Collecting Decoys: Getting Started

The Midwest Decoy Collectors Association recently posted an article of mine on how to get started collecting decoys. It serves as a short introduction to the mechanics of decoy collecting: setting goals, reading and studying, research, documentation, provenance, X-rays and black lights, fakes and undisclosed restorations, and displaying your decoys.

MDCA is the de facto international collectors association. It sponsors the National Antique Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, where literally millions of dollars of American and Canadian bird decoys change hands over the course of the week as collectors and dealers browse each other's rooms and do battle at the Guyette & Schmidt decoy auction.

Every year, during the last week of April, collectors socialize while they build and prune their collections from Monday to Saturday at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, Illinois. If you are interested in great American folk art, check it out. It is the best opportunity of the year to see thousands of decoys in all price ranges, and all qualities. For more information, see the Midwest Decoy Collectors Association website..