ROSS DECOYS
Eastern Shore of Virginia
~ Traditional Gunning Style Decoys ~
Ducks and Shorebirds
P.G. Ross grew up gunning waterfowl on marshes and waters of the Eastern Shore. Using and admiring hand-made wooden decoys inspired him to start whittling in his mid-teens. Today, he makes decoys using traditional tools and techniques that are based on the characteristics of live birds. However, their form has been strongly influenced by both past and modern carvers who fashion birds in the gunning tradition.
Carving a duck body with a drawknife using a "shaving horse" to secure the piece (constructed based on a pattern given him by Pete Peterson)
CONTACT US:
P.G. Ross
phone: 757-442-3546
email: rossdecoys@msn.com
Decoys "Hot Off the Bench"
(click pics for larger image)
Dipper (bufflehead), 2012
Black-bellied Plover, 2012
Kingfisher, 2012
Willet, 2012
High Head Surf Scoter, 2011
Drake Hairy Head (old-school tack eye), 2011
See recent spot in the March/April issue of "Hunting and Fishing Collectibles" Magazine on an Eastern Shore Whistler (Goldeneye) decoy by P.G.!
We often make decoys "to order" so customers get exactly what they want. So...custom orders are encouraged. For more info on How to Buy a decoy, click here.
We also have decoys for sale at the gift shop of the Barrier Islands Center in Machipongo, Virginia. This facility celebrates the rich history of the Eastern Shore's barrier islands and their people and culture. A portion of the proceeds from these decoys goes to support the Center.
We specifically designed two old-style decoys for the Barrier Islands Center in the spirit of exploring our fowling heritage:
Tack-eye curlew based on a decoy from the Wallop's Island Gun Club
"Flattie" yellowlegs with a rusty nail for a bill