Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
Dedicated to the Conservation of Wisconsin's Waterfowl and Wetland Resources.
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Thank You To WWA's
2018 Sponsors & Donors

Gold Level Sponsors
Silver Level Sponsors
Bronze Level Sponsors
State Level Sponsors
State Level Donors
LIFE SPONSORS
  • Dale Arenz
  • Ted Olson
  • Jack Olson
WETLAND LIFE MEMBERS
  • Tom Lutes
  • Patrick Smith
  • Erich Pitz
LIFE MEMBERS
  • Randy Hess
  • Raymond Petersen
  • Bruce Urben
  • Brian Hadler
  • David R. VanLanen
  • John Wetzel
  • Scott Zoellick
  • Cal Barstow
  • Terry G. Doughty
  • Bill Peebles
  • Jim Weix
  • Leonard & Arleen Wurman
  • Jeff Nania
  • Rob Monette
  • Guy McFarren
  • John Regan
  • Jerry Burns
  • Jerry Gadamus
  • Don Moore
  • Arthur Anderson
  • Don Kloetzke
  • Buzz Balzer
  • David Uihlein, Sr.
  • Robert Kieckhefer
  • Mark Drollinger
  • Jason Alvarado
  • Scott Hedin
  • Austin Wheaton
  • Tom Seibert
  • Larry Kirby
  • Sharon Kirby
  • Keith A. Pamperin
  • Lance Voeltner
  • Benjamin Larson
  • Randy Helbach
  • Don Kirby
  • Robert Swanson
  • Michael Alaimo
  • Eric Urben
  • Bryan Urben
  • Erich Schultz
  • Jon Bergquist
  • Craig Lonzo
CANINE LIFE MEMBERS
  • Creed Ferch
  • Gunner Seibert
  • Reggie Rechek
  • Sophie Vanden Boogart
  • Moose Vanden Boogart
  • Max White
  • Eve Monette
  • Ziva Fisher
  • Pearl Olson
  • Lynard Sitton
  • Phez Bartelmez
  • Jax Braun
  • Sapphire Klug
  • Rolf Timm
  • Neka Otten
  • Reba Regan
  • Izy Paitrick
  • Jake Regan
  • Remington Bratz
LEGACY LIFE MEMBERS
Gone but not forgotten
  • Les Didier
  • John Holmes
  • Joseph Porten
LEGACY CANINE LIFE MEMBERS
Gone but never forgotten
  • Zoe Regan
  • Nixx Urben

     
Thanks to all those that have cherished the memory of a loved one by donating in memoriam to the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association.
 
Those recently memorialized were:
 
Mr. David E. Hughes
Donors: Mr. & Mrs. Jim Tavares, Mr. & Mrs. Fred Welch

Mr. Joseph Porten
Donors:  WWA 2018 Board of Directors and Staff

Attorney Dan Fay
Donor: Dale W. Arenz

Mr. Robert J. Kuehl
Donor: Ms. Penny D. Kuehl
 
Mr. John Held
Donor:
Ms. Kathy Shurts

Mr. John Holmes
Donors:
Dale W. Arenz, Jon Bergquist

Mr. Jay Reed
 
Donor: Bob & Cookie Olson  

Mr. Norman J. Brady
Donor:
Dale W. Arenz

Mr. Robert E. Strous

Donor
: Bruce Urben

If you'd like to consider a lasting and meaningful memorial fund contribution for that friend, hunting partner, co-worker or relative with WWA, please contact us. Each contribution will offer:
  • A personalized letter to the family of the deceased,
  • A letter from WWA sent to the donor confirming contribution for tax purposes (address & individual donation amount must be supplied),
  • The option for the donor to designate which WWA program they wish their contributions be put towards, and a listing in this section for the duration of one year
The Wisconsin Waterfowl Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission focuses on wetland and upland habitat restoration, youth and adult environmental education and environmental- and hunter-based legislation.  
 
To contact us call (800) 524-8460 or (262) 968-1722, email wwainfo@centurytel.net or visit our website at  www.wisducks.org        
 
Sincerely,
Don Kirby
Executive Director
Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
PO Box 427
Wales, Wisconsin 53183
wwainfo@centurytel.net
800-524-8460
DECEMBER 2018
In Tribute To Joe
By Bruce Urben, President

Bruce Urben  
I wrote this article on November 9th, 2018, two days before Veterans Day, also previously known as Armistice Day. A day to honor all of our veterans who have served our country so well! We are blessed to have those who serve and protect our rights in this nation, it is only fitting that we do this on this date.  Thank you to our US veterans, those that served in honor as well as to those who gave their all for our freedoms we enjoy!
 
Armistice day brings another important memory to me as well. Although I was not alive during the Armistice day blizzard on November 11, 1940, I have been a student of the tragedy that it caused for many years. Joe Porten joined our board of directors almost four years ago and somehow, immediately, we both found out about each other's interest in that Armistice Day weather tragedy in 1940. We swapped books written on the subject and frequently talked about how life was changed for many people in Wisconsin and Minnesota during those two days over 78 years ago.
 
The Armistice Day blizzard took place in the Midwest on November 11th and November 12th, 1940. That November 11th morning brought with it unseasonably high temps reaching the mid 60's in the afternoon. A perfect "blue bird" day with mild winds to get out and do some waterfowling in the Midwest. Thousands of hunters in Wisconsin and Minnesota went out to enjoy the fall migration of waterfowl and harvest some of nature's bounty.

Later in the day, however, the weather conditions rapidly deteriorated across most of the Midwest. Heavy rain, snow, a tornado and gale force winds were reported. Temperatures dropped sharply, winds picked up and rain, followed by sleet and snow, began to fall. Stories from those waterfowlers who survived tell us that the duck hunting just before that storm hit was phenomenal. Clouds of waterfowl were riding the stiff winds ahead of the storm and the sky was filled with birds seeking asylum from the blizzard. The best and worst was about to come.

A raging blizzard consumed them over the next 24 hours, snowfall of up to 27 inches, winds of up to 80 mph and a 60 degree temperature drop were recorded. Waterfowlers along the Mississippi in Minnesota and Wisconsin were stranded on the islands and back bays of the river. Survivors tell us that the cold was so severe it was difficult to breathe.  A total of 145 deaths were blamed on the storm, over half were waterfowlers that drowned or froze to death during that blizzard. A number of books documented survivor stories of heroism and tragedy during this 24 hour period.
 
Joe was an avid waterfowler and each year spent Armistice Day on his boat on the Mississippi River waterfowling. In the past few years he told me he just enjoyed being out there and remembering those who were not so lucky in 1940, sometimes not even taking his gun out of the case!  Joe Porten lost his battle with cancer on July 24th, 2018. This was the first year his boat was not on that stretch of the river on November 11th.
 
Joe was a wonderful man and sincerely cared about waterfowling, ducks and conservation in this State. He served WWA well with his passion for all things waterfowl. I know his family is missing him dearly, and I wanted to honor his memory and his tradition on Armistice (Veterans) Day.
 
We miss you Joe!

2019 Calendars Are Here!
10th Anniversary Limited Edition, featuring 365 fabulous prizes, including:
  • 30 Shotguns
  • 28 Handguns
  • 12 Mathews Archery Z3 Bows
  • Scheels Gift Cards & Packages
  • 6 Parker Crossbows
  • 6 Guided Fishing Trips from Conro's Family Resort
  • 24 Steiner Binoculars
  • And more!
  • Only 5,000 Sold
Get yours online now before they sell out! Or, find your calendars at a local establishment near you.
Third Annual Hall of Fame Inductees Announced
WWA's Third Annual  Hall of Fame  nominations and voting have commenced and we are excited to announce the Third Annual Class inductees.  Congratulations to:
  • Member Category: Jim Rogers
  • Board of Directors Category: Wayne Folske
  • Sponsor Category: Nutro/Marty Young
Jim, Wayne and Marty will all be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at  WWA's Annual State Meeting, taking place Saturday, January 26, 2019 at the City Inn located in Berlin.  Please plan to join us to welcome them into our 3rd Annual Hall of Fame Class. 
Words From The Wardens
This month's edition is courtesy of 
WDNR Conservation Wardens Dale Hochhausen of the Mississippi River Team and Ben Mott of Waushara County


WDNR Conservation Wardens' cold-weather hunting safety tips for you and your dog

When it comes to cold-weather duck hunting, the top priority is warmth - yours and your dog!  We've compiled some of our tips to stay safe and warm so you can enjoy your hunts. Being cold can ruin a hunt pretty fast, so let's avoid that with some easy-to-use tips.
 
Warden Dale Hochhausen
"My hands and feet get cold easy, especially as I get older", Warden Dale said. "Hunting ducks during the last few weeks of the season can bring on challenging weather conditions, which is when the die-hard hunters are still out." 
Warden Ben agrees, and as someone who hunts with dogs, he says it is best to think of those hunting mates, too.
 
Warden Ben Mott
Both wardens say whether you are thinking of yourself - or you and your dog - layering will be key. 
Even for a dog, you ask? Don't they come with a coat?  "True, most retriever breeds with a proper coat are protected from the cold to some extent. Double-coated breeds offer protection in extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, but adding a neoprene jacket to your canine friend offers them multiple benefits," Warden Ben said. "Vests offer a layer of protection from the wind when the dogs are out of the water, allows them to not lose as much heat, allows them to actually warm the water that is left in their coat more efficiently instead of that water turning to ice. And, if the dogs are breaking ice during a retrieve, the vest can protect the dog from becoming cut up."

Comet enjoys some late season waterfowling in 2017. Comet, who was owned by waterfowler Jeff Martz, sadly passed away recently.
 
Warden Dale's tips:
  • Dress in layers: Put the clothing's moisture wicking layer next to your skin.  Not just your body core (upper and lower body), but also your feet. This is vitally important.
  • What about your head? I don't wear ball caps later in the season. I switch to stocking hats when the temps turn cold.  Look for stocking hats with bills, to keep the sun out of your eyes.  If it's really cold out and/or windy, wear a face mask or balaclava.
  • Gloves or mittens? While hunting, you typically have to wear gloves versus mittens.  This is one area I will spend a little extra money to buy good insulating gloves that shed water.  If it's raining and/or snowing out, it's important to carry several sets of gloves. Why? Because once your gloves get wet, it's impossible to keep your fingers warm in cold temps. At least that's true of mine as I don't have those big sausage fingers that stay warm!
  • Budget warmth: Hand-warmers and toe-warmers to help keep extremities warm.  They're a cheap investment to help stay warm.
  • Waders: Heavy insulated waders are important, probably 600-800 gram minimum, depending on how well the person can take the cold.  I don't have neoprene waders because I also use my chest waders in the early season. However, the butts have 600 grams of insulation.  I wear wader pants inside these chest waders, which are very warm.  Plain rubber knee boots or chest waders offers no insulation, especially once you start wading around in the water.
  • Dry your clothes between multiple day uses: If you hunt multiple days in a row, make sure you put your waders and/or boots on a dryer. There can be moisture in the boots which isn't going to help with staying warm.
  • Float coat, 4-season jacket and a rain jacket: If you're out in a boat, wearing a float coat not only provides flotation, but offers good insulation and sheds water.  I routinely wear a float coat while I'm working from a boat in late fall and early winter. If it's raining or snowing, even though you may have a waterproof 4-season-type waterfowl jacket, it's beneficial to wear a rain jacket on the outside everything to help shed water and stay dry.
  • Take your phone: Cell phone in a plastic bag or waterproof carrying case.  
  • Tell someone of your hunting/travel plan: If traveling by boat, let someone know where you're going and when you'll be back.  Monitor weather conditions and if weather conditions get too bad, there is no duck worth risking your life over.
Warden Ben's tips to keep your dog safe and warm:
  • Jeff Martz hunting with his late dog Comet (far left) and Warden Mott's two Tollers, Grizzly (front) and Leinie
    Behavior clues: Whether you use a vest or not for your dog, you need to be paying attention to little things. Watch for uncontrollable shaking/shivering. Watch for the dog to change their behavior - if your dog never hesitates to retrieve and one time they do - they may be telling you it's time to stop.  
  • Pack a towel: Have a towel for your dog to remove that excess water between retrieves. You know how chilled you get when your skin is wet and the cold air hits it. Same thing happens to your dog. So, dry them off.
  • Heat that blind: If hunting from a blind, even a small blind heater can do wonders for you and the dog's ability to stick it out on those late season days.
  • Warden Ben Mott on the water with his Toller, Grizzly
    Hypothermia watch: Remember the water is cold and can take more out of your dog than you might expect. We all want to have the tough retriever that never stops even with icicles forming on their face and coat - but remember they have limits, too. Sometimes it's up to us to realize what those limits are before it's too late. If you do get into a situation where your dog may be reaching hypothermia, contact your local or emergency vet as soon as possible for how to proceed.
Some of the best days waterfowl hunting can be those late season hunts, but they also can turn dangerous in a hurry. Taking a few of these steps can keep you safe and keep you hunting a little bit longer.
Final Disabled Deer Blind Installed at Abrams Project Site
Green Bay Chapter  volunteers, left to right: Jesse Nickel, Jeremy VanSistine, Shawn Demeny, Gavin Urben,  Eric Urben and Bruce Urben. Not pictured: Don and Blake Kirby and Bryan Urben, photographer
By Bruce Urben, President

Green Bay Chapter members braved the snow on Sunday, November 11th and installed the final disabled deer blind at Abrams. This brings the total to five disabled accessible deer blinds on the property. Chapter volunteers also cut shooting lanes for several of the blinds off Oak Orchard Road while another group installed the wheel chair ramps and railings.

The blinds were ready for opening of the deer gun season and the food plots are in great shape for the seasons as well.

The Abrams property deer blinds are available for public use, but should a disabled hunter come to use any of the blinds, we would hope an able bodied hunter would give priority to those less able!

Thanks to Joe VanEss for constructing the blinds for WWA and to Urben Builders for construction of the platforms and ramps.
Wild Rice Habitat Improvement at WWA's Abrams Property
By Bruce Urben, President

Wild rice seed
Waterfowl rely on either animal matter or vegetable matter for their diets depending on the species of wildfowl. Many of the diver ducks rely on animal matter (crustaceans, mollusks and even fish) for their everyday diet, while puddle ducks will live almost exclusively on vegetable matter (seeds, roots, tubers and plants). Many of our shallow lakes and riverine systems have sustained robust wild rice plots in the past. Unfortunately, pollution and human development have caused a lot of indigenous native wild rice areas to disappear. Historically, specific waterfowl migrations were dependent on large areas of native wild rice to sustain their fall southern migration.
 
Wild rice will grow in clean water, marshy areas in 4 inches and up to 3 feet of water. It does best when planted in the fall and allowed to over-winter in the bottom mud of a pond or stream. Typically you will see seedlings under the water in May and flower heads will appear on the stalks above the water in July or August. Wild rice reaches mature heights, 2 to 8 feet above water by early September when ducks and other waterfowl seek it out. Wild rice is an annual but will reseed itself each year if conditions are good.
 
The WWA Abrams property ponds, near Abrams, WI (Hwy 41/141 split in Oconto County south of Green Bay) contain about 5-8 acres of water with a mud bottom which made seeding of wild rice an easy choice for habitat improvement. Water depth at Abrams varies from 6 inches up to 3 feet. After studying the pond health with help from WDNR staff it was concluded that this system would be appropriate to try to introduce a wild rice seed bed. Habitat improvements in the past, along with water control structures to eliminate rough fish access, were successful and will now allow planting of wild rice.
 
On October 26, 2018, WWA biologist Peter Ziegler and myself put  2 kayaks in the Abrams ponds and proceeded to distribute wild rice seed into about 3/4 of an acre of shallow pond area.

WWA Project Director Peter Ziegler "planting" wild rice at Abrams

It is anticipated that this seeding will be necessary for the next three years to establish a sustainable seed bed. We hope to see the fruits of our labor next fall but will be diligent to insure we provide the young seed bed adequate reseeding to develop fully.  Wild rice seed was available to us through a grant to improve habitat on the Abrams project area.

Project Program Updates
Peter Ziegler
By Peter Ziegler, WWA Project Director

This fall's weather has been a bit unusual, but the winter season is starting off well for WWA projects. With all the fall rains we had to delay a bunch of projects, but the early cold will hopefully allow us access to many of the sites this winter, allowing us to catch back up. A good frost can go a long way in making construction go smoothly on wetland projects. 

Now is the time to start sending in project applications or getting in contact with me. If you're anything like me, as you are out enjoying your property or other properties (public or private) during the fall you think about all the possibilities to enhance or restore habitat for wildlife. Don't let those ideas fall to the back burner until next fall when you're out there again and think about it again. Get in contact with WWA and we will see what we can do.

The project, pictured below, that I assisted on construction with filled with water immediately; in fact we had to deal with water flowing in during construction, but with a clay base restoration work was still doable in the wet conditions. This 5 acre project in Ozaukee County connects to another wetland basin, creating some sizable habitat. The surrounding area is being put into prairie, creating good nesting habitat as well.


Tom's Event Corner
By Tom Seibert, Regional Director

I'd like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support throughout this year. Your contributions have enabled WWA to complete many habitat projects again this year.

Last call for state hunt tickets! We will be drawing the winner of our Waterfowler's Dream Hunt raffle on December 6th during our Christmas Bash at the Delafield Brewhaus. We will also have many great prizes and awesome guns to win at this event. This is a cheap
and quick 2-hour event that is loaded with fun games and raffles, FREE craft beers and appetizers. I see another road trip in your future.

I hope you have had a chance to partake in Wisconsin's hunting seasons. Your support has contributed to the upkeep and creation of many of the lands you have hunted on. Without all your support WWA's efforts couldn't exist so Thank You! Come and have fun at our last remaining event of 2018 and help us help our state's wildlife flourish.        

When you attend any of our upcoming 2019 events you will see LOTS of raffles with waterfowl hunting gear (we are the Waterfowl Association). You will start to see many new items from Tanglefree, a company that has stepped up to help us bring you the latest and greatest decoys, decoy bags and decoy anchors. We debuted their latest gear at the Lakeshore banquet last week and they got great reviews. The Field Hunter Extravaganza raffle will feature some of the newest in layout blinds. There will be many more waterfowl gear articles to come, but I need to leave some surprises for you in my January update. Stay tuned for some great happenings.

If you would like to participate as a volunteer on a committee, or would like to start a new chapter in your area, we want to hear from you.  Or, if you'd prefer to get your hands dirty and make a difference in our natural surroundings, consider joining one of our numerous AWA teams around the state. Just fill out our volunteer form and indicate your area of preference. The sense of satisfaction is remarkable when a banquet or project comes together. Let me says thanks in advance from our wild critters who appreciate you making their neighborhood a better place to live.  Thanks for all you do for WWA.

Sponsor Spotlight: onX Hunt
We're very excited to announce that earlier this year WWA was contacted by onX, considered the "#1 GPS Hunting App", to discuss a potential sponsor partnership. This fall, thanks to the generosity of onX, we were able to offer the opportunity to w in a one year subscription to the onX hunting map app  smart phone or GPS at a few of our banquets. We received fantastic feedback on the app and are excited to announce an expanded sponsorship with onX, whose apps will be available as part of a raffle prize you can win this Thursday, December 6th at our Christmas Bash

onX offers an app solution for your smartphone that gives you distinct color coded public and private lands. Drop waypoints, track routes, and use your smartphone as a stand alone GPS with or without service. According to their website, onX offers "the best tool for every hunter, our maps show clearly marked property boundaries, public and private landowner names and more - giving you everything you need to stay legal and ethical, including:
  • 121 million private properties
  • 985 million acres of public land
  • 421 map overlays and counting
  • 400,000+ miles of trails"
No service? No problem. You can a ccess saved maps from anywhere and locate yourself in the wild. The GPS in mobile devices works perfectly offline, even when the network is nonexistent.

onX also offers users the ability to sync all of their data across devices. You can u se maps when and where you need them; scout from a home desktop and explore with your GPS unit or mobile devices in the field. Compatible with:
  • Desktop & laptop computers
  • Apple & Android smart phones
  • Apple & Android tablets
  • Garmin GPS devices
Sincere thanks goes out to the team over at onX for becoming a new WWA State Donor, be sure to check out their product online or attend our Christmas Bash December 6th for the chance to win a one year subscription!

 
DECEMBER 2018
JANUARY 2019
FEBRUARY 2019

WWA'S 2018 CALENDAR RAFFLE

Thank you to everyone who purchased our 2018 Conservation Calendar! This raffle was again an immensely successful fundraiser for our organization's mission.  

Drawings will be held on the SECOND WEDNESDAY of each month and all drawings will be held at Marsh Inn, 220 S. Hwy W in Reedsville, WI, at 6:00 p.m. The drawing is open to the public and everyone is welcome to attend. 

Winner's results are posted online by noon on the Thursday following the drawing and the month's drawing results can also be obtained by request via email or by calling (262) 968-1722 or writing to PO Box 427, Wales, WI 53183. 
  
Good luck to all who are entered!

WDNR Completes Waterfowl Migration Surveys
In the air counting ducks are DNR Staff, from left to right, Migratory Game Bird Ecologist Biologist Taylor Finger, NE Region Wildlife Manager Josh Martinez and a DNR pilot.
The WDNR completed a fall flight over the east and west shores of the bay of Green Bay last month to count waterfowl that migrated through in November. The count is done by flying at a very low elevation and at the slowest rate of speed possible to still keep the aircraft in the air.

The waterfowl specialists involved actually count the flocks and rafts that they encounter, by species.This is a specialized skill to say the least.

A second flight will be completed in early December.  These counts provide valuable information on migration patterns and certainly satisfies hunters to know how many ducks are actually using the Bay!  Similar flights have been done on the Mississippi River Watershed in the past. Check out the results of the Green Bay survey here and all other current surveys here.
WWA Member Fara Shares His Master Thesis:  Migration Patterns, Habitat Use and Hunter Harvest of Long Tailed Ducks on Lake Michigan
By Luke Fara, Southern Illinois University

The long-tailed duck (Clangula hyemalis; hereafter LTDU) breeds on the arctic tundra
across Alaska and Canada and winters south of the ice edge along the Pacific and Atlantic coasts, as well as on the Great Lakes. Data suggest that LTDU populations are in decline and, as a result, efforts have been made to better understand their population distributions through satellite
telemetry studies. Radio-marked LTDUs from previous studies have shown very little use of Lake Michigan, even though aerial surveys indicate that large concentrations of this species overwinter there. LTDUs using Lake Michigan face a host of conservation issues, such as risk of exposure to type E botulism, bycatch in fishing gear, wind energy development, and a changing
ecosystem.

Using satellite telemetry, I documented migratory routes and habitat use of LTDUs wintering on Lake Michigan.   Read on...

The Decoy CornerRon Koch Decoys
A Ron Koch coot
By Bruce Urben, President

In previous Decoy Corner articles  I have focused on many factory decoy manufacturers as well as those individual carvers that have had an impact on the
wood decoy industry historically. I am changing directions a little and writing about Ron Koch, who has been carving decoys since 1955 and continues to carve today at 79 years of age.
 
Ron Koch Canvasbacks, photo courtesy Muddy Water Decoys
Ron Koch was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1939. His family moved to the small town of Reighmoor on the shores of Lake Butte des Mortes in 1947. Ron has been an avid duck hunter since 1954, rarely missing a day of hunting until 2014. Ron carved his first decoy in 1955 with the help of a neighbor. He routinely visited the decoy carving shop of Gus Nelow (See previous Decoy Corner article) near Oshkosh and used Nelow decoys early for much of his duck hunting.

Ron is married to his wife Connie and raised their four girls at Rivermoor, near the confluence of the Wolf and Fox rivers in Winnebago County.  Ron began carving wooden hunting decoys in large numbers in the 1970's and has completed thousands of them. His carving was influenced by the decoys of Gus Nelow who lived near him in Rivermoor but also learned a lot from carvers Les Beattie and Charley Brisky who also lived in the area.  Ron has been an avid antique decoy collector for some time and is highly respected for his knowledge of most of the Wisconsin carvers.

Ron Koch Buffleheads

Ron is not only a very respected carver, but also a highly successful book writer. He penned the book "Decoys of the Winnebago Lakes" in 1988 after he was frustrated with the lack of published material about the area's historic carvers. During the early 1990's he was a contributing writer for "Decoys Magazine" which many thought brought Winnebago decoys to the national stage. In 1997 he wrote his second book, "Whispering Wings and Wooden blocks". In 2000 he was named field editor of the "Hunting and Fishing Collectibles Magazine" (HFCM) and  penned a back page article titled the "Back Shelf". His third book was titled "Back Shelf", a collection of his articles in HFCM.
 
In 2007, Ron was selected for inclusion in the book, "Sixty Living and Outstanding Carvers of North America" by Loy Harrell. I am happy to say that I have signed copies of all of Ron's books and still enjoy reading his Back Shelf columns in Hunting and Fishing collectibles magazine.
 
A stamp on one of Koch's decoys
Ron carves wooden decoys almost exclusively from cedar and pine. He almost always paints with acrylics and has painted thousands of decoys, including geese, mallards, teal, canvasbacks, scaup, coot and pintail in majority. His style is influenced by Nelow, with a flair of his own. Most of his decoys were carved as working decoys. Most, if not all, of Koch's decoys are stamped with his name and location (Koch Decoys, Rivermoor, Omro, Wis). Ron is still carving, although you may be waiting a while for one of his decoys if you ordered one today.  However, there are still a number of his decoys on the secondary market. I was fortunate recently to pick up a Ron Koch, hen, Blue wing teal on a Michigan decoy auction. His decoys have been selling for the $200-300 range in recent guides (Collector Guides to Decoys, book 2 by Huxford), but are available locally in the $100-200 range.

Bruce's Koch Decoy

Ron's coot decoys are probably the most sought after examples of his work to date. Ron is another example of a Wisconsin Original!  You can meet Ron at the Wisconsin Decoy Collector Show in Oshkosh at the Hilton Inn in March. He has been a routine vendor at that show for many years.
 
As always consult a reputable decoy collector or dealer to confirm condition and carver before you purchase.
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