My best find was Ward Brothers wooden decoys at a dump. I did not know what they were when I put them in the truck. I wanted the lead anchors. Took them home and hosed them off. Then I thought they were a decent copy of a Ward Brother carved decoy. But he tail was not exactly right. Ward bothers were carver that lived about 30 mile from my home then and their work was becoming of interest to collectors.
Back then both Steve and Lem were alive so I took the decoys down for them to look over. They said that they were theirs and they told me they had changed the tail for two years and went back to the original style. For a few dollars they signed all of them and I had them repaint two for display on my mantle. The rest I use to hunt once ever year as a tribute to all those hunters and carvers who have passed away.
Years later I took duck hunting, as a favor for a friend, a Doctor who was a big time collector of Ward Brother decoys and a general pain in the a--. When he saw we were hunting over almost two dozen of them he just about went nuts. Offered me his Mercedes and cash for the lot. Turned him down and told him to just be sure not to shoot low. Shot chips the paint. He bugged me for years before he gave up. In fact I was almost afraid he would do an intervention, steal them, to save them. Some collectors loose all sense when they do not get their way and this guy was one nutty collector.
My current wife has me on a tight lease. No more trips to the dump and no weekly dumpster diving. I envy you guy but I might smell better than a few of you.
