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I know, I know. There are already a couple of decoy magazines in circulation today. But, and as many of you know, these wonderful publications don’t cover the decoys we love, collect, sell, and trade as much as we would like. Southern decoys, North Carolina, specifically, are some of the most misidentified, misattributed, and misunderstood in the hobby. This magazine will endeavor to provide the reader with content that closely examines North Carolina makers, Virginia makers, Maryland makers, and contemporary makers in a way that has never been done before. The information will help collectors to better understand identifying characteristics other than form alone—it will examine rig markers, carving clues, construction, and even paint patterns. All content will be produced by knowledgeable and respected minds within the field. Also, this magazine will cover the nuts and bolts of collecting, too, such as show reviews, auction previews if notable, standard collector gossip, and other things that bring our circle back together. This effort will also serve to connect decoy collectors in a way that has never been done before—on an international scale that is available online and in limited print supply. Advertisers, too, will reap the benefits of this magazine. Everyone who purchases ad space for this project will receive the monthly copy of The Decoy Getter. It’s worth noting that the people that will read this magazine are decoy collectors, so marketing your enterprise will be direct and appropriate. Classified purchasers will benefit from listing their respective name, contact, and collecting interest. Business card-size advertisers will get just that—printed strategically and appropriately. Halfpage ads, too, will be displayed prominently, and will make up the majority of ad space. Full-page advertisers will have the benefit of owning a page in the magazine—anything that can fit on a page will be published, as long as it is appropriate, correct, and meets the printers deadline. Two-page ads will also have the same privileges, only at twice the scale. Certainly, there’s the premium ad space, those areas inside the covers, and the back cover. Either way, it’s all affordable, beneficial, and targeted. Many advertisers will be unique to their region or industry, too—and all ads are vetted to ensure that they suit the interests of our readers. It’s an honest and sensible approach to producing a magazine that likely won’t pay for itself, but it is certain to enrich our hobby. Either way, ad rates are listed on the back cover of this edition. Either way, let me know what you think. And what you’d like to see different. It's an ambitious project, but it will legitimize southern decoys and collectors, while bringing us all closer together. The only agenda of this magazine is Southern decoys, plain and simple. Best—Chase Luker

Carolina Decoy Survey June 2015 Page 4-7 Alvin Harris Beach Robins Photo Essay Page 8-15 North Carolina Canvas Duck Decoys Page 18-23 Andrew Mason, Second Best? Page 26-27 Rig Report Page 30-31 Centerfold Page 33-45 Silhouette Decoys Page 49-52 Wilton Walker Decoys Page 59-61 Show and Festival Updates Page 62 Final Thoughts

Alvin Harris Beach Robins Dates: B. 1905, D. 1975 Lived: Atlantic, North Carolina Known Materials: Juniper, Balsa Collectorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Favorites: Alvinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earliest juniper-bodied beach robins with two wires twisted into one leg - many of which have been clipped away. What sets him apart? Harris was the most refined of Hunting Quarters / Atlantic area makers. Commonalities? None from rig to rig. Estimated Output: 4 Dozen Gunning examples Associated Rigs/Markers: Personal use, Evergreen Lump with friends Interesting Fact 1: Alvin apparently made his first stand of beach robins at 8 years old. Interesting Fact 2: Alvin was one of the first to teach decorative carving in Carteret County.

Alvin Harris Beach Robins

Prior Page: Balsa beach robin with brass or copper welding rod inserted as leg. Delicate and lightweight, these birds are great, but not as iconic as his earliest work.

This Page: A close-up of the preceding decoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head. Note the light shot marks. These stools were made well after shorebird hunting was banned, though many Atlanticmen enjoyed good gunning for sport and sustenance well into the 1970â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s.

Alvin Harris Beach Robins The beach robins on this page and the following are examples of those carved by Alvin Harris when he was 8 years old. These birds were likely carved on Portsmouth Island, where Alvin was raised. Later in life, Alvin gifted at least one of these decoys to Julian Hamilton, along with a handwritten note that stated that he carved these decoys in 1912. The decoy on this page has had it’s wire legs clipped and a portion of the bill is lost, though this is the rule on these birds. The bird on the following pair retains it’s wire legs, which were twisted to increase strength, though it, too, has lost it’s original bill. At this time, the writer is aware of only one example with an original bill. Less than two handfuls of these decoys remain today, but they stand as a testament to Alvin’s skill as a carver, even as a young boy. The dark paint appears bluish in hand, and feature white painted dots. The red on the breasts appears to be copper-based red boat bottom paint. Knife marks throughout demonstrate the manner of carving while saw “chatter” remains on the profile of the decoys. Sandpaper rarely found it’s way to Portsmouth Island.

Alvin Harris Beach Robins

This Alvin Harris beach robin is like most that are in collections today. The bill has been broken many years ago, and the twisted wire legs have been snipped at the body,

Canvas Decoy Sampler

North Carolina’s decoy heritage can claim many things as unique to it’s history. Many out of state collectors are quick to attribute any large, crude decoy to North Carolina, which is often wrong. Ruddy ducks, too, are another decoy that Tarheelers can hail as unique. Canvas decoys, though, is where the flag can be planted. Certainly, there were factories and makers in the Midwest that made interesting looking canvas decoys. Even Yankees got in on the fun, too, with Clarence Bailey and Lothrop Holmes both attempting the effort, while also garnering highclass auction numbers, for one reason or another. Surveying the North Carolina canvas history, though, may be the sole reason while Outer Banks canvas decoys have achieved so little acclaim on a national scale. there are so many, and even the average waterman/maker built canvas decoys – some of which are fairly pedestrian efforts, to say the least. First off, there are differences in southern canvas decoys when compared to others. Northern made canvas decoys are almost all sewn patterns which are subsequently stuffed with batten of some type – and these decoys were mostly used as field stools. Some northern examples are wooden decoys which were covered by canvas to act as a barrier against water, such as 8 Joe Lincoln and Elmer Crowell of Massachusetts.

Canvas over wood, cork, or wire ribbing decoys, all supported by a bottom board, were also made in New England. The latter is what is most similar to North Carolina canvas birds, though a few canvas-over-slat goose decoys were made by Pat O’neal of Coinjock, NC. North Carolina’s canvas construction is simple – a wooden bottom board, head, and spine and wire ribs. All but the head were covered in tightly wrapped canvas and of course, painted to match the intended species. Some spines on decoys were actually made of wire, too, as it was a bit faster – though these are the decoys we often come across that looked “squished.” Also, most of the wire ribbing would have long strings attached to each rib in different locations to counterbalance a sliding wire rib. So, why were canvas decoys made? They were light and required far less wood that a standard decoy. Hundreds could be towed around by a hunter. They could also be repaired easily, i.e., replace a wire, head, or canvas without starting all over. Canvas was readily available, too, as these men often built boats, and almost all were propelled by wind in the canvas sails. The problems with canvas birds were that they were not as sturdy, obviously. They could also take on water, though some were somewhat self -bailing as a notch in the canvas would incorporated under the tail. Not all makers used this technique, though.

Opposite: An unknown, bot folksy Back Bay goose. This page, Top: A Joe Hayman with secure neck crack, thanks to lamination. This page, bottom: A Blanton Saunders goose. Note the head applied to the canvas-covered shelf.

Canvas Decoy Sampler

Just as with all wooden makers, canvas decoy makers almost always had an easily identifiable characteristic. Canvas decoys, by and large, were made between 1910 and 1970, which the latter is when lighter plastic and foam models made it to the Outer Banks. Some makers continued into the 1980’s, though. So, what makes a good collectible canvas decoy? Original everything (paint, canvas, head) is rare, so that’s the pinnacle. Strong, original examples that exist today were likely rarely, if ever, used as gunning birds. If taking a step down the collecting scale, the next best alternative would be a good re-canvas in the maker’s re-paint. Below this “grade” anything could go, based on taste. Personally, I have no issue collecting a bird with torn or tattered (if any) canvas at all, as long as it has a beautiful form and well-carved head. Many collectors highly value a “naked” bird, too.

Duck species that are found are almost always redheads, blackheads, canvasbacks, and pintails, though a few wigeons and black ducks often turn up. Hens of any species would be considered rare, and if good looking, highly desirable. Only 4 of the 5 major decoy regions in the state can claim a canvas maker. Differentiating each region isn’t tough, to a fairly trained eye, either. Currituck birds almost always have a ribbon tacked around the perimeter of the bottom board. Many from the region made canvas birds, too. Most recognizable are the Ned Burgess and Joe Hayman geese.

Essentially all Dare County canvas birds originated out of the Kitty Hawk area, and virtually all followed the same patterns and construction. Manie Haywood and Marvin Midgette were the primary makers, though many novices misattribute the work of these men and the Tillet Brothers as being one or the other. Ocracoke makers made few canvas birds, but they were indeed made, even some great root-headed examples. Some O’cockers also used tenite factory heads on canvas birds. Carteret County makers built gross numbers of canvas decoys, and it’s here where most survived, thankful to great construction techniques, late production, and good maintenance. Canvas decoys from here are generally in the best condition, relative to other regions. Most were made in the towns of Sea Level and Atlantic. These birds, too, often look similar to the untrained eye, but there are easy identifiers across the board.

Canvas Decoy Sampler The Saunders Family will be remembered as one of Currituck County’s most prolific decoy producers. Over time, many decoys have been attributed to either Blanton or Ellie, many erroneously. Still, the canvas-covered decoys that they produced are easily identifiable and typical of Currituck County canvas construction. A substantial bottom board with a wooden spine and head seat are covered with canvas. Wires provide support and shape to the canvas. Stringers connected the wires to provide support to wires that may shift—and an identifiable note about Saunders Family decoys is that they often used 10-12 rows of string, more than most other makers. The carved heads are placed on the canvas-covered shelf, which is lightly different than many makers in other Carolina regions. However, it made re-heading canvas birds much easier, as these men often made canvas covered decoys that were sold to other hunters, who subsequently would put their own carved decoy heads on the shelves. This practice is also likely why so many of these decoys still have the original canvas coverings. Still, it’s the folksy-carved heads as seen on the nearly perfect example below that are bellwethers for identifying Saunders Family birds. While patterns changed over time, many of the heads exhibit poor carving in the crook of the necks almost looking as if the wood was rasped instead of carved. Wide channels are left in these areas. Also, a more substantial string runner was often used and is usually visibly through the canvas.

Canvas Decoy Sampler

North Carolina’s most famous canvas decoy maker, Manie Haywood, may have also been the finest. Simple, durable, and rather beautiful decoys were turned out on a regular basis in the 1930’s and 40’s. Certainly, his geese are the most available to collectors today, while his swans command the most attention and highest values by collectors. Still, his ducks were just as good as the larger examples. His work is identifiable in several ways, but none of the characteristics are consistent. However, most of his carved heads are two piece, making it easy to replace broken bills. He often used a wire “spine” as opposed to a wooden spine. Many of his decoys with heavy use may look “deflated” as a result of this. Also, many of his bottom boards are round in the stern, while other Dare County makers might have squared-in-the-rear bottom boards. The indention from the top of the bill to the peak of the head’s crown is what makes a Haywood most identifiable. Keep in mind, though, that other makers may have replaced a broken-off portion of the head with their own rendition of a bill. Still, it’s his talent and style that were imparted on other area makers who would internalize their own respective styles. Below: All that remains of this Manie Haywood original paint swan is it’s head.

Canvas Decoy Sampler Similar to Manie Haywood in style, Marvin Midgette was also a prolific Dare County canvas decoy maker. His decoys are best described as a less-refined Manie Haywood, though their appeal is just as strong to many collectors. Most of Midgette’s decoys have a wooden spine to support the wires. Most of his heads are also two piece, but they are often unsanded, with heavy tool marks remaining. Some even have wooden splines fo strengthen the neck. As with Hayood, many of his decoys were also self-bailing, as a triangular opening was left in the canvas at the rear of the decoy. Both makers also used copper tacks to affix the canvas to the bottom board and neck, but some iron tacks were used. Midgette’s canvas ducks often appear squattier, with a shorter neck, likely to reduce breakage. His head carvings lack the indention above the bill that are seen on Haywood’s, too. The bill tips appear more upturned, but this is caused by Midgette’s ability to carve away the bottom side of the bill, and isn’t carved out of the top bill. Tool marks on the bottoms of the bill tips demonstrate this. Top and Bottom: Nice form on display in this re-covered Marvin Midgette canvasback.

Canvas Decoy Sampler Ocracoke’s canvas decoy history is a little more diluted than other areas. Old photos from the area show the use of Manie Haywood-made birds, which were probably easy to come by for local guides. Still, when repairs were necessary, natives turned to their local lumber source—the Holly tree. Most stick and roothead examples are made of Holly—not cedar—as most believe. Holly grows throughout Ocracoke’s forested areas and wasn’t as sappy as cedar. Still, some makers did produce their own, self-made canvas decoys. Charlie Warren Garrish made a nice stand that were filled with Kapok, a foam-based floatation used in boatbuilding. Pinta Williams has been credited with a few rootheaded examples, too. It’s likely that many O’cockers submitted an attempt at the craft of canvas decoys, but they were also content to maintain the stands of heavy and durable decoys that had always been a part of the island tradition.

Left:: This reheaded decoy has a roothead with powderpost beetle damage. The head maker is unknown, but it’ sits on a Joe Hayman body.

Canvas Decoy Sampler North Carolina’s Core Sound was home to several canvas decoy makers, though only two are highly collected and documented. John Lupton, of Atlantic, made hundreds of canvas covered geese, swans, black ducks, and pintails. These decoys have showed up in many local stands. One of Lupton’s stands was purchased by Clayton Fulcher Sr., in the 1950’s, which was mostly in tact and in use until the 1980s. Several other makers were also found in the stand, and all were a bit different from the look of a standard Lupton. Most of Lupton’s decoys have a very substantial bottom board—as thick as 2” in most cases—and a head shaped by a rasp. Thick copper wires and a wooden spine supported a thickly painted canvas covering. Many of these decoys still retain a shell-like feel, as the canvas was both fitted and tacked snugly, but also because of a substantial paint mixture. It’s widely accepted that Lupton never used a “band” around the bottom of the canvas to ensure a longer use, and most local gunners insisted that the canvas would become chafed with or without a band. Also, copper tacks, as opposed to iron, were used to attach the canvas to the bottom board and neck of the decoy. Iron’s ability to rust would always propagate the canvas to rot at it’s attachment points, and the bird would have to be re-canvassed. The band would only slow progress down in the likely case of a re-canvas, though most of these birds still retain their original canvas—a testament to the durable construction techniques. Still, many makers placed a band on the bottom perimeter—Charles Edwards Sr. comes to mind as a prolific maker who employed the practice. Still, a litany of makers have been tied to canvas decoys. Clarence Lewis, of Stacy, also made canvas ducks and geese. Roy Willis made a few canvas covered birds, but eventually paid others to cover the frames he had constructed. Harry Hamilton was also another. Atlanticman that honed the craft, though his inspiration was likely derived from his time with Kitty Hawk makers while serving in the Lifesaving Service. Almost every hunter in the area had canvas decoys in the stand. The Sammy Mason stand is another notable stand, aside from the Clayton Fulcher rig, that had a tremendous amount of canvas decoys. Up the shore to Cedar Island, one would have seen many canvas covered geese decoys, as the area was famous for it’s wild goose hunting—and hunters. Nevertheless, John Lupton will likely go down as the most prolific of the area’s canvas decoy makers. Also, Core Sound canvas decoys were likely the last to be made in the state, which is why so many are in such good and original condition. While the head carving on these birds isn’t as delicate as one may find in other North Carolina regions, they still have fantastic lines and profiles that look good to ducks and collectors. 15

Left: A John Lupton canvas-covered redhead hen in original paint. Durable and tough, these decoys can be found in abundance at times.

Andrew Mason—Second Best? Dates: B. 1889—d. 1960, carved from around 1905-1955 Lived: Stacy, North Carolina Known Species: Redheads, Blackheads, Canvasbacks Collectors’ Favorites: Redheads What sets him apart? Carved eyes, master decoy repairman Commonalities? High chine, deadrise bottoms Estimated Output: Associated Rigs/Markers: Personal Rig, Charles Mason Rig, Harbor Island Rig Interesting Fact 1: Carved a crude “AM” that often looks like an “HM” Interesting Fact 2: Painted canvasbacks as redheads in original paint North Carolina’s final frontier of decoy collecting, Carteret County, also claims the Tarheel State’s most talented decoy makers. Certainly, there are many names that are familiar to collectors – Eldon Willis and Elmer Salter, Charles Edwards, and even the incomparable Mitchell Fulcher. Decoys made by these men are collectible for a variety of reasons, either through ballyhooed and oft-publicized photos or just sheer availability. Still, there are other decoy makers from the area who produced beautiful decoys built with exacting lines and durable construction. Andrew Mason was one such decoy maker whose work requires a much more comprehensive survey than what is currently available. A hierarchy of Carteret County decoy makers would list Mason near the top, but the decoys he produced are almost as limited as any biographical information. Either way, his production is documented to consist of blackheads, redheads, geese, canvasbacks, and canvasbacks painted as redheads. Overall, his decoys would be considered to be an internalized interpretation of Havre de Grace, Maryland decoys with simpler paint and more substantial bodies. Like most carvers, his style evolved over time. He, too, can also be credited with making incredible “clubhouse” decoys, reheading any serviceable decoy found adrift or in trades to other guides. 18

He was more than a capable hunting guide, thanks in part for his ability to maintain a large working stand of decoys, many of which were decoys brought south, from Maryland, by club members. These “migrating” decoys were mostly upper Chesapeake Bay (largely Holly Family, McGaw, and Barnes Family) or Factory-made (Mason, Pratt, and the occasional Animal Trap). Whether out of necessity or preference, these other decoys provided the impetus behind the refined-upon style of Carteret County’s best makers. When contrasting Andrew Mason’s decoys to other similar carvers of the area, only a few offer a comfortable comparison. Mitchell Fulcher and Henry Murphy are the two that immediately come to mind. Murphy’s decoys, too, are rather limited, as are Fulcher’s. The similarities are in the head carvings, though differences exist in the application of the head to the body. Rig markers found on the bottoms of all three men’s decoys cloud the mystery, too, but there are ways to identify Andrew Mason decoys apart from those made by others. Opposite: A strongly-shaped blackhead used as late as 1990. This Page: A simple and well carved redhead, ca. 1920, once in the collection of Roy Willis, but still in a good Carteret County collection.

Andrew Mason, Second Best? This early redhead is almost perfectly uniform. His decoys are often characterized by a mid -back hump and a steep dead rise from the bottomside to the chines. The below redhead is considered to be one of the best examples extant. The paint is strong and features only touchup on the tail and breast. The copper based boat paint on the head leaves a perfect patina. This particular bird has better lines than most Carteret County decoys, period.

Carteret County canvasbacks are rare, but virtually every known example is a showstopper. While this particular decoy has paint loss and a cracked neck, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s form is memorable. Less than 20 canvasbacks from the area are knownâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and Andrew carved a very nice head, as evidenced in these photos. The lightly carved eyes appear on only the finest makers work. Legend has it that a .22 caliber shell casing imprints the eye, but more is done, as the tip of a knife blade would also be used to form the pupil. Only Mitchell Fulcher carved a finer eye on a decoy.

Opposite: This redhead is in rather tough condition, but the carving at the bill tip, the back of the head & neck, as well as the eye carving are all important elements in defining this original condition redhead as the work of Andrew Mason. This Page: the blackhead found here is als the one noted in earlier pages. This flattened crown, as well as the planar lines extending from the v-notch through the top of the head are examples of Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work from his most active period, the 1920â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Not known to make rigs of decoys, his heads are the best way to identify his consistency. The styles of his bodies are varied, but each very good and bold.

Rig Report—Walton Meiggs Stand Most collectors, when envisioning Currituck County birds, imagine the Burgess and Morse examples – they carved what is recognized as a “Churches Island” style - large wooden bodies highlighted by a mid-body chine, steep shoulders, and a steep stern with a paddle tail. The bodies are often 15” or longer, and most are ballasted with an iron weight cast from a local foundry. The bodies, often a 3-4 pounds, plus the heavy iron ballasts, treated one another without discretion when tossed around in a boat, and subsequently, the original heads often failed. Tails, too, were often chipped, though carvers never repaired or replaced that particular embellishment. Those who had spare time would whittle replacement heads, either for personal use or for sale to other gunners who lacked the time or patience to carve. Repainting was always done after a re-head, for obvious reasons, and women and kids would have engaged in the work, too. Joe Hayman’s wife, Mildred, is probably most famous for this practice, and she was also noteworthy for canvassing decoys for both Joe, and their neighbor Ned Burgess. She was skillful at both practices, and many locals from the area insist that she was responsible for the dots and stripes found on Burgess decoys – though it’s a mystery to me as to why her husband Joe’s decoys lack such painting. Still, it’s likely that other women helped out with the practice of maintaining the family rig – and one such woman is credited with painting my personal favorites – the gadwalls from the Walton Meiggs stand. This page, L-R: The bottom Stant White has it’s original head, a rarity for White’s birds. The Louis O’neal to the right has an unusual hole drilled through the head. Obviously a re-head, the body is from a rig of decoys purchased from the Bells Island Club and is attributed to Charlie Balance.

Rig Report Walton Meiggs Stand Walton’s wife, Birdye, and their children were involved with maintaining the rig, and each year both wife and kids would repaint and re-tie the decoys. It’s not known how early she started painting, but her last rendition of gadwalls is her most memorable, if only because they were the last. Black breasts and tails, with grey heads and saddles are highlighted with reversely painted orange speculums. Tiny, dappled white and black polka-dots anoint the heads and complete the paint scheme. At least 40 of these decoys are known, if not more. Most are in family hands, though some have been gifted to close family friends. Throughout the rig, there are blackheads and redheads, too, but all are simply painted. All have probably been painted as canvasbacks, blackheads, redheads, and wigeons, too, over time. The paint on the gadwalls, though, is applied, in an untrained, but interpretive manner. It’s safe to say that she had seen and cleaned a few gadwalls in her time. Most interesting though, is the fact that it is even painted as a gadwall, as very few gadwalls from any region have ever been made for hunting. Family members say that these decoys were probably painted as many and 50 times! Each year might bring about a new species paint scheme, dependent on what was bagged most in the prior season. The repainting was necessary because visiting gunners wanted fresh, clean decoys, hence the multiple coats of paint. Interestingly enough, the area lays claim to several different makers, or at least painters, of gadwalls, including Robert Morse. Nevertheless, Birdye Meiggs’ gadwall paint is found on decoys made by the following makers: Charlie Ballance, Louis O’neal, Joe Hayman, Snowden Family men, and even Wilton Walker. Many of course, are re-headed birds, most of which have Louis O’neal replacement heads, who lived just south of the family and also carved very capable decoys. Other heads include Hayman, Morse, and several shapely, but unknown makers. Not all are derelicts, though they also have been repainted. The potpourri of decoys is enriched by provenances that include Bells Island Club decoys, too, and many are simply too old to identify. 27

This page: A bucketful of Birdye’s best painted gadwalls.

Silhouette Decoys Silhouette decoys, too many, are the stray dog of the decoy world. They lack dimension, display terribly, and are often in various stages of disrepair. Also, they are so rare in many instances, that most collectors may never have the opportunity to turn their noses up at them. And yet another strike against them, most are considered “new” as it relates to most decoys. Silhouettes appear in most gunning regions, though, and are an important part of America’s market and sport gunning legacies. Floating “shadow” decoys and v-boards are found up and down the coast. The lowly v-board may have the least appeal of all, while some shadow decoys are rather interesting. Stick-ups, or stick-downs, rather, may be just as undesirable as the v-board! However, I’ve always made time and space to accommodate stick-down silhouettes and sinkbox silhouettes into my collection. If any reader has made it this far into this intrepid campaign to justify the collectability of silhouettes, then they will also know that my experience and preference are with the decoys found on the North Carolina coast. Certainly, I prefer my Carteret County shorebirds and geese, but I have dropped anchor from Currituck Sound to Harkers Island searching for great goose, swan, brant, and duck silhouettes. Also, for the purpose of clarity from this point forward, “stick -down” decoys in this work alone refer to silhouette decoys, made of 1” planking or less, and affixed to a wooden or iron steak. Silhouettes, refer to the same type of decoy with like construction, only without the stake. Most silhouettes in North Carolina were used on the edges of sinkboxes and curtain blinds, though some were used on vboards or Hboards.

Silhouette Decoys North Carolina’s tidal flats and ponds are ideal for waterfowl of all types. Goose and brant hunters have enjoyed the area for decades, just as the birds themselves. Hunters have always had difficulty accessing the shallow areas, but necessity is the mother of all invention, right? Many hunters would leave stands of fullbodied floaters moored off for the duration of the season. The nimble hunter, though, would have had to pick up the rig, float it out, and relocate, should he or she elect to hunt elsewhere. Tiresome and time-consuming, the laborious work was never fun and almost always miserable. Enter the silhouette decoy. Thin and light, silhouettes could have been cut out by handsaw or bandsaw, and in a fraction of the time. Production methods and use of silhouettes simplified and reduced the effort in putting out a large stand of decoys – and they were the perfect solution for replacing large decoys such as geese, brant, and swans. Stick-down diver species were likely never made, and I’ve certainly never laid eyes on any – but examples of marsh duck species do exist in slim totals. Sinkbox silhouette divers, though, do turn up on occasion. Either way, construction generally consists of ¼” to ½” inch marine plywood, which has been around much longer than many people believe. Chinese are credited with making furniture from laminated wood over a thousand years ago, while its appearance and “reinvention” in America occurred in the 1860’s. Waterproof binding agents and other technical and production advancements made plywood available for marine use in the mid1930’s. So, there’s the beginning of the timeline for plywood silhouettes, and the end of my briefing concerning the boring history of wood. With that said, some earlier North Carolina silhouettes are also made of thinly shaved juniper and cypress planks, such as those credited to Mitchell Fulcher. Nevertheless, widespread use on the Carolina coast was in full swing in the 1940’s, during the twilight of the sport hunting era. The silhouettes made for the perfect complement to a regular stand of floating decoys, and were easy enough to move around to different hunting areas. Now, about the decoys themselves… 34

Silhouette Decoys

“Currituck” is derived from the American Indian work “Carotank”, which means “Land of the Wild Goose.” Geese, ducks, and all types of migratory birds have wintered here since at least the most recent Ice Age. It’s a place where politics and hunting have always clashed, catering mostly to visiting sport hunters who detested pot hunters and market hunters. Modern day conservation movements were incubated here, too. Sport hunting, and its involved clubs, enjoyed the area for some time, and the use of wooden decoys may have been as great or greater as the Upper Bay flats. Floating decoys from the region are characterized by large, bulky bodies, simple paint patterns (usually with less than three colors per decoy), and large iron ballast weights. Certainly, every region has its smaller “schools”, but Currituck is most famous for the Churches Island decoys made by Rufus Roberts, Robert Morse, Joe Hayman, and Ned Burgess. They were commercial makers, who chopped out thousands of decoys. The durable and heavy bodies laid waste to the thin and delicate original heads, so a Currituck decoy with the “right” head is a real treasure. A lot of the re-heads are affectionately called “Currijunk” by Carolina collectors, though many repaired and replaced heads are rather beautiful.

Silhouette Decoys

Still, a host of sporting guides and clubs maintained a stand of live geese, as long as it was legal, and many clubs also had large stands of silhouette geese. Sinkbox silhouettes from Currituck are beyond rare, and really exist in the forms of rumors and legends. Many were repurposed to v-boards, and many were pulled from v-boards for use on a wooden stake. With all of the moving around and recycling, most of these decoys never made it in to collections, though some were still in hunting rigs as late as the 1980’s. Most of the ones discovered were actually retooled for use as lawn ornaments and signage, though some have been found as the only survivors from a looted boat house. Overall, most Currituck silhouettes and stick-downs have an interesting, folksy form that’s fairly lifelike – but North Carolina does folksy better than anyone! Whether they were floated on v-boards or plugged in to the shallow and soft muddy bottoms of Currituck Sound and it’s marsh ponds, they’re a rare find and round out any great collection of Currituck-area decoys and artifacts.

Silhouette Decoys

Moving south down to Dare County, silhouettes found frequent use, as the waters become shallower and sandier. Stick-down use here was widespread, and helped competing blinds pull more birds. Most silhouettes stick-downs from the area take the form of brant, though nice goose examples are fairly widespread. Widespread use also translates to more varied forms and patterns, and resters, feeders, sentinel, and even sleeping stick-downs have been found. Almost all are made on some type of marine plywood, while their stakes are attached by some type of bronze screw or nail. The use of iron components is rare on silhouettes from the area â&#x20AC;&#x201C; boat builders had ample supply of nice, small brass or bronze hardware, though many floating decoys still employed iron nails in their construction. The stakes, too, are often rather crudely chopped, but are cut with the grain to reduce breakage. Personally, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve never located any with a true dowel or metal rod. Many of the profiles found in silhouette stick-downs from Dare County, Hatteras, specifically, are interpretations of floating decoys. Lines of St. Clair Midgette, Farrow Midgette, and Aaron Hooper are found in stick-downs from the area, so they are rather pleasing to the eye. Both sporting guides and clubs used the silhouette birds, and their use as decoys still remains today. They are perfect for carrying and deploying in large numbers, and are easily spotted by trading geese and brant, as well as other ducks. Surface wear from salty water and abrasive marsh mud has left many of these decoys in a rather poor state of repair, but the in-use patina is nice to see.

Silhouette Decoys

Ocracoke stick-downs likely endured a similar purpose and employment as their neighbors just north. Ocracoke Island is rather far and out of the way today, but in the first half of the 20th Century, boat traffic here was necessary and common. It wasn’t a terribly tough place for sports to access, and hunting and fishing here was legendary. Stick-down use was common, but likely less so because of the use of the curtain blind – a uniquely Ocracoke waterfowling method. It’s similar to a sinkbox, but it’s already sunken (and doesn’t float whatsoever), which makes it legal. The concrete pits, usually hunted when the tide tickles the top of the sunken blind are outfitted with canvas or wooden wings, which rise and fall with the tide…the wings did, and still do, have full bodied decoys permanently affixed to them. Rigging out a curtain blind completely might require a few more floaters to suit the prevailing wind, while stick-downs would have been added to the edges in an effort to supplement the rig. Sinkbox silhouette decoys might have been tacked to the blind itself, at water level, offering concealment to the hunter and the top lip of the blind. Determining whether the silhouette or the stick-down came first is a mystery, though the use of stickdowns for interior marsh shooting is just as early as curtain blind and sinkbox hunting. Ocracoke’s silhouettes and stick-downs are as wonderful as their animated, fullbodied decoys, but at a fraction of the weight, obviously. Appearing most often as brant and geese, some pintail stickdowns have been uncovered. Dr. Jack Dudley’s book about Ocracoke features an illustration of Capt. Gary Bragg, reducing a root to a decoy head, while a pintail silhouette hangs in the background, so he’s certainly known to have owned a few, at least. Generally, though, most silhouettes, up and down the Outer Banks, feature no rigmarkers, and provenance only exists from handwritten notes. Opposite: An unknown, but good and original Hatteras stickdown.

This page: A playful stickdown appears to be the work of Gary Bragg, ca. 1940. Traded to an Ocracoker in the early 1970’s by Manson Meekins. 39

Silhouette Decoys

Portsmouth Island stick-downs and silhouettes maybe the rarest of all flat panel decoys, but it’s also where the rarest of these decoys – diver species - turn up. The Noe Stand, slam full of tip-up feeders, floating brant, and geese by legendary Portsmouthers Frank Gaskill, Tom Bragg, and Jody Styron, also had delightful redhead and blackhead silhouettes used on the edges of sinkbox blinds. The Noe Stand, likely the oldest known and documented hunting rig from North Carolina, was both market and sport hunter-used. It’s tough to say how old the decoys from this stand are, and most attributions to both the silhouettes, feeder butts, and floating decoys are relatively loose, as they are simply too old to appropriately identify. As Dr. Jack Dudley writes in Carteret Waterfowl Heritage, most are simply grouped as Portsmouth Island decoys. Still, the silhouettes from the area are great in form. Very folksy, the building materials are an early plywood. Painted surfaces cover the loosely finished “refinements.” At this time, no true stick-down decoy has been discovered or attributed to Portsmouth Island, though it is very likely they existed. Also, sinkbox hunting with sports is known to have persisted well in beyond its legality, so the silhouettes affixed to these sinkboxes may be as late as the 1940’s. It’s also important to consider that stick-down decoys used from Portsmouth up to Hatteras were also susceptible to floating!

Silhouette Decoys

A strong wave or tide would lift these decoys from the sand and send them with the current – it’s the only logical way to explain why decoys from Ocracoke, Hatteras, and Portsmouth turn up on a neighboring island. Selling or trading floating decoys from hunter to hunter was common, but to exchange a few nominal silhouettes would have been impractical, as they could have been made at any midnight hour, by any capable hand. Carteret County, North Carolina may not be the ancestral home of the stick-down or silhouette decoy, but it is here where these examples were likely most often used. The waters between the Carteret County mainland and the barrier islands are especially shallow, so many floating decoys were often carried across the water only twice a season – at the beginning and at its end. The area was very much a paradise for the visiting waterfowler, and many local families played host to out-of-town gunners. Every man, it seemed, guided hunters, so large stands of decoys were used to attract flocks from one blind to another. Nimble guides had to be able to move decoys from area to area, so canvas-over-wire decoys made up a large majority of the larger stands of decoys, though wooden and cork floaters were also in the contingency. Stick-downs, though, were especially useful when hunting the marsh ponds, as they were easy to lug around. They also made great “fillers” in the rigs hunted on the shoals just west of Portsmouth Island. Many local gunners, hunting mainly for the pot, created most of the silhouettes, though. They were simple to manufacture, needing only plywood and a saw blade. Opposite page: A blackhead from the Noe Family sinkbox stand.

Right: A brant, repainted as a wigeon and found in the Hatteras marsh. The lines are similar to those found on Capt. Frank Gaskill, of Portsmouth. 41

Silhouette Decoys

Notable silhouette makers here include Charles Edwards Sr., Judge Lambert Morris, Alvin Harris, Jon Lupton, Clarence Lewis, and even Mitchell Fulcher. Most are made on plywood board, though Mitchell Fulcher is credited with at least one pair of stick-downs made of juniper planking. Essentially all of the stick-downs have a thin, slender board nailed to its side to serve as the “leg.” The hardware is most often a small cut tack, and often made of iron, therefore, over time, many have failed and the decoys are legless. Earlier examples often are found with copper or bronze hardware, though their age makes their existence in whole form just as rare. Also, silhouette v-boards were used here with some regularity. Eldon Willis and Elmer Salter have been credited with several dozen examples that are in collections today, but the v-boards unfortunate construction often led to an all too early destruction, too – while they were a cheap and easy decoy to make and use, they simply couldn’t hold up to history’s way of saving a clunky and cumbersome item, so only a fraction of these remain today.

Silhouette Decoys Sliding back to the north, mainland Hyde County maintains a limited history of decoys, when compared to other famous North Carolina gunning area. Mattamuskeet Lake, North Carolina’s largest natural lake has long been a ballyhooed area for goose hunting. The lake, only a few miles from the open expanses of the Pamlico Sound, is rather shallow and is a perfect feeding ground for marsh ducks, geese, and swans. The area is steeped in goose and swan hunting tradition, and it is here where the live decoy reigned supreme. After outlawing the practice, a very limited number of guides made decoys, notably Percy Carawan and Harvey Flowers. Aside from them, no one else to this writer’s knowledge made serviceable floating decoys. Silhouette stick-downs, though, were used with some degree of frequency. Most families that hosted visitors maintained a stand of silhouettes to toll birds in the open fields, but this practice, too was diminished as goose and swan numbers dwindled. Still, the area had it’s share of outlaw gunners, and both species were pursued if only for table fare. All of the silhouette decoys I have uncovered from the region are made of plywood, some with sprayed paint applications, which would date many to the late 60’s, when swan hunting was outlawed. The construction on most are one-piece, the “stake” is part of the pattern. Harvey Flowers, though, is credited with making some full-bodied stick down geese. Most decoys, silhouettes included, are rather crude, but it is noteworthy that they were used for hunting an outlawed species. Still, great stick-down decoys are great “fillers” in collections, too. They’re a fairly affordable artifact from a by-gone era of simplicity and practicality. Locating and identifying stick-downs and silhouettes can be a tall order, but enough examples exist to help the curious collector. Just like the “regular” decoys we collect, silhouettes and stick-downs are a part of our gunning history that demonstrates the gumption of the men we wish we had known. Opposite Page: These geese were discovered in the barn of a Tunnell Family member in 2013 by an antique picker and were purchased by a collector shortly thereafter. No stake was used, but rather incorporated into the pattern. Geese and swans were the only ones discovered. All of the decoys were in rather frail condition after years of use followed by decades of barn storage. Hyde County was also known for its history or using live goose decoys.

Wilton Walker’s Decoys

Wilton Walker, of Currituck boat-making and decoy carving fame, left the collector community with some of North Carolina’s folksiest and most recognizable decoys. Fairly easy to identify, Walker’s decoys are flat-bottomed and rasp-finished. The heads atop many of his decoys are unique, if not slightly crude. Still, his decoys were often more substantial than others, and many remain with the original heads. Of course, many of his heads were poorly fitted to the bodies, lacking a smooth and flowing line from breast to neck, but many also remain where the feat was accomplished rather well.

Wilton Walker’s Decoys

Born in 1889 to market hunter Claudius Walker, duck killing and decoy making were in Wilton’s blood. Over time, he also developed boat making skills, producing boats that many locals still remember – either through firsthand knowledge or from legend and lore. Many also wonder why his decoys lack the refinement and skill employed to build such fine boats, though it’s worth noting that Wilton may have known what he was doing all along. His decoys were tall-bodied, riding high in the water. Constructed with bulkier ends, such as bills and tails, most remained intact through decades of heavy use. His canvasbacks are as iconic as any from the area, with their highish heads and long bodies. Family accounts tell of Wilton whittling heads, though this endeavor was likely swift as it occurred. Many of the heads were fitted to the body, then rasped around the base of the neck to eliminate in overhang on the front of the body. His bodies were first roughed out on a bandsaw that was also used for his boat making efforts.

Wilton Walkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Decoys

A look at any Wilton Walker decoy will demonstrate that the initial profile of the breast and undertail were likely the only parts shaped by the bandsaw. The backs of many of these decoys lack any evidence of saw tracks, though the neck shelf and the downswept tail could have been chopped down and out with a hatchet. The shoulders of the decoy were also roughed down with a hatchet to roughly the midpoint, or chine, of the side of the decoy. Below this line, some bandsaw tracks remain. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s safe to say that rasps were more prevalent than sandpaper in the Tulls Bay area, or at least provided for more efficient decoy-making.

Wilton Walker’s Decoys

So why would one of Currituck’s best boat makers also build decoys? Because he enjoyed it or because he had to are the most likely answers – but it’s apparent that his fame as a boat builder kept him in business too often to make highly refined decoys. It’s likely that Wilton made decoys during his time as the caretaker of the Launch Landing Club, too, filling a need to keep decoy stands flush and fresh. His decoys have been passed down through different families and found in several stands, making for a rich and interesting set of provenances. His decoys have been associated with several club rigs, including Launch Landing and Bells Island. As with many decoys by most men, his market-era birds were sold and traded and found adrift, leaving many collectors bewildered and amazed why his decoys were so widespread – but just as those vintage decoy rigs, even decoy collectors today have found space for a Wilton Walker decoy, or two. They’re just too good to pass up!