Decoys Through Decades

Midwest Flyways Podcast

Midwest Flyways

Sports, Wilderness

4.9 • 1K Ratings

🗓️ 31 March 2026

⏱️ 22 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this MWF History Lesson, we dive into the evolution of duck decoys—from the earliest hand-carved wooden blocks to today’s mass-produced plastics—and how each phase changed the way hunters approach the game. What started as simple tools rooted in Indigenous tradition grew into a craft, an industry, and eventually a collector’s market worth millions. We break down the golden age of carving, highlight legendary makers, and explore the shift from handmade birds to factory production. Along the way, we touch on wild stories of decoys found in barns and garages that turned out to be worth small fortunes—and the reality that some of the most valuable decoys ever made were once just tools in a working spread. At its core, this episode isn’t just about decoys—it’s about the constant evolution of waterfowl hunting, the people who shaped it, and the one thing that’s never changed: It’s not about perfection… it’s about creating confidence and fooling the bird. Thanks so much for listening and be sure to subscribe and review! Join Flyways Hunt Club and get 1 month free! Flyways Hunt Club New Waterfowl Film out now! Out West | Waterfowl Hunting in Montana Stay comfortable, dry and warm: First Lite (Code MWF20) Go to OnXHunt to be better prepared for your hunt: OnX Learn more about better ammo: Migra Ammunitions Weatherby Sorix: Weatherby Support Conservation: DU (Code: Flyways) Stop saying "Huh?" with better hearing protection: Soundgear Live Free: Turtlebox Add motion to your spread: Flashback Better Merch: /SHOP

Transcript

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0:00.0	All right, welcome back to 10 minute Tuesday.
0:01.7	And this week, we are doing another very special history lesson.
0:05.4	Okay?
0:05.7	So if you guys have been listening to these, we are looking back in time at all of the different things that have changed duck hunting, major events, cool stuff like that.
0:15.3	And so this week, we are doing a 10 minute Tuesday history lesson on decoys.
0:21.0	All right. Guao. Guao, guo, guo, guo, suamo bitch history lesson on decoys. All right?
0:21.8	Guao.
0:22.3	Guao, wow, guad, wow, wow.
0:23.4	Shut on my bitch.
0:26.5	Okay.
0:27.5	So I think, as I was like researching this,
0:30.5	decoys tell the story of waterfall hunting probably better than maybe anything else.
0:34.6	Because if you follow the evolution of decoys, you can see local craftsmanship, you can see market hunting, can see mass production, and you can even see eventually modern convenience, which is kind of fun to look at as we go through the stages. So, original idea. Concept is ancient long before modern hunting. Indigenous people actually use decoys. Did you know that? I did. Do you need to get out? What? Do you need to leave? No. Oh, you can if you need to No, I was fine. I don't mind. I was fine. I made him yon. Yeah, I watched him. I made him yon. You know me. I yonned and then I made him yawn. You guys both need to go. No. I can do this whole thing
1:13.4	about myself. I'm very into what you're about to tell me. Congratulations. I did know that. I also think I have a guess for the oldest decoy ever found if I'm not mistaken. The Native American decoy found in Arizona or Nevada. Amos back.
1:23.9	Arizona.
1:24.4	Made out of cat tails?
1:25.4	Is that what you're about to say, Cal?
1:26.8	I don't have that on here.
1:28.3	Oh.
1:28.9	Oh.
1:29.8	Okay.
1:30.2	Proceed.
	...

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