Will Kirkpatrick's Decoy Shop

Long Island Shorebirds

The closeness of the island to New York City and its growing leisure class made the Long Island hunting scene unique. The Commercial success of waterman depended on satisfying city sportsmen. Far-sighted guides and members of sporting clubs were concerned with the availability of game for future customers. These concerns brought on the nation's first game laws.

  1. Gelston Curlew - 13" long, tow-piece construction, carved hardwood bill, carved wingtips, tack eyes, fancy stippled paint, distressed patina. $175.00 (Item #40) DISCONTINUED
    Tom Gelston at first sold his decoys to local hunters, and later through Abercrombie & Fitch of New York.
  2. Shelter Island Yellowlegs - 12-3/4" long, glass eyes, distressed patina. $110.00 (Item #95) DISCONTINUED
    Shelter Island is a favorite stopping place for migrating shorebirds, as it was a hundred or so years ago when an unknown gunner cleverly fashioned a perfect decoy. Will's version of that old decoy is made with the same skills and tools.
  3. Dilley Peep - 6-1/2" long, glass eyes, and lightly distressed patina. $ 85.00 (Item #96) DISCONTINUED
    John Dilley (Quogue) carved no least sandpipers. Will, calling on his knowledge of Dilley's work has created this least peep in his style.
  4. Hatmaker's Tern - 12" long, "flattie" body construction, carved tenoned beak, painted eyes, distressed patina. $60.00 (Item #84) DISCONTINUED
    During the late 1800's, the New York hatmakers paid market hunters for feathers of the tern. This decoy was used by Nelson Verity (1852-1945), a famous Seaford guide.
  5. Redbacked Sandpiper - 8-1/2" long, carved hardwood bill tenoned into head, carved wing outline, fancy stippled paint, distressed patina. $95.00 (Item #98) DISCONTINUED
    Obediah Verity (Seaford, L.I.) carved the original decoy. So many of his kin were such good carvers that they influenced almost every Long Island carver that came after them.
  6. Greenlegged Peep - 5" long, hardwood beak, glass eyes, distressed patina. $70.00 (Item #82) DISCONTINUED
    The exact origin of this least sandpiper is not certain. The paint strongly suggests Long Island. The bird's green legs are a definitive field mark.

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