A Decoy Corner Article
By Bruce Urben, WWA President
Pictured above: the carver, Evan Charles Casper. Photos credit: Evan Charles Casper
Evan Charles Casper, a Lomira, Wisconsin Decoy Carver and Waterfowler
Many of the decoy carvers that are featured in the Decoy Corner are blessed with grey hair and are AARP members. While hand-carved wood decoys were the only option in the 1800s through the 1930s, they began to fade during the 1940s when cork and a newly discovered product called Duralon (precursor to plastic) were all the rage. Don’t get me wrong, we still have many contemporary decoy carvers using their hand-carved decoys to hunt waterfowl, and even more who are making a living carving decoys!
This month’s carver fits that mold, but with a twist… he has only been carving for 6 years and is 20 years old!
Evan Charles Casper comes from a family where his grandfather was a patternmaker and cabinetmaker, and his Dad was a machinist… both people who create things with their hands. The path forward is easy to see.
Evan was born in 2005 to his parents Kevin and Melissa Casper. He has two siblings, an older brother and a younger sister.
Evan got the carving bug after helping cut down several basswood trees and reading about how good Basswood was for carving and holding detail. His first decoy was a mallard drake carved in 2021, and he still uses that decoy to hunt over!
Evan graduated from Lomira High School and is now attending UW Stevens Point, majoring in Hydrology. Much of his carving was done at home, but he has continued it in college, painting his decoys in his dorm room. Yes, he has a very understanding roommate.
Evan continues to carve his decoys from basswood and paints them with acrylic paint. He does use some power tools, including a bandsaw, Dremel tool, and angle grinder, along with chisels, files, and knives. Many of his hand tools and his band saw were gifted to him by his Grandfather.
Evan carves both working and decorative decoys, and he hunts over his own decoys. His favorite species to carve is teal, while his least favorite is wigeon. He has carved most species of waterfowl, including loons and some shorebirds. Evan has carved 75 decoys to date and has been carving a Decoy of the Year for the last 2 years, in which he records each species harvested on that decoy. His style would be considered contemporary, with decoys featuring detail! His decoys represent the essence of the species, and he uses shading and blending on his feather detail, which is outstanding.
When asked whether there is a carver or a carving style that inspires him, he is quick to answer, “No.” But he is also quick to note that there are several carvers he considers his mentors, including Luke Costello (Ohio), Tom Christie (Ohio), and Bruce Urben (Wisconsin… I am flattered!).
Evan’s decoys not only impress the ducks he is harvesting but also the judges at the contests he has entered. He has received numerous ribbons and awards in the Wisconsin Contest and was awarded a “Best of Species” at the Ward World Championships in 2025! Quite an accomplishment for someone who has been carving for only 6 years.
When asked if Evan has any advice for new carvers, he quickly advises them to contact as many carvers as they can, get feedback on their work, and seek support and advice on how to continue improving.
This young man is an up-and-coming decoy carver who continues to challenge himself and compete with many of the current master carvers!
If you are looking for a great-looking decoy to hunt over or put on your mantle, you can’t go wrong with one of Evan’s contemporary decoys. You can follow his work on his Facebook page “Finn and Feather Decoys,” where you will see his best friend and retriever, Finn, by his side while carving or on the water retrieving his ducks.
Evan Casper is a “new” Wisconsin original Decoy Carver!
