Chesapeake Bay Decoys & the Craftsmen Who Shaped Waterfowling History (Ep 757) — Ducks Unlimited Podcast

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The Chesapeake Bay is home to some of the richest decoy and waterfowling traditions in North America — and today’s guest, Chad Tragakis, is one of its most passionate historians.

Chad is a longtime decoy collector, writer, editor for Decoy Magazine, and a respected storyteller of the makers, clubs, boats, and communities that built the decoy culture along the Atlantic Flyway. Host Katie Burke sits down with Chad for a wide-ranging conversation that explores the origins of collecting, the legacy of iconic craftsmen, and the unique waterman traditions that still shape the region today.

In this episode:

How a $20 scoter decoy started Chad’s lifelong passion
The foundational books every new collector should read
Chesapeake Bay as the “decoy capital of the world”
Sink boxes, sporting yachts, and the golden era of upper-bay gunning
Why the region produced tens of thousands of working decoys
Haver de Grace vs. Northeast River styles — what sets them apart
How form, tradition, and community shape regional carving
Charlie Joiner’s legacy & what he learned from Mitchell and the Ward Brothers
The culture of shop visits, mentorship, and generational knowledge
Advice for beginning collectors & why building a library matters
The importance of preserving working decoys as American folk art

This episode is a celebration of craftsmanship, history, and the people who keep America’s decoy tradition alive.

Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org

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