Author Archives: kelcyboettcher

Waterfowl Parasite Research Published!

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By Dr. Sarah A. Orlofske, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November, 2024 Newsletter edition.

Dr. Sarah Orlofske(L) and her research assistants (Roxanne, Rianna, Tyler) gave WWA President Bruce Urben and VP Todd Schaller a tour of their lab earlier this year.

Over the past few years, we have contributed several waterfowl parasite and disease related articles to this newsletter, but this is the first time we get to share some newly published research featuring contributions from your WWA!

In the latest issue of the Journal of Parasitology, this article: https://meridian.allenpress.com/journal-of-parasitology/article/110/5/445/503075/AVIAN-HAEMOSPORIDIANS-IN-GREATER-SCAUP-AYTHYA reports new results related to avian blood parasites from Greater and Lesser Scaup as well as other diving and sea ducks collected from Green Bay, Wisconsin. There were also a couple samples from Wood Ducks  from a site adjacent to the Bay. Highlights of the research include detection of 14 unique types of avian blood parasites including 4 that have never been detected by scientists before! Lesser Scaup were more infected than Greater Scaup particularly females. Every species of waterfowl collected had at least one infection and dual infections – two different types of parasites in the same duck – were also present. Overall percent of ducks infected was ~27% which was slightly lower than previously published research on female Lesser Scaup collected from the Mississippi River area during a spring survey (Merrill et al. 2018). Studies of blood parasites in waterfowl are relatively rare compared to research from other types of birds like songbirds, and among waterfowl studies diving ducks are even less studied. This paper helps address this gap in our knowledge of these parasites particularly in the unique geographic area of Green Bay, WI.

Many collaborators were involved in the successful completion of this project, but we want to highlight WWA president Bruce Urben for contributing the waterfowl specimens for this project as well as writing portions of the methods.

Second author Gina Magro also wanted to share her story about this research:

Being in Dr. Orlofske’s lab brought me a better understanding of our waterfowl populations, presented opportunities for me to grow as a scientist, and provided me with the elements needed to continue my career. As a hunter myself, I have enjoyed learning how such a wide range of factors and conditions of the wetlands are affecting these birds’ health and how our parasitology research can reflect that. I feel grateful to work with so many local hunters to collect samples and get the chance to show them how impactful their contribution was through presentations and a publication. Being a part of Dr. Orlofske’s lab taught me how to reach opportunities such as my summer internship REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) in Oregon and ending with the honor of being published. I believe this list of qualifications made the difference in my application to graduate school and helped elevate my application as a student from a small, state school, above those who attended bigger universities. This lab has shaped my career and built my confidence to work hard, learn as I go, and always say yes to opportunities even if you feel underprepared. I would like to thank the WWA and our community members for helping create the opportunities given to me during my time in Dr. Orlofske’s lab.

If you have questions about this published paper or on-going waterfowl parasite projects, please contact Dr. Sarah Orlofske (sorlofsk@uwsp.edu).

Charlie Corbin – A Bay of Green Bay Waterfowler, Decoy Carver and Boat Maker

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A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

All photos courtesy the author

The Bay of Green Bay is located on the northwest side of Lake Michigan. Major tributaries to Lake Michigan, including the Fox, Oconto, Peshtigo and Menominee Rivers, all flow into Green Bay. Green Bay is a relatively shallow arm of Lake Michigan and it has been, and continues to be, a highly productive waterfowl area, a historic waterfowl breeding area and a stop-over spot for migrating waterfowl.

This article is about another of the many Bay of Green Bay decoy carvers from the turn of the century.

Charles Corbin was born in 1872 and was married to his wife, Maggie, in the early 1900’s. Corbin was a passionate and avid waterfowler on the Bay, as was his wife, who accompanied him on many hunts. The Corbins had a hunting cabin near the mouth of the Suamico River, about 15 miles north of the City of Green Bay. His cabin was located near the present day location of the Barkhausen Wildlife preserve. Louis Barkhausen was a local industrialist, avid waterfowler and early supporter of Ducks Unlimited nationally.

Charlie Corbin retired from his job as a saw tooth filer for the J.L. Lumber Co. sawmill in Menominee, Michigan. In retirement, Charlie was able to continue his passion of waterfowling on Green Bay. In the early 1900’s, Charles began to carve his own decoys and later in the 1920’s he began selling his decoys to local “sports”. In addition to decoy carving Charlie was known for making quality boats and skiffs.

Charlie’s decoys were typical of those used on the Bay of Green Bay. Large bodied, solid and hollow decoys with high heads that rode the rough waters of the Bay extremely well. All of his decoys were carved of wood harvested locally. They had glass eyes and his bodies were carved in two pieces with the seam well above the waterline. His heads had some detail carving and most had carved separation of the of the bill from the head. He used a simple paint scheme with quality oil paint that was specific to the species.

No one seems to know the number of decoys that Charlie carved, but it is known that his favorite species were all divers, including canvasbacks, buffleheads, redheads and bluebills.

Charlie Corbin, another original decoy carver and waterfowler who made his living on the Bay of Green Bay after retirement. Charlie passed away at the age of 84 in 1956.

Green Bay Chapter Holds 16th Annual Waterfowlers Academy Learn to Hunt

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By Bruce Urben, President

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November, 2024 Newsletter edition.

The students and their mentors

On the night of Friday, October 11th, WWA’s Green Bay Chapter began their 16th annual Learn to Hunt (LTH) waterfowl program ran through our Waterfowlers Academy. Eight students attended this year and each started their LTH experience with  several hours in the classroom at the Pittsfield trap club. Instruction included presentations by certified Hunter Safety instructor Jeremy VanSistine, hunter ethics and conservation laws by Conservation Warden Logan Woods, duck identification by WDNR Regional Biologist Steve Burns and duck and goose calling by VanSistine and Bryan Urben of the GB Chapter. The students enjoyed a pizza dinner with soft drinks and sampled duck sausage, hotsticks and good Wisconsin cheese.

After dinner the students were paired up with their mentor team for some time on the trap line, shooting clay pigeons in the positions they would encounter the next day at their mentored hunt. A number of our adult students had not previously fired a firearm!

A student and her mentor in the field

Saturday morning started early for the mentors and students, with some on the raod as early as 4:00 am to meet their mentors at the scouted hunting sites. The hunt concluded by late morning and all met back at the trap club for a picnic lunch, more demos and certificate presentation. According to the mentors, all of the students had some opportunities – some successful and some not. Nine ducks were harvested and the WWA GB Learn to Hunt team demonstrated cleaning their harvest and shared their favorite recipes.

A USDA tech sampled for Avian Influenza

A representative from United States Department of Agriculture was present to swab the throat and cloacal areas of each duck in their effort of monitoring Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). A short presentation was given and a discussion followed on the need for this continued monitoring.

All of the participants had a great time during our closure meeting, and several are planning future hunts this year! All students left with a goody bag that included a WWA Waterfowlers Academy hat and a duck or goose call to commemorate their attendance.

This year, students attended from all over Wisconsin, including Stevens Point and Madison.

A special thanks to all of our Learn to Hunt mentors, including Mike Keeler, Bryan Urben, Jeremy VanSistine, Logan Sincoular, Mark Wilcox, Ken McNamer, Jesse Nickels, Hank and Dave Voakes and Bruce Urben. We cannot hold this type of event without these experienced and avid waterfowlers who gave up a day of hunting for these students! Also thank you to Pittsfield Trap Club near Pulaski for the use of their facilities and all of our presenters and behind the scenes help, and of course, the donations of food and soft drinks from our valued sponsors.

Students and mentors show off their successful harvest

If you are interested in attending a Learn to Hunt waterfowl program in the future, please contact Todd Schaller, our WWA Education Chair at 920-379-1704 or email at tschalt@charter.net.

Farmers And Hunters: Don’t Get Caught in Bypassed Crop Fields Tilled Into Illegal Bait

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An article from WWA’s Words From The Wardens.

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s November, 2024 eNewsletter. 

By DNR Warden Nicholas Hefter

A traditional agricultural practice of prepping fields for the next growing season may look like a buffet for hundreds of hungry migratory birds traveling overhead and potential violations for waterfowl hunters taking aim from below.

Why the potential violations? Because such plowed or tilled fields may be legally viewed as baited and, therefore, off-limits for legal hunting.

However, not all fields of meals are off-limits to waterfowl hunters. For example, fields with standing dry corn stalks or other brittle-looking crops left untouched from their growing seasons are legal to hunt. Also, normal post-harvest manipulation is also legal to hunt. It’s all about manipulation of the fields before versus after the harvest.

If you are scratching your head about now, I understand.

The federal and state regulations address post-harvest manipulation. The regulations are connected to what farmers refer to as ‘bypassing’ or ‘a pass-over’ and is seen regularly in central Wisconsin counties where I serve on the Wisconsin River Team.

Travel through the central Wisconsin area and you’ll see canning companies. These companies pay area farmers to grow certain crops for canning products. Once companies get enough of the crop from farmers, the remaining crops are left on the fields. Farmers call it bypass because it means the company is bypassing taking the crop from the fields.

The farmers then perform a common ag practice which is to plow or till or disc the field, returning the crop into the soil. The federal and state laws define this practice of returning the crop into the soil as manipulation.

These manipulated fields will attract thousands of migratory birds, including ducks and geese, that will eat the crop after it’s been returned to the soil. By definition, that field is now a baited area when it comes to hunting waterfowl – and doing so is illegal in all Wisconsin counties.

Conversely, a post-harvest manipulation is when the crop was fully harvested before the field is worked. A field like that is legal to hunt.

What about flooding a field? You can waterfowl hunt a flooded field, but hunters should ensure they know how it’s been managed. The minute the crop is plowed into the ground, that field transforms into a baited field and is subsequently illegal to hunt waterfowl over.

One final note: The law only deals with migratory waterfowl. The federal law is Title 50, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 20.21(i). The state version is under NR10.12(1)(h). It applies to ducks, geese, swans, coots and cranes.

As you prep for your waterfowl hunting, take the time to review the federal and state regulations. Another best practice is to ensure the status of the property you’d like to do your waterfowl hunting on and the federal and state regulations that would apply.

Know before you go and have fun in our great Wisconsin outdoors.

WWA Presents to Crane Legislative Council Study

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This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.

On Tuesday, Executive Director Bruce Ross spent a long day at the capitol waiting to present a hunter’s perspective to a legislative committee looking at the possibility of a sandhill crane hunt in Wisconsin.  The committee is looking at such issues, including agricultural damage, associated with the burgeoning population of sandhills in Wisconsin.

In addition to Ross, the list of presenters included the USFWS, migratory bird ecologists, and an anti-hunt presenter from the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology.

The committee will be meeting again in mid-November to discuss what they’ve learned and begin answering the questions needed to reach some conclusions that would be turned into draft legislation that would be considered by the next session of the legislature.

Ross’ presentation can be found here, while the WISEYE recording of the entire meeting can be found here (you may need to create a free account): https://wiseye.org/player/?clientID=2789595964&eventID=2024101019&startStreamAt=13025&stopStreamAt=14405. It’s a looonng recording — Ross’ remarks begin around 3:37.

Our Favorite Time of Year

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By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.

It continues to amaze me how much your WWA has going on.  (And I thought last month was busy as we received two national awards, and hosted an EXPO).   We just closed the books on the ’24 EXPO, and we’ve already begun meeting for the ’25 EXPO, which is going to two days.  We got a survey out to attendees, and we are hoping to get feedback to make improvements.  So far, the feedback has been uniformly positive.

Do you want to help take it to the next level?  Let me know.

Habitat work couldn’t be much busier—a gang of us got together at my cabin or camped overnight for a couple of days of rice collection to help restore rice beds in the Northwoods.  The rice was not as kind as last year, but between purchasing rice and collecting it ourselves, we were able to put over 500# of manoomin back in places where we hope it will gain a toehold and bring ducks for years. By the way, that’s a picture of WWA Ecologist, Mark Pfost, collecting rice using what our GLIFWC (Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Council) partners call “the soft hand method” (that actually employs 3’ long ricing sticks to knock the rice seeds into the bottom of the canoes). You may not recognize him because he is usually up to his neck in mud, muck or water.  Good to see you dry, Mark!

Want to help out ricing next year—email info@wisducks.org to get on the list!

Make sure to check out Mark’s article as the lead ecologist in the largest project WWA has done in decades, maybe ever.  He’ll be leading the charge on disabling an extensive network of 100-year-old ditches in the Necedah area to restore something close to 2,000 acres.  This includes land on which you can hunt on the Meadow Valley State Wildlife Area!

And our Green Bay volunteers are working closely with the US Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to improve the waters and woods of our 143 acre Abrams property.

Our learn to hunt efforts are in full swing now that the season has started – our West Bend Chapter had a goose hunt and Prairie du Chien got a bunch of youngsters out for a duck hunt. Impressive work to start the NEXGEN waterfowlers out right.   Every student or teacher says it’s a great experience.

We could use more mentors—let me know if you want to play a role.

The best value raffle in the state1 is now available.  Better odds, better prizes than ever before, and a chance to win a prize for every single day of the year. If we can sell this thing widely, it’ll significantly expand our ability to deliver habitat, education and hunter advocacy.  Buy one or more, or even better…

Help us sell what could be the biggest raffle in WWA recent history

And finally, I just spent a VERY long day in the capitol, advocating for a sandhill crane hunt.

I hope you’ve noticed a theme here.  WWA is expanding our efforts to fulfill our mission more effectively, and that opens up opportunities for committed individuals to make an outsized conservation impact.  But you need to raise your hand (figuratively) by letting us know you’re interested—just follow this link.

And I have gotten into the marsh for a couple of glorious mornings.  But not enough (then again, is it ever?)

See you in the marsh,

Bruce

1 – In my somewhat biased opinion, WWA’s 2024 calendar raffle at only 30 dollars, a drawing for every day of the year, and prize value over $80K

 

WWA Presents USFWS’ Waterstradt with Inaugural Partner Award

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By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.

Bruce Ross (left) presents USFWS’ Kurt Waterstradt with inaugural Partner in Conservation Award

Kurt Waterstradt of the US Fish and Wildlife Service was the recipient of WWA’s first ever Partner in Conservation Award. Kurt was responsible for initiating and sustaining WWA’s nearly decade long partnership with USFWS private lands restoration program.  Together, we received nearly $2.5 million dollars towards restoration and have so far completed nearly 1900 acres of restoration in all corners of the state.

WWA’s relationship with the USFWS has grown to include a recent $800,000 grant to conduct 1400+ acres of restoration near Necedah.  That partnership, and WWA’s 40 year impact under the North American Waterfowl Management Plan was recognized when WWA was presented with the USFWS Blue-winged Teal award, an internationally prestigious conservation award.

Kurt is retiring after a 30 year career with the USFWS, where his personal impact has been profound,  WWA could not have chosen a better recipient for our first ever Partner in Conservation Award.

Stopping Aquatic Invasive Species Requires a Team Effort for Wisconsin’s Benefit

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An article from WWA’s Words From The Wardens.

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 eNewsletter. 

By DNR Conservation Warden Thomas Heisler

One of the priorities shared by DNR conservation wardens and the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is to maintain healthy aquatic habitats for waterfowl and all species.

A genuinely effective way to support thriving waters is to ask everyone to do their part in stopping the spread of aquatic invasive species. A few simple steps go a long way in this worthwhile battle against these aggressive and dangerous invaders. The damage they inflict on our environment is serious.

The sad fact is we must acknowledge that there are invasives in some of our waters. The more popular the waterbody – the greater chance for a visitor to spread the species. But this is not a lost cause.

How do they spread? Accidental and Intentional

Decoys with lake weeds

Invasive species often outcompete native fish and plants, which provide habitat and food for native aquatic species.  They also can carry parasites, disease and bacteria, impacting water quality. And if that’s not enough, some of these pests also can clog water system infrastructure and can even make a beach impossible to walk on.

The main way aquatic invasive species, such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, spread to new waters is often by hitching a ride on the boats, fishing equipment, hunting equipment and trailers of the same people who enjoy the water the most.

Some of the aquatic invasive plants and animals are introduced into lakes and streams accidentally and, sadly, sometimes intentionally.

But the good news is we can all work together to keep their spread to a minimum.

Stop Them in Their Watery Tracks

Warden Heisler checks weeds on trailer

The good news is it doesn’t have to be hard or burdensome. Here are some ideas:

  • Recreational boaters, waterfowl hunters and people who fish are encouraged to inspect their boats and equipment,  removing all weeds and draining all water sources.
  • All users should check their waders, skies, ski ropes, tubes, boat anchors, mechanical anchors, fish baskets, gas and electric motor propellers, boat trailer (bunks, wheel wells, leaf springs, trailer lights etc.), inside the bottom of kayaks/canoes, paddles, push poles, decoys and decoy ropes.
  • Let your imagination go. Think outside of the box and check anywhere and everywhere even the tiniest piece of aquatic vegetation or animal could hide to hitch a ride to another water body.
  • Drain water from live-wells and empty water from bait buckets if the water came from the lake you were on.
  • Never move live species away from a launch.
  • Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.

Easy To Miss Places Where Invaders Hide

Some of the most common places wardens have found aquatic weeds are the places many of us overlook. These are the props of the electric and gas motors, decoy anchor lines, leaf springs on trailers and inside the bottom of canoes and kayaks.

Fish and waterfowl associate with aquatic plants for food and cover, which draws waterfowl hunters and fishers to the weeds with boats, kayaks and canoes.

Here’s how to handle these areas where significant amounts of weeds and weed particles:

Check in the bottom of the boats/canoes/kayaks while paddling, lifting decoys, anchors and pulling weeds off fishing lines.

  • Water inside those vessels can move the weeds further to the back and under seats and other nooks and crannies.
  • When at the landing, before loading canoes/kayaks, flip them over and drain all the water out  and search all areas for aquatic weeds and animals.

To learn more about the invasive species, go to dnr.wi.gov and search: aquatic invasive species. Reach me at or  (715) 492-4240

 

Midland Wings Chapter Hosts Inaugural Learn to Hunt Event

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By Dave Elwing, Secretary and Development Committee Chair

This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s October, 2024 Newsletter edition.

Based upon the successes of other chapters like Waukesha, Green Bay and Prairie du Chien, the Midland Wings Chapter made plans to help further WWA’s education mission this year. Four first-time goose hunters met through WWA’s newest Learn-to-Hunt session over the last weekend of this year’s early goose season.

Saturday’s “classroom” session

Planning got started early in April when WWA’s Waterfowlers Academy leader, Todd Schaller, met with the chapter’s planning committee to discuss the process of putting on a WDNR-sanctioned Learn-to-Hunt (LTH) program. Perspective mentors submitted volunteer mentor requests to the WDNR for a basic background check. The Ozaukee County Fish & Game Club and The Fowl Drake Guide Service of Kewaskum volunteered to sponsor the venture.

Once approved, the mentors did some recon on potential public and private hunt locations and quickly decided upon conducting an early goose season hunt on private lands, thus minimizing the chance of being crowded out and maximizing chances for success. Fortunately, three of the committee’s mentors are part of The Fowl Drake Team and they readily offered a historically productive early goose field for the hunt. Not only did they make the field available, but they ensured that it wasn’t hunted before the day of the hunt.

Setting up early Sunday morning

The chapter selected September 14th and 15th as dates for their two-day LTH session. Saturday would be “the classroom” day, while Sunday would be “hunt day.” Following Todd Schaller’s advice to “start small and then grow the event, two father-son teams were selected as the inaugural mentees. None had previous waterfowl experience, and really only one of the four had much experience bird hunting for pheasants. One father-son team only took up hunting during the 2023 season when they started archery hunting for deer and turkey. All were eager to experience how to hunt waterfowl. From an organizer’s perspective, they were perfect candidates as we introduced new hunters to waterfowling and, by having adult mentees, we could feel relatively well assured that the dads could enable the necessary post-LTH access to mobility and resources to continue their newfound addiction.

One of the father-son duos with their first geese

Saturday’s events included an introduction to the various ways and gear available to conduct a hunt, ranging from the simple to the extravagant (“Waterfowling 101”), “The Warden’s Talk,” followed by a Hunter Safety refresher period, range time, and lunch. Jacob Buck, The Fowl Drake’s owner and head guide, presented the introduction to waterfowling session, during which each of the four participants asked many great questions. Steve Swiertz, Washington and Ozaukee County’s designated game warden led an informative and engaging discussion that nicely tied in Wisconsin’s game laws with safety highlights that were reinforced by a WDNR-certified Hunter Safety Instructor, during the hunter safety refresher. Next came the fun part of the morning, when the participants got a chance to try their hand at breaking some clays. Ozaukee County Fish & Game’s Doug Klinski set up a trap field with two sporting clay throwers set to mimic the shots that everybody hoped for on Sunday. The first was a head-on bird dropping into the decoys and the second was a crossing shot. Each shooter had a mentor working with him to help understand proper shouldering, swing, and follow-through, while always emphasizing safe firearm handling. Each shooter’s abilities developed quickly and in short order hits were far more common than misses. In no time, dads and sons were shooting “hunt & cover” and really enjoying themselves. Saturday wrapped up with a crockpot of goose casserole being completely emptied, before everyone headed home to get ready for Sunday’s adventure.

The hunters and their first geese

Mentors met at the goose field at 4:00 AM the next morning and started strategizing where to set the decoys and A-frame blind based upon two weeks’ worth of observations versus the historical spots that the geese use (of course they were different). Hunters arrived on schedule at 5:00 AM to help put decoys together and set them. We wrestled with what time everybody should get there because we wanted the mentees to understand the difference between a mentored hunt where they participated and learned “why” things are done the way they are versus a guided hunt where they simply show up, but we also know that 12-year old boys enjoy their sleep.

“Showing up” was the responsibility of the geese, and they cooperated nicely. Shooting time was 6:01 that morning. A heavy lowland ground fog slowed the geese’s normal arrival, but the first birds broke through the haze at 6:40. We talked about “finding the X” throughout Saturday’s discussions and the first bird in missed the X… or we did… either way the bird landed about 200 yards away. As the morning progressed we learned that some birds read the same script that we did, while others followed the first bird’s route. Our mentees harvested their first goose at 7:10 when a small flight came in to take a look. A number of other flocks worked the field over the next several hours, but most of them looked but wouldn’t commit. The mentees harvested two more birds around 8:50 and then somebody turned the “goose switch” off. ENDEX was called at 10:00. Once decoys were picked up and moved to the edge of the field everyone came over to the trucks for a bird cleaning session and a chance to enjoy some marinated goose breast slices on Sheboygan hard rolls with good old Wisconsin cheese.

Mentors showed participants how to clean their waterfowl

Lessons learned on Saturday, like safe firearms handling, zones of fire, concealment, remaining stationary when birds are working, watching morning come to life, and just enjoying each other’s company while making new memories were the order of the day. Mentees and mentors alike enjoyed the morning, shared experiences, and talked about future hunts.

We all know that the number of hunters is dropping and is likely to continue to drop as Baby Boomers age out. We are extremely fortunate to live is a state with the wide variety and abundance of natural resources that we do. The Waterfowlers Academy was created to provide a structured introduction to waterfowl hunting. We encourage you, as readers and members, to consider doing something similar through your local WWA chapter. Contact the Waterfowlers Academy’s Todd Schaller at c217tazman@gmail.com.

Joe Artin – Oshkosh Decoy Carver, Entrepreneur and Local Hero

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A Decoy Corner Article

By Bruce Urben, WWA President

All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles

Joe Artin Bluebill

Many of our vintage decoy carvers from the early 1900’s have immigrant beginnings – leaving their home country to leave behind political strife and looking for a better life for their families. This carver is another one of those who began his journey in Czechoslovakia and ended up in Oshkosh, WI.

Joe Artin was born in Czechoslovakia in 1903 and his family immigrated to Oshkosh, looking for a better job in the booming lumber industry. By the age of 17, Artin was carving decoys for his use on the Winnebago lakes, including Butte des Mortes and Poygan. Waterfowl was plentiful and was great table fare for the family. He began carving canvasback, mallard, teal and coot decoys as those species were abundant for harvest.

Artin Canvasback

Joe worked for the Paine Lumber Company in Oshkosh until moving to Milwaukee to find a better job. He often returned to his youth home in Oshkosh to hunt his hallowed Winnebago lakes!

Joe began carving all of his decoys by hand using draw knives, spokeshaves, hand knives and files. When he moved to Milwaukee he was able to acquire a duplicating lathe, where he began carving large numbers of decoys. There was a large need for decoys during the market hunting days before 1930.

Artin’s decoys had an un-sanded surface and his paint patterns were considered simple, but very lifelike. The majority of his birds were carved of cedar, with a limited number of balsa bodies. Salvaged balsa was readily available after World War I. Joe acquired a stamp after he moved to Milwaukee and stamped the bottom of his decoys “Artin Decoy Co.”. In the 1930’s and early 1940’s he sold his decoys in local sporting good shops in Oshkosh and Milwaukee.

According to records, Joe’s total output of decoys was over 1200 and he continued to carve into the late 1980’s. His later decoys included teal, wood duck, loons and Canadian Geese.

Artin Bluebill

Joe returned routinely to hunt and fish the Winnebago lakes each fall. History reports that Joe was instrumental in rescuing two duck hunters in Lake Butte des Mortes during the famous Armistice Day storm in November, 1940. Aside from a passionate waterfowler, Joe was also a local hero.

Joe carved decoys right up to the day he died in January of 1990 at the age of 87. As you would expect, Joe’s decoys are highly sought after by Wisconsin collectors. There are still Joe Artin decoys surfacing at flea markets, antique shops, gun shows and local decoy shows. Who knows where that next Artin decoy will be found?

Joe Artin was another Wisconsin original decoy carver, entrepreneur, sportsman and local hero. A classic carver with a local twist.