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.

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George Hartmann 2

George J. Hartmann

Decoy Corner
Another Wisconsin Original George J. Hartmann was  born in 1913 and lived most of his life in the Milwaukee, WI area. During the 1930’s, in the wake of the “Great…
Bobswann 1

Robert “Bob” Swann

Decoy Corner
Bob was born in 1941 and although he grew up in the city of Chicago, he found out early on in life that his heart belonged to nature and the…
derelict decoy

Derelict Decoys

Decoy Corner
In this month’s Decoy Corner article, I am changing it up a little. Rather than talking about a specific carver, my article talks about a “derelict” decoy. What is a…
Enoch Reindahl

Enoch Reindahl

Decoy Corner
Enoch Reindahl was born on May 18, 1904 on his parents’ farm just outside of Stoughton, Wisconsin. His parents had emigrated from Norway in the 1890’s and settled just outside…
Grayson Chesser decoys

Grayson C Chesser

Decoy Corner
Master Decoy Carver from Virginia Grayson Chesser was born in 1947 and lived most of his life on his family farm on Virginia’s East Shore. He was the son of…
John Dawson Merganser Hen

Collecting Decoys

Decoy Corner
This month’s Decoy Corner column strays a little from my usual articles highlighting a carver and showcasing his life and style. Since beginning this project, I have received numerous calls,…
Ducharme Canvasback Pair

Duncan Joseph Ducharme

Decoy Corner
Manitoba, Canada Decoy Carver Ducharme Canvasback Duncan Joseph Ducharme was born February 14, 1912 in St. Ambrose, Manitoba, Canada. He was the son of Joseph M. Ducharme and Eloiza Lepinee…
Ben Schmidt

Benjamin S. Schmidt

Decoy Corner
Ben Schmidt Redhead While most of my Decoy Corner articles have focused on Wisconsin’s original carvers, one carver in neighboring Michigan was very well known, and some described his product…
Joseph Sieger Canvasback-2

Joe Sieger

Decoy Corner
Another Wisconsin Original Decoy Carver Joseph Sieger was born in 1871 and lived on his family farm near Tustin, Wisconsin. Tustin is a small rural town located west of Oshkosh…