Image is everything to some and nothing to others. Years ago I met a Doctor who had a "major interest" in Ward Brother decoys. Told me he had more of them than I would ever see in one place in his den. Mentioned that he was a duck hunter and became a "serious collector" as a result. Decent fellow but rather impressed with himself as many collectors can be.

I invited him duck hunting that Fall. He wanted to drove his Mercedes S/W. This was back in the days that the car was a special import item, not seen in every showroom. This fellow bought a Mercedes S/W just to go duck hunting. No ordinary pickup for him.

We went to the river and to the blind in my boat. He got the guns in the blind with our small bags. His gun was a Wnchester 21, mine a lesser double. I set out the decoys. You guessed it, all Ward Brother decoys. Just before first light I did mention to him that we never shot low or into the decoys. Still did not tell him what he was shooting over. Just after first light and the second chance at a single, he noticed the decoys. Said they were a fair imitation of his Ward Brothers decoys. Half an hour later he figured out the "imitation" was real.

He could not believe anyone would hunt over such "rare" decoys, wanted to buy them on the spot. Offered me his car, money you name it. They became a major obsession for him over the next few months. He could not stand the fact that I had more of his beloved Ward Brothers decoys than he did and that I had the nuts to hunt over them. I ruined his image of himself as a major collector. He had a few and I had a few more than he did.

Never did tell him I found them at the dump and paid nothing for them. I did have the Ward Brothers repaint a few of them and sign them for me. Back in those days they would repaint one of their old decoys for $20.00 and sign one for just about nothing. They even could tell me that my decoys were almost all made in a two year span. They changed the shape of the tail for two years and then went back to their normal shape. They were nice men, who were glad that their decoys were still being used as decoys. They had the right image, not some stuffed shirt with a desire to be the best or make others think that he is the best.