You've likely seen an old wooden, hand-made decoy displayed on a fireplace mantel or perched on a shelf at an antiques store. In an era of mass-produced hunting gear, you might be surprised to learn that the art of carving duck decoys using specialized tools such as draw knives, spoke shaves, chisels, and sandpaper is alive and well.
If you've ever had a curiosity about how modern carvers create waterfowl decoys that look stylish whether they're bobbing in the water or dressing up a room, you need to visit the Waterfowl Hunting Heritage Booth during the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo presented by Hevi on July 24-26 in Des Moines, Iowa. Master decoy makers Pat Gregory and Joshua Brewer will be presenting live carving and painting demonstrations in Booth 542 throughout all three days of the Expo. You can watch, ask questions, and maybe even help add to the pile of the wood chips on the floor.
"Pat and Josh are excellent carvers who love to demonstrate their craft and help people learn about making decoys," said Chris Williams, Delta's senior director of industry partners. "It's fascinating to watch them turn a block of wood into a duck decoy. If you have ever thought about trying to carve a decoy, be sure to stop by the booth and tap into their knowledge and experience."
Gregory, of Bloomington, Illinois, has been making decoys since 1984, and produces more than 100 birds annually. He has carved almost every species of duck and goose found in North America, and fashions his birds from white pine, white cedar, and cork. He has twice been selected as a Master Carver by the Ward Foundation Museum of Collectible Decoys and was the featured carver at the 2018 North American Vintage Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show. He demonstrated at Delta's Expo in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
"I'll have white cedar bodies and white pine heads there with me, and I'll be carving some Delta Marsh canvasbacks and a few other species," Gregory said. "I'll also be painting decoys, too, so people can see the technique that goes into actual gunning decoys. We'll have chairs so people can get in close and watch and ask questions as we go — both about the techniques and about the history. What I do isn't really that difficult or technical, so I hope at least a couple of folks will leave thinking 'I could do this myself' and will go give it a try."
Brewer, of Little Deer Isle, Maine, was born on Maryland's Eastern Shore and grew up near Chesapeake Bay. He was inspired to make his first decoy at age 11 after his father introduced him to duck hunting. He traded his Nintendo and video games to buy his first carving tools. His parents nurtured his talents, allowing Brewer to keep doves and build an aviary for ducks. Before his high school graduation, Brewer had developed a full-time business as a carver and was exhibiting at major shows. He attended medical school and became a physician but returned to full-time carving in 2022. His commissioned work includes creating carvings for Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, and his decoys are in collections in the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Brewer also has been the featured artist at the Ward Museum LaMay Gallery.
"I'm looking forward to meeting people at the Delta Expo to share my decoy carving with them and answer questions about carving," Brewer said. "I'll display a rig of canvasbacks I'm currently making, and I'll have other decoys to show, including black ducks."
The Expo show floor features more than 200 of the best waterfowling and outdoor brands in the industry. In addition to the Hunting Heritage Booth, the Expo features two live demo areas — the Field-to-Table and Waterfowler's stages. And don't miss the Delta Grand National Double-Reed Calling Competition, Champions of Delta Luncheon, a vintage big-gun display, and live recordings of Delta's "Voice of the Duck Hunter" podcast. Friday evening's Duck Hunters Grand Banquet is one of the most anticipated events of the weekend and sells out every year, so be sure to secure your tickets early.
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Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization™, a leading conservation group founded in 1911 that uses science-based solutions to produce ducks, conserve prairie wetlands, and ensure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit our website.