 Wild Turkeys |
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Wild Turkey (Gobbler) -13 inches long. $400.00 ea. (Item #507) Put bird in bag
The Turkeys are back! The Great American Gobbler is growing in population throughout the United States. Described as early as 1605 by the explorer, Champlain, they were still plentiful during early Colonial times. Their numbers fell when their prime habitat, the great eastern forest, was decimated for agriculture. In Massachusetts, for example, the last known remnants existed in and around Mount Holyoke around 1850 (Forbush). For years, Fish and Game departments tried futilely to propagate the birds by growing them in captivity. The pen raised birds could not adapt to life in the wild. However, it was found that transplanted birds thrived. All over the country, fish and wildlife services began restoration programs. Over the past forty years, Turkey hunting has become a popular American pastime, and these noble birds are now commonly seen along roadways. The Wild Turkey Federation estimates 2.6 million turkey hunters take to the woods every year. The present day turkey population for the nation is pegged at 5.6 million! The turkey is mentioned often in early American history. Benjamin Franklin championed the turkey to be the national bird, defaming the Bald Eagle as a scavenger. Earlier, the turkey was included in Pilgrim pot-lucks with native Americans. It has always been prized for its fine table qualities and the bird was quickly domesticated. At 13 inches, Will's carving is about one fourth the length of a full-sized turkey. Will used both gobs and glazes of fancy paint work, snips of a battered, badger-hair paint brush, and a slip of leather to cleverly capture the wild bird's features of iridescent plumage, globulate head texture, beard, and snood. (Yes, "snood," look it up.) |
 Cock Pheasant |
| Cock Pheasant 19-1/2-inches long, hand-rubbed, distressed patina, simulated glass eyes. $400.00 (Item #503) Put bird in bag
The Ring-necked Pheasant has become the most popular game-bird in the world. Pheasant hunting represents a truly American sporting tradition. Though native to middle Asia, it is the state bird in South Dakota. It was first introduced to California in 1857, and it was not until 1887, that it arrived in the eastern United States. Until that time, Ruffed Grouse, native Quails, Sage Hens and the now extinct Heath Hen were the primary upland game birds that were pursued by eastern hunters. The species is now the foundation for all state hunting programs as it is easily raised and readily adapts to the wild when released. They are spectacular flyers, wily evaders of the gun and can outrun a dog. A good bird dog learns to press the bird to set without scaring it to flight. An exceptional dog adjusts by circling a running Pheasant to come in from the front. Such canines are rare, a pleasure to watch, and are especially prized. Will designed this bird to look as though it was carved by an early decoy maker, impressed enough by the new import to use his talents to whittle his own version of the new game bird. |
 New Woodcock |
| New Woodcock - 8 1/2 inches long, rough-carved patina, hardwood base. $200.00 (Item # 501) Put bird in bag
As a young man, I hunted for many years before I actually saw a live woodcock on the ground. That bird, I can visualize still, was in the position of the bird on the picture. It was a drizzly day in a remote New Hampshire covert. The bird was under a pine tree crouching on the accumulated pine needles. Though he was entirely above ground, not nestled into leafy matter, he was barely discernable. If you took your eyes off of him, you had to work to find him again. Their colors and markings are such a great match for their surroundings they become invisible. Once, my English Setter, Tim, went missing for half an hour. When I found him he was staring intently down between his forepaws. I had to look hard to see the bird crouching squarely between both paws! Brooding hen birds also assume this position while hatching their eggs. So, theoretically, this carving could rightfully be called a nesting or crouching woodcock. Forbush and May list the Woodcocks common names and they tell a lot about the bird, his habitat, and his habits: Whistler, Timberdoodle, Hill Partridge, Wood Snipe, and Bogsucker. Oddly, the woodcock makes no whistling with his throat, but with his wings as he flies. The first 3 primaries are small and create the twittering whistle with each wing beat. Woodcock mating rituals are spectacular and come from deeply embedded shorebird genes. A high buzzing call (usually described as a "peent") at dusk from brushy field edges and orchards will lead you to the male. Periodically he flies from his nuptial retreat to soar in fifty yard circles so high as to be barely visible. Then he stalls and falls, quivering, while arching his neck and excitedly singing his extremely melodious love song. Before he is about to plunge into the earth, he recovers and flies directly to his bower. The females cannot resist and join him in the trysting place. |
 California Quail |
California Quail - 7 to 8 inches long, lightly distressed patina.
During the 1800, these fascinating birds were native only to California. Nowadays their range has expanded from Washington state to Mexico and west into Nevada. "Cuca cow," is the quail's location call, but most folks know the bird is actually expressing a yearning to be in "Chicago!" They gather in coveys and can run at speeds of' up to 20 M.P.H. During the 1800's they were native only to California, but their range is constantly expanding. They are wonderfully marked and colored; the females are a little drabber, the males have bigger head plumes. Will's California Quail carvings are now ready for your consideration. He has worked on this project off and on for 3 or 4 years and was always stumped about what to use for the delicate head plume. Leather was too floppy, sheet metal too bendy, wood too fragile. The answer occurred to him one day as he nailed a box together using old- fashioned cut nails. They were easily formed and rugged; perfect for the job. All of' Will's work is accomplished using 19th century decoy makers' carving and painting techniques. The use of found items to solve a problem was common and old nails were occasionally used for shorebird beaks. So Will's use of these nails to create the quails is in keeping with the decoy makers tradition. |
Breaking Brook Trout |
Breaking Brook Trout - 12 inches long, hand rubbed patina, hand-carved pine fish and base, carved painted eyes. $300.00 (Item #723) Put fish in bag
The inspiration for this carving came from a small pen and ink drawing that filled an empty space in a magazine article. Of course, we have all seen fish in this attitude almost every time we have been fishing. Of all the trouts, Brookies seem to have very dynamic "takes". It is not unusual to see an aggressively feeding fish rise clear of the water and take your fly on the re-entry! A delicate situation for the fisherman who must not strike when the fish first shows, but must wait until the fly is actually in the fish's mouth. This fish has just broken the surface and may go any number of ways from here. It is an image and a situation that any trout fisherman knows well. The carving process is accomplished with the tools and techniques of old-time decoy carvers. Famous old makers such as Ira Hudson of Chincoteague, Virginia and Elmer Crowell of Cape Cod carved fish representations, so this carving is a new bid to continue the tradition. |