StortzArt

Photo by Mark Miller

All of the birds I carve are gunning decoys.  I've been carving for 43 years.  After graduating from Art in 1972 I moved to the eastern seaboard and took up marine carpentry.  While living and working in Maine I was exposed to wonderful waterfowling traditions.  It was there that I learned to build my on duck boats, which I do to this day.  I am currently working on a 16 ft. big water boat.  My home and shop are located on what was 37 acres of worn out farm ground south of Montrose.  We re-established old wetlands and started a prairie grass restoration project back in 2001.  I am currently President of Minnesota Decoy and Wildfowl Carvers, and hold the 2 yr. V.P. position for Minnesota Waterfowl Association.  I carve both cork and wood decoys.  All the wood birds I carve from cedar and pine that I harvest in northern Minnesota.  The high-headed Goldeneye, Ringneck, hen Redhead, and Mallards are carved from cedar and the Greater Scaup is carved out of white pine.