Wisconsin Decoy Heritage

Your one-stop-shop for Wisconsin carvers!

There is no better source of information for Wisconsin carvers of working decoys. Scroll through the posts below, or google the name of the artist you wish to find.

Seraphin N. Arenz – Fond du Lac Decoy Carver and Winnebago Waterfowler

Decoy Corner

1 week ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President Pictured above is an Arenz Blue Wing Teal decoy. Photo credit: Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles An Arenz Decoy from the author’s private…

Orville E. Flater – Decoy Carver From Omro WI

Decoy Corner

1 month ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President Photo credits: Ron Koch collection The City of Omro is located in Winnebago County, about 20 minutes west of Oshkosh, Wi.…

Myron Frisque – Green Bay Decoy Carver and Waterfowler “Like Father Like Son”

Decoy Corner

2 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President Photo credits: John Fandrey for his beautiful collection of Myron Frisque decoys. I have written several articles about Green Bay decoy…

Harold E. Wieckert – A Neenah Decoy Carver

Decoy Corner

3 months ago

By Bruce Urben, WWA President Photo credit: Bruce Urben The Fox River Valley, which includes Neenah/Menasha, was a waterfowling hotbed in the 1900s. The Marshes and lakes were full of…

Gerald “Buster” Kidder

Decoy Corner

4 months ago

A Decoy Carver, Fisherman, Trapper, and Market Hunter from Milton, WI. By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Ruth Alfaro, Buster’s daughter Online research into past Wisconsin Decoy carvers…

Alfred “Al” Sang – Oshkosh Decoy and Wood Carver

Decoy Corner

5 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles/Gene Davis Oshkosh, Wisconsin, was a waterfowling hotbed during the early 1900s. With Lake Winnebago on its shore and…

Burton (Burt) Kannenberg – Milwaukee Decoy Carver and Waterfowler

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles Several excellent decoy carvers worked at the Milwaukee Public Museum in the 1930s. Owen Gromme was considered the…

William and Harold Hoberg – Green Bay and Winnebago Chain Waterfowlers and Decoy Carvers

Decoy Corner

7 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles William Hoberg Mallards William Hoberg was born in 1882 in Kaukauna, WI, and was one of eight…

2025 Decoy Carving Contest and Exhibition Results

Decoy Corner

7 months ago

Thank you to all of the carvers who participated in our 2025 Decoy Carving Contest and Exhibition. Results of the 2025 Contest may be downloaded here: DCCE Carving Contest 2025…

Larry S. Marcks – Cowboy, Horse Trainer and Decoy Carver from Red River, WI

Decoy Corner

9 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Bruce Urben The author’s Marcks decoy In my experience, the most interesting part of decoy collecting is conducting research to…

Sylvester “Swede” Swedesky

Decoy Corner

9 months ago

A Neenah Area Decoy Carver and Lake Poygan Waterfowler A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President A Swedesky Drake Bluebill decoy from the author’s personal collection Sometimes, while researching Vintage…

Howard Daniel Homer

Decoy Corner

11 months ago

A Cable, WI, Decoy Carver, Conservationist, and Avid Outdoorsman A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President A Howard Homer Hen mallard. Depicted in Carl Luckey’s book, Collecting Antique Bird Decoys…