Period correct calls/decoys

[JD Peppergrinder]

I'm interested in any call or decoy for turkeys, deer or any game animal thats pre rev war. If any one was info later than rev war, pre 1840 I would be Interested in that to.

 

[Patocazador]

I imagine that any decoys prior to the 19th century would be very crude waterfowl decoys maybe made on the spot with mud and straw.
Much higher game concentrations than we see now would be the rule and decoys might not have been very necessary.

 

[George]

These are definitely pre-Rev. War, :grin: but I challenge you to find a neater one. :haha:
http://nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/infinityofnations/california-greatbasin/134512.html

I have references to hunters making turkey sounds while hunting, of Daniel Morgan using a "turkey call" to assemble his troops, of quail calls for sale in the 1770s and of Indians calling like turkeys to lure settlers into ambush, but have never found one to a physical call or decoy. I hope you find one, I've been looking.

Spence

 

[ncmtmike]

That IS impressive :hatsoff: Makes my wingbone look modern :grin:

 

[roundball]

Definitely an interesting find there Spence.

But I'm having trouble understanding the side box of info...seems to suggests they're dated in the range of 400BC - 100AD...but found in a cave in Nevada ??? What am I missing ?

 

[George]

You got it right, Roundball. I guess you can say they are archaeologic artifacts, well preserved in the cave.

Spence

 

[roundball]

Possibly near 2500 years old and the feathers still look like new...to be honest, it's actually kind of hard (for me) to believe

 

[George]

Lovelock Cave is a well-known site, and conditions there are apparently special in the archaeologic sense, so that organic material is preserved. It's legit.

Spence

 

[roundball]

Interesting, thanks

 

[BrownBear]

Possibly near 2500 years old and the feathers still look like new...to be honest, it's actually kind of hard (for me) to believe

That desert air (and protection from sun and rain in a cave) does amazing things. I've spent time in cliff dwellings, and seen 1,000 year old grass matting and once remains of some arrow shafts with the fletching still intact. Looked like they were made in recent times. The pigments from their painting on the walls looked like it was done the day before.

BTW- Track down the couple of books on Ishi, the Northern California Indian who came out of the hills, the last survivor of his tribe, and spent his final years living at a museum.... Berkeley I believe. He went on making stuff, and even took the anthro's back up into the hills on a trip or two. I don't remember lots of stuff, but I clearly recall the doe head and neck he tanned and stuff with something, then used as a decoy to lure deer closer.

Neat, neat books for anyone with an interest. I'm not at home, so I can't give you the zact titles or any of that good stuff, but a google of Ishi should set you on the path.

 

[Skychief]

Very interesting Spence!

Talk about a work of art and a great find. :surrender:

Thanks for steering us to a great site. :thumbsup:

Thanks again, Skychief.

 

[JD Peppergrinder]

Thank you Spence. I have found this website that clames a eastern native tribe used decoys. :idunno:

http://www.nativetech.org/decoy/DUCKDECOYS.htm

The website also has a page on how to make one.
http://www.nativetech.org/decoy/DecoyInstr.htm

I've tried researching the quail call so far no luck. I know a little about wing bone calls but no dates.

 

[roundball]

Also interesting, thanks

 

[Patocazador]

Well, it shows that even back then canvasbacks were the best-tasting ducks. Hunters wanted them as bad as they do now.

Thanks for the link. :hatsoff:

 

[FishDFly]

My Grandfather used live decoys tethered on a cord, that work?

 

[don hepler]

I think that wing bone calls go back a few years, but not really sure.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Track down the couple of books on Ishi, the Northern California Indian who came out of the hills, the last survivor of his tribe, and spent his final years living at a museum.... Berkeley I believe. He went on making stuff, and even took the anthro's back up into the hills on a trip or two.

I seem to recall a movie based on his life.

 

[Patocazador]

Dr. Saxton Pope of "Pope & Young" fame was his mentor. They went hunting around Mt. Lassen, a volcano in northern Calif., and it erupted during their hunt. It was close to Ishi's old stomping grounds.

 

[nchawkeye]

My dad could call turkeys with a blade of grass, I've also heard old timers that can call turkeys and crows with their mouth...

 

[JD Peppergrinder]

I haven't thought of a blade of grass. I've seen a set of carved blocks that the user would place grass inbetween(similar to a whistle)in one of Daniel Beards books.