Ira Hudson, Red Breasted Merganser Hen, ca. 1920

Ira Hudson (1873 - 1949), Chincoteague, VA.

A very rare early special order by Hudson, used by some hunters for spring sport shooting since red breasted mergansers were hard to hit and hard to cook. The decoy is in all original paint, including the vivid red bill and tack eyes, a scarce color on Chincoteague which Ira obtained from the local fire department. The thin body, long paddle tail and carved teeth are a tour-de-force even for Hudson.

The beak was restored, leaving the line where the beak meets the head straighter than other Hudson decoys.