Scott R wrote:Baysider wrote:
Yea Watsons birds are out of mine too. I have a few Hudsons from Chincoteague and a couple of Charlie Birchs birds but they have been passed down.
I love the look of decoys from that area. It's a shame we don't see that regional diversity of carving anymore.
Sure we do. Mine for instance, the way I cut the wing is has been typical of an Eastern Shore VA decoy for a long time. You dont find it anywhere else historically. Look at Del Herbert's or Geoff Vine's birds and look at old birds from their area. Not that Im in the same league as those guys you get my point. You've been looking at those taxidermy grade carvings too much.
I agree its not as profound as it once was. Everyone thinks you need a real bird to kill a bird or that a decoy isnt cool unless its about to talk to you with detail. However, in my area there are plenty of guys who carve in the tradidtional styles. Check out Cameron McIntyre, Mark McNair, Ira Skees, Cigar, Hurricane Pete, and PG Ross' birds. These are all guys who carve today in a traditional style and have had great influence on my work. Ive even had the great fortune to spend some time in many of their shops.
Peterson gave a guide friend of mine a rig of these birds to try out. Ugly as sin in hand but when placed on the water they come to life. They hunted with a mixed rig of cork and plastic GHG's with these off to themselves. Each hunt the birds landed with them no matter if they were blacks, mallards, gadwall, etc.....
pete_black_10_12.jpg
YOU MUST REGISTER TO VIEW THIS IMAGE.