Arthur (Art) F. Techlow III- Decoy Carver, Decoy Collector, Biologist, and Waterfowler

A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

Pictured above is a Techlow Mallard Hen decoy from 1975. All photos courtesy Art Techlow Collection.

Waterfowl hunting and decoy carving have gone hand in hand in the Oshkosh area since the 1800’s. The Winnebago chain was a waterfowling hotbed, and at least one book was written specifically about the decoy carvers of the Winnebago chain (Ron Koch, Decoys of the Winnebago Lakes, 1988). My next featured carver fits the bill as an Oshkosh decoy carver, but with one exception… he began carving in 1971 at age 18!

Arthur F. Techlow was born in 1953 to his parents, Mr. & Mrs. Art Techlow Jr. Art’s father was an “old-fashioned” paper man working in Oshkosh, and his great-grandfather was a cabinetmaker. His father was an avid waterfowler and taught Art the sport of waterfowling at age 12. Later, Art and his dad hunted with longtime friend and carver Tom Bett and his dad, Gus. Art and Tom continue to be great friends to this day (maybe a Gus and Tom Bett carver article is in the future?).

Art grew up in Oshkosh and lived there his whole life. He was the happiest when he was doing something outside, fishing, duck hunting, canoeing, or hiking, and still is to this day. His passion and love were waterfowl, however! When he was in grade school in Oshkosh, his school was within view of Miller Bay on Lake Winnebago. Each year, his teacher knew when she had to pull the window shades when Art’s eyes were locked on waterfowl dropping over the school into the Bay… the migration was on!

Art began carving his own decoys in 1971 at the age of 18. His first decoys were made of refrigeration cork. Carving was an easy decision considering his hunting buddy and father were carvers! After school and college, Art was hired by the WDNR in Oshkosh and gradually moved up to be the Winnebago System Biologist, his dream job on the system he grew up with. Art worked for the WDNR for 34 years.

Art carved a few hundred decoys; most were working decoys, but he also carved some decorative pieces. Many of his decoys were signed, and some remained unsigned. His favorite carving wood is sugar pine but he did use basswood on his decoratives. He carved just about every species, including bluebills, mallards, teal, redheads, buffleheads, goldeneyes, blackducks, coot, and even a swan confidence decoy. His favorite, however, is bluebills by far. Art has never competed in carving contests; he certainly has the talent to compete with the best. Early in his carving career, he used only hand tools: a drawknife, rasps, and sandpaper. His only power tools were a drill press and a bandsaw. Art paints his decoys in “Parker” oil paint and in a style that captures the essence of the species he is carving. His bill carving is excellent, with outstanding detail. He uses glass eyes in his decoys.

Artie is also a huge decoy collector, a passion that began early. His favorite carver is Frank Strey (see previous Decoy Corner article on Frank), another Oshkosh carver from the 1900’s. He did not have a carving mentor; he was a naturalist who studied ducks in their environment and duplicated that in his carving.

While Art is no longer waterfowling and is not carving much anymore, you will still see him at the yearly Decoy Collecting show in Oshkosh in his booth, talking decoys with his peers, and selling a few of his decoys.

I have known Art (known to me for years as Artie) for some time; we both worked for WDNR, but we never connected over our love for carving and collecting until after we both retired. It’s always a pleasure talking decoys with Artie, and I am sure that the ducks in Winnebago, Lake Poygan, and the Eldorado marsh do not miss him each fall!

Arthur F. Techlow: decoy carver, collector, waterfowler, fisherman, and duckman!

Still residing in Oshkosh with the waterfowl he loves.