Just about every duck in the world seemed accounted for, with the exception of Donald and Daffy. Some of these decoys will accompany hunters into the field, but most are too valuable. In recent years, as with everything from baseball cards to lunch boxes, decoy collectibles have become a new blue-chip stock. Desch began collecting at the urging of his wife Carolynn, who enjoyed antiques and thought he needed a hobby. Craftsmanship, carver, age and rarity contribute to a decoy's desirability.
Experts usually can tell the origin of a decoy at a glance.
Wisconsin decoys typically have solid, flat bottoms and high heads, according to Desch. Illinois decoys usually have V-shaped bottoms for river floating, Desch said. Better-quality decoys might be made of cedar, while comparatively inexpensive ones might be shaped from cork or balsa wood. Most decoys are hollow because they were created to be functional, although not always. And eventually to the auction house.