By Bruce Urben, WWA President
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s December, 2022 Newsletter edition.
Our 2023 Conservation Membership Calendar has been on sale for a several months now and we have had very positive reviews of the monthly calendar art this year.
The calendar’s featured monthly artwork is of twelve hand-carved wooden decoys carved by twelve of the best Wisconsin contemporary carvers around. These carvers have donated a decoy (or two) to WWA to utilize for our fund raising and a different carver is highlighted each calendar month. The photos of each decoy was staged with vintage waterfowl memorabilia such as old calls, vintage firearms, ammo and ammo boxes, as well as rustic backgrounds. Chase Baker, a professional Outdoor photographer and creative designer provided these photos through his business, Grit LLC. Each monthly decoy photo has the carver listed and a short biography is provided on each carver in the back of the calendar. 
Because of the generosity of these twelve carvers in donating these one of a kind decoys, we will be auctioning each decoy off in the month they are featured in the 2023 calendar. The auction will be offered online beginning on the day our monthly newsletter is published and will close at 5:00 pm (local Wisconsin time) on the 20th of each month. All proceeds will support Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s habitat improvement projects and educational programs.
A number of the carvers depicted have long, commissioned waitlists for their decoys, and some are no longer carving for sale. This may be the only time you will be able to obtain one of their championship style decoys!
Stay tuned for first (of 12) auction announcements beginning with our January, 2023 newsletter.
Following is a pictorial collage of the decoys that will be offered by month. Look through them, peruse the carver biographies found in the 2023 Conservation Calendar and begin to prioritize the decoy you might want to bid on for your mantle in your home, cottage or office.
If you are interested in obtaining your own Conservation Calendar (365 fabulous prizes each day of the year, including 80 handguns, 16 rifles, 24 shotguns, SportDOG Brandcollars, Vortex optics as well as charter fishing trips and much, much more) you can check out the locations that have them for sale in your area, through your local WWA Chapter or you can order them online here.
Good luck and happy bidding!
January – Pintail Hen with Duckling by Steve Stratton
February – Mallard Drake by Rick Koch
March – Pintail Drake by Bruce Urben
April – Wood Duck Drake by Bill Koelpin
May – Red Breasted Merganser by Rob Rosenberger
June – Greenwing Teal by Mark Berquist
July – Canvasback Hen by Mike Pierce
August – Ringneck Duck by Mark Kakatsch
September – Redhead Drake by Geoffrey Vine
October – Black Duck Pair by Gary Schoenberger
November – Ruddy Drake by Bob Swann
December – Canvasback Drake by Bob Badtke