.
Its mate was a tucked head bird. I liked it a lot - but so did someone else. It was the first decoy I ever sold.
This bird is going to an old LI friend who collects Coot (freshwater, not sea duck i.e., Chalkbills and not Skunkheads or Pumpkinbills....) decoys. I had to repair the tip of the bill first.
As I was new to carving, I had not yet found good eyes. Today, I would use pinpoint pupils from McKenzie Taxidermy (which I think are made by Tohickon).
I carved a bit of details on the aft end.
I also tried the 2-horned keel for anchor line storage. I never have gotten used to them, though, so always wrap my decoys 'round their bodies - the way I learned as a boy.
I actually repaired the bill in time for last weekend's Duckboat Show. My friend liked it - but I did not. I took it back home to shorten the repaired bill by about an 1/8-inch....
41 years later, I am proud of the bird - but recognize that I carried the bill too far aft onto the face near the hinge.
All the best,
SJS
Steven Jay Sanford
Pencil Brook Farm
South Cambridge, NY
http://www.stevenjaysanford.com
