What's new this month and Purpose
New This Month:
New additions for the Month of May:
In the month of May, Just4decoys will be featuring one of the great Cecil County, Maryland Carvers, Leonard Pryor. Leonard Pryor's decoys are rare and diligently sought after by Upper Bay decoy collectors. (Found under "Monthly Featured Decoy")
Featured also are various pictures of John Graham decoys. These examples of one of the Great Upper Chesapeake Bay carvers can be seen on the "John Graham" page.
Just4decoys has also added an announcement page for a listing of up-coming decoy related events.
Please Enjoy!!
Purpose:
The purpose of this web site is to research and study Upper Bay Decoys and the men who carved them. Although many facts stated in this ongoing research have been proven throughout the years or have been documented by the old carvers personally or by people who personally knew them, the opinions expressed on this web site are just that, opinions. This hobby and it's research is ongoing as anyone who has studied decoys can tell you, "You never know everything, there is something to be learned everytime you look at a decoy" In stating this, we welcome all input and opinions as to the identification of the decoys and their makers. Please send all comments to just2decoys@aol.com
Pictures provided on this site are taken by me personally or given to me for the purpose of study by fellow collectors. Some collectors prefer to remain anonymous, but credit will be given to collectors who wish to have their names listed. 
I hope you enjoy this site and will return frequently to see what is new and changing. I update the site monthly with new found facts. The category "Monthly Featured Decoy" will feature a different decoy with identification and history every month. This is usually updated on the last week of every month.
The Fish decoy category is exciting. I have been personally interested in Fish Decoys since I witnessed 
a Native American pulling a homemade wooden sled across a snowy lake in Northern Minnesota on a winter's day in the early 1960s. I saw him cut a hole in the ice, put down pine branches on which he then put himself. He then set his hand carved wooden decoy in the water and played it like a Marionette. He then raised his iron spear and thrust it into the water, pulling out a giant Northern. Information on these great decoys is limited and the study is unlimited and exciting. Any information is helpful and welcome.
A word of advice to new collectors:
I stay away from known fakes, forgeries, new made to look old, restorations, recently reheaded decoys and reproductions. These items have their collectors and place, but I prefer not to knowingly list or show these on this site. I do list and picture old decoys that have good honest gunning repaint because these were never made to sit on a shelf, they were made for use and repainted accordingly by the men who used them. This is a vital part of their history.