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.

John Joseph Treutelaar – Muskego Lake Waterfowler and Decoy Carver

Decoy Corner

4 weeks ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles Sometimes, people are hesitant to leave the area where they were born and raised. Is it a fear…

Walter M. Struebing – A Michigan Decoy Carver

Decoy Corner

2 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy of the author from his private collection Walter Struebing redhead decoy ca.1920, Urben collection For the last seven years I…

Jack VanKauwenbergh – A Green Bay Carver, Hunter and Fisherman

Decoy Corner

3 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy of the author from his private collection Peter VanKauwenbergh, Jack’s father, immigrated to America in 1886 from Belgium. Peter was…

Arthur “Bud” Bergman – A Van Dyne, Wisconsin Decoy Carver

Decoy Corner

3 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President Van Dyne, Wisconsin is a small village located in the Town of Friendship in Fond du Lac county. Some may call it an…

George F. Shrake – Lake Poygan Decoy Carver

Decoy Corner

5 months ago

A Decoy Corner Article By Bruce Urben, WWA President All photos courtesy the author George Shrake Bluebill There have been quite a few great decoy carvers that nave lived on or near…

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

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

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…

Joe Artin

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

Oshkosh Decoy Carver, Entrepreneur and Local Hero Many of our vintage decoy carvers from the early 1900’s have immigrant beginnings – leaving their home country to leave behind political strife…

Louis J. Stark

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

Lake Winnebago Decoy Carver and Sportsman All photos courtesy Wisconsin Sporting Collectibles Lake Winnebago in the late 1800’s was a hotbed for migrating waterfowl and, it seems, also a hotbed…

Bresnahan Decoy Co.

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

All photos courtesy Hunting and Fishing Collectibles magazine I wrote a Decoy Corner article several years ago about a Factory Decoy Co. in Whitehall, Michigan called Sibley Decoy Co.. The…

Einar Torssell

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

A Talented Decoy Carver from Waupaca Some of Wisconsin’s most talented decoy carvers of the past were NOT born in Wisconsin. Many immigrated to the U.S. in the 1800’s to…

Dennis C. Poeschel

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

Milwaukee Decoy Carver and Call Maker The Milwaukee Public Museum staff certainly had an influence in the style of decoys that were being produced in the 1950’s-60’s. Owen Gromme and…

Clifford “Moody” Lind

Decoy Corner

6 months ago

A Fremont, WI Area Decoy Carver Fremont, Wisconsin was, and still is, a waterfowling mecca with its many backwaters and bays on the Wolf River. Fremont is located on the…