Wildfowler Decoys Old Saybrook Pintail Pair
Wildfowler Decoy Company is another successful factory decoy manufacturer that has been in business since 1939.
Ted Mulliken began Wildfowler Decoys in Saybrook, Connecticut in 1939 and decoys were produced in a number of different locations and by several different owners over the next 70+ years. Wildfowler was established to produce a high quality decoy at a reasonable price. The vast majority of “Old Saybrook” decoys were produced from balsa, however pine and cedar were used on a more limited basis. Most decoys and heads were produced on a duplicating lathe. It is reported that 4000-6000 decoys were produced annually through 1957. Some accounts could put that number over 15,000 per year.
Wildfowler Decoy Company Canada Goose
Wildfowler Green-Winged Teal Drake
In 1958 a fire destroyed Ted Mulliken’s Wildfowler operation and the business was sold to Robert Staniford (who had worked for Ted). Robert moved the Wildfowler decoy business to Quogue, Long Island. Paint patterns from the Staniford era are substantially different from Mulliken’s but most (but not all) decoys are stamped with the familiar Wildfowler, circular identification, and location on the decoy bottom. Staniford closed the decoy shop in the 1960’s and it was purchased in 1961 by Charlie Birdsall. The decoy operation was again moved, this time to Point Pleasant, New Jersey at a shop behind Charlie’s house. New decoys were added to the line as well as the original Wildfowler patterns from Saybrook and Quogue. Charlie operated the business until 1977 when it was sold again and moved to Babylon, New York!
Wildfowler Factory Black Duck Decoy
All Wildfowler decoys are made of wood or balsa and have glass eyes. Most are stamped on the bottom identifying where they were produced. Those with missing stamps can be easily identified by paint patterns by experienced dealers or collectors.
Early Wildfowler Decoys are quite collectible and even later produced decoys have good value. The collector value of Wildfowler Decoys is from $300-$1500 (Warmon’s Decoys, 2006) depending on age, species and manufacture location. An early, pristine, woodduck was sold in 1995 for $1760!
Many good examples of a Wildfowler Decoys can be found on internet sites and at shows. You may even encounter some at auctions and garage sales.
Wildfowler Decoys are excellent examples of working decoys with exceptional paint schemes. While many are still being used by waterfowlers, many more are ending up on mantels and in collections. You can’t go wrong with a Wildfowler decoy in your collection or on your shelf.
As always, consult with a reputable decoy collector or dealer to confirm identification and values. Happy collecting!