History of the duck lure

The art of using lures to attract waterfowl dates back hundreds of years. Native Americans were resourceful in their uncanny ability to survive in the desert by very primitive means. These very creative people would use just about anything they could get their hands on to create look-alike creatures that resemble the game they were hunting. Cattails and different herbs were the first primary materials used to create the first lures. They would put together floating decoys that looked like the same game they were hunting. By doing so, they would attract waterfowl to their nesting areas, so they could then trap the birds by various means, such as nets or the use of a bow and arrow. Native Americans were masters in their knowledge of the flight patterns of migratory waterfowl. They would keep their villages very close to local waterways, ponds, and lakes. From there the first duck decoys were born.

The world’s first mass-produced duck lures were made in Salt Lake City, Utah, providing a high-quality, reasonably priced, easy-to-transport, and set-up duck lure for the average duck hunter. These lures were made of a rubber material. The first lures were carved out of wood that was often filled with water and did not last long. Later, the lures were carved out of a cork product. While cork lures were more buoyant and lighter to carry, cork duck lures also had a shorter lifespan due to use over an extended period of time. Recently, many lures are made from blow molded plastic. Lures in general have become relatively inexpensive and very light. However, some of these lures are easily damaged and must be replaced frequently. The lures have also been made of styrofoam with cloth covers. However, these lures are easily broken and destroyed. Another material used in making lures has been urethane foam which produces a solid foam lure. However, the solid foam lure is brittle and therefore subject to breakage. This type of foam lure does not allow the lure to have detailed features to more accurately mimic a live water bird.

Duck decoys are created to mimic the shape and color of waterfowl. Various types of lures are used on land, while other types of lures are used to float on the water. The floating lures are placed by the hunter in the water that attracts the ducks. Lures typically have a bird-shaped body made from a floating material using a variety of methods. Today many lures are highly realistic with incredibly intricate feather details, realistic paint jobs, and anatomically accurate shapes. Some of the most fascinating duck lures are the newer motion lures that offer great durability and rotary wing motion that is quiet and effective thanks to their specially designed heavy duty direct drive motor and aluminum spinning wings.

In addition to using duck decoys for hunting, many avid collectors have treasured hunting the oldest and most signed decoys. Before duck decoys began to be seriously collected in the 1970s, they were considered another form of folk art. They are now known as the art of the duck hunter. There are examples of some lures that go up for auction and sell for a few hundred dollars. Of course, they will not be signed by one of the master carvers, and may be from the late 20th century. Unless you know what to look for, you may end up buying a recent reproduction. Some good examples of lures were made at the factory and are worth collecting. The Mason Decoy factory in Detroit Michigan made the first factory lures (1896-1924). William Mason was a dedicated waterfowl hunter. He began making handmade lures in 1890 from cedar blocks with heads carved and finished by hand. On an assembly line, the lures were assembled, painted and fixed with glass eyes. Auction prices vary a lot for them. As low as $ 200.

Whether you are using decoys to hunt, collect, or simply intrigued by the history of this fascinating discovery, we wish you all the best in your endeavors.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *