Minnesota Duck Decoys - Yesterday's and Today's Folk Artists

This definitive book by Doug Lodermeier covers great carvers of the past, present and factories. Filled with never-before published information, this book is a must for any enthusiast or dealer of wildfowl decoys and collectibles.

Over 700 hard-bound pages
Hundrends of full color photos
Hundreds of vintage photos
Other collectibles by the carvers
30 years of research
much, much more...

To order Minnesota Duck Decoys please contact:

Doug Lodermeier
5700 Beard Avenue South
Edina, MN 55410-2342
612-922-9674
www.dougandpaul.com

The following is an exerpt from Doug Lodermeier's book Minnnesota Duck Decoys

Dave Taylor, 2008 - carving a head in his workshop.

For Taylor, the best part of making decoys is in the detail. The exactness it takes to make a piece of wood into a life-like creature provides its own reward, along with the 100 hours it takes to carve a single duck. He carves gunning and decorative decoys using tupelo, basswood butternut, and cork. The decoys are painted in acrylic and oil.

His wife, Diane, says the woodcarving Taylor began in 1979 was important to keeping his balance in the midst of a hectic lifestyle. He was a physical education and health teacher and coach for 34 years. In the summers, he taught behind the wheel driver’s education. Carving gave him opportunities to spend time with his children as they played in the basement and was his way of unwinding after a day of school and coaching duties.

Dave Taylor Widgeon Drake, 2007 - Basswood with Keel.

Taylor creates other carvings, such as songbirds and Santa Clause figurines. But nothing gives him satisfaction of carving a duck. He has donated carvings to Ducks Unlimited, Marshall Area Fine Arts, Marshall Hospice House and Southwest Minnesota State University Foundation.

“I do all my hunting close to my home in Marshall on the prairie lands of Southwest Minnesota. The Minnesota Department of Conservation has done a great job of obtaining land in Southwest Minnesota,” said Taylor. There are over 150 wildlife management areas that are within 30 miles of Marshall. They are open to public hunting and Dave is going to attempt to hunt each and every one.

From an avid hunter to a rookie artist, Dave Taylor learned the fine art of turning a chunk of wood into a realistic duck carving. In an art room in the basement of his home, Dave brings wood to life. With his black Lab, Molly, at his side and country music on the radio, Taylor pursues the art of duck carving.

His passion for wildlife and woodwork goes back to his childhood in Stillwater, Minnesota. Taylor’s father was a dentist and a dedicated sportsman. Taylor’s outdoor life began around the duck ponds of Stillwater as he trudged behind his father and uncle in the early morning. Before long, they gave him permission to carry a BB gun and then a gun with no shells in it.

In 1962 a family friend and decoy carver from Michigan, Charles Pozzini, sent Taylor a box of carved heads, patterns and directions for painting a drake mallard. Charles was from Stillwater and was a friend of Ben Schmidt, the great Michigan carver. That box and Taylor’s interest in wildlife peaked his interest in wood carving. Still, he didn’t actually carve his first duck until 1979. Since his first decoy, Taylor’s talents have grown. He is a member of two carving clubs: Southwest Woodcarvers a local club that meets in Lynd and the Minnesota Decoy and Wildfowl Carving Club in the Twin Cities. Competitions he has participated in include the California Open, the Northern Nationals, the Pacific Flyway Decoy Show and the Ward World Championship. Taylor is also a member of all the local wildlife clubs in the Marshall, Minnesota area.

Dave Taylor Mallard Hen, circa 1980s - one of the few remaining basswood decoys from this working rig still in Dave's possession.

Dave Taylor Northern Shoveler Drake, 2005 - Tupelo Wood

Dave Taylor Wood Duck Drake

Taylor Red-Breasted Merganser Pair, 2006 - Tupelo Wood

Dave Taylor Wood Duck Drake

Above - Three views of a Taylor drake wood duck. This decoy was made to resemble a vintage bird and as such has an antiqued or distressed method of paint application complete with an aged patina. This is a very nicely made decoy and shows the abilities of the carver and painter in a way that a working decoy often never affords. Typically working birds show more basic patterns with an economy of brush work. At least that was once the trend as decoys were meant to fool ducks and a good basic paint pattern was preferred since it was quicker to produce. For the maker who often had hundreds of decoys orders to fulfill or the carver who wished to keep things simple for making and freshening his own rig, more “Spartan” patterns certainly had advantages. Not that this feeling always won the day because some carvers simply were very talented painters and as such took great pride in their work and labored over each decoy.

Author’s Note: – Charlie Pozzini was responsible for getting Dave Taylor stared making decoys. Dave believes that Charlie started making decoys while a young man in Stillwater, Minnesota prior to his move to Detroit. A very fine article entitled Charles L. Pozzini – A Detroit carver with a Stratford influence appeared in the July/August 1994 issue of Decoy Magazine. Although not reprinted here, it is well worth finding and reading. I decided not to reproduce the article in this book as Pozzini is a Michigan carver and undoubtedly his most prolific period was in that state. Still he was Dave Taylor’s greatest influence and Pozzini very likely started making decoys while in Minnesota.

LEFT - Charles L. Pozzini – admires his winning entry at the 1948 National Duck Decoy Makers Contest in New York City. His drake pintail won the Best Pintail category, Amateur Class.

Charles L. Pozzini Mallard Drake – exhibiting realistic paint and form. This decoy possibly represents his early work done while in Minnesota.

Five of Michigan’s Best – 1968. This photo appeared in the excellent booklet edited by Lowell Jackson and dedicated to Ben Schmidt decoys. Left to right seated: Ferdinand Bach, Benjamin J. Schmidt and Charles L. Pozzini. Left to right standing: Thomas Schroeder and Ralph Johnson.

Charles Pozzini

Typical C. L. Pozzini painted “branding” and the graceful little coot that bears his name.

The following Original Dave Taylor Decoys are available for purchase:

Original Dave Taylor Woodie Drake

Antique Style Basswood decoy.
Life Size Swimming Pose

$225 each

Original Dave Taylor Gadwall Drake

Traditional High Grade Hunting Decoy
Carved From High Density Cork With Wood Keels
Life Size

$175 for pair (Drake and Hen below)

Original Dave Taylor Gadwall Hen

Traditional High Grade Hunting Decoy
Carved From High Density Cork With Wood Keels
Life Size

$175 for pair (Hen and Drake above)

To inquire about purchasing Dave Taylor orginal decoys please call 612-735-4134

Coming Soon - Autumn Wings Factory Wood Green Wing Teal Decoy based on Dave Taylor Design