I got started carving these things all the way back in January, I was originally planning on 7 drakes and 5 hens. Well I let myself get involved in other projects (swap bird, carving tutorial, a crane decoy, etc.) and I just finally finished the drakes yesterday. I will carve the hens next year.

I probably should have laid them out in paint order so you could see my paint choices in progression, but needless to say I tried a couple of different things. Still not sure how happy I am but they'll definitely hunt.

Those are awesome! You do great work!

Ummm in a hurry you forgot the head on that one!!

Kidding!! They look pretty sharp to me. I like the top left in the first pic.

Very nice dave. I like the bold white on tail and the over kill of white on the breast is a nice touch.

I agree Jeff first thing I noticed too. Wish more decoys had more flash to them like those. They look great Dave.

Those look pretty dayum sweet!

Those look terrible... I'll throw em away for ya...

Friggin SWEET!

get back to work hippie, those are mine

Yep not worth having, let me PM you my address and you can send em to me to dispose of.

Heck guys, I'm just not good enough with the airbrush yet to make those lines on the chest as thin as they should be I do like the way they turned out there, though. I'm not as happy with the main body colors, some I feel are too red-brown, some I feel are too dusky grey, some are too light.

They'll all work though. I didn't exactly pick an easy bird to paint this year.

That's great work.

Nice, those look great. Be really careful not to shoot those decoys..

Those look dang good, like said before I like the extra flash on the chest alot

Funny thing about real feathers and color is they are never the same at different angles because they reflact light differently. I think the biggest thing with decoys is the flash... Like the white flash on the head and wing on a storm widgeon, white flash of a pintail chest, white streaks head and wing on a bluewing, bold white of a canvasback, white/grey flash on a mallard. Even the grey on a redhead will flash white at certian angles

It's that distinct flash birds hone in on.

Think about what shows up more at first light and last light...the dark bodies or flash

I like the bold lines better. They may not be as realistic, but getting the attention of the birds is what counts and I'd bet on these over ones with the fine lines.

Looking good, Dave.

Look darn good to me!

Dave you are my new duck hero. Those are as kewl as they get. I could care less about the lines you seem to be concerned with. I think they should be voted to go on the THF kewlest duck thing list.

Your just gonna pass out during the hunt anyway.

Dave a year has passed since we saw the other decoy with the lyrics on it. It is not bragging if somebody asks you to post it. So would you post it again?

Dave a year has passed since we saw the other decoy with the lyrics on it. It is not bragging if somebody asks you to post it. So would you post it again?

Actually Wayne I posted up all my decoys not too long ago you must have missed it, but, since you asked, and since this post was for the new gadwalls, here is the original gadwall I did.

This decoy was the 2nd one I made. The gadwalls in the pictures above represent anything from 12th to 20th.

Nice job, very original.

Very cool set up. I like your work