Paul Brisco on Decoy Collecting, Duck Hunting & Canadian Waterfowl History (Ep 798)
Every decoy has a story, and some of those stories stretch back more than a century.
Host Katie Burke sits down with longtime collector, outdoorsman, and former Ducks Unlimited Canada volunteer leader Paul Brisco at the North American Decoy Collectors Show for a conversation about decoy history, waterfowling traditions, and a lifetime spent preserving pieces of North America's hunting heritage.
Paul shares how a chance encounter with a $40 decoy sparked a collecting journey that has lasted more than four decades. Along the way, he discusses the regional differences found in Canadian decoys, the connection between hunting and collecting, his long involvement with Ducks Unlimited Canada, and why hands-on learning remains one of the most important parts of the decoy community. The conversation also explores how hunting traditions, conservation efforts, and decoy craftsmanship have evolved over generations while remaining closely tied to waterfowl and wetlands.
Topics Covered
- How Paul Brisco got started collecting decoys
- Waterfowl hunting traditions in Ontario
- Early involvement with Ducks Unlimited Canada
- Regional differences in Canadian decoy carving
- How form and function shaped decoy design
- Market hunting, conservation, and changing waterfowl traditions
- The importance of decoy shows and collector communities
- Why collecting remains connected to hunting heritage
Listen now: www.ducks.org/DUPodcast
Send feedback: DUPodcast@ducks.org
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