Zach Benson: Duck Decoy Carver
The world of waterfowl hunting gets smaller the closer you look at the people who shape its culture. Among duck decoy carvers, the group of artists working at the highest level is even smaller.
Zach Benson belongs in that company.
Based in upstate New York, Benson is known throughout the waterfowl community for carving one-of-a-kind decoys that blur the line between hunting tools and fine art. Each bird begins with cedar trees harvested from his own property. The wood is milled and stacked in his barn where it dries for nearly a year before the carving begins. From there every detail—from the posture of the bird to the layers of oil paint—is done by hand.
The result is a decoy that feels alive.
The Art of Hand Carved Duck Decoys
Many duck decoy carvers begin the same way Benson did: by necessity. While still in college he wanted a spread of decoys to hunt over, but couldn’t afford one. So he started carving his own.
What began as a practical solution slowly turned into a craft.
Over time his work developed a distinct style. Benson’s birds rarely sit in the stiff, symmetrical poses common in competitive carving. Instead they feel animated—often caught mid-movement, heads turned, bodies leaning forward as if reacting to something happening on the water.
They have attitude.
It’s a style that collectors immediately recognize.
Why Zach Benson’s Decoys Stand Out
Early on Benson competed in major carving shows like the Clayton Decoy Show and the Oregon Waterfowl Festival. These competitions are famous in the decoy world, but they also come with strict judging rules.
For Benson, those rules quickly became limiting.
Instead of chasing ribbons, he decided to focus on carving birds the way he saw them in real life—ducks with personality, movement, and a little bit of edge. Today he still attends the Clayton show each year, but not to compete. Like many respected carvers, he simply brings new work and shows it informally to collectors moving from room to room.
It’s a very different kind of marketplace.
If you want one of his birds, you usually have to be paying attention.
Duck Hunting, Art, and Waterfowl Culture
Decoy carving has always lived at the intersection of hunting and folk art. The best decoys are functional, but they also carry the personality of the person who carved them.
Benson’s work fits squarely in that tradition.
His birds are hunted over, collected, and displayed by people who appreciate the deeper culture of waterfowl hunting. The same culture that wakes hunters before daylight, pushes canoes through marsh grass, and keeps traditions alive across generations.
Photographing Zach in his shop felt like documenting that entire world in miniature—the smell of cedar shavings, the quiet focus of carving, and the transformation of a block of wood into something that looks ready to swim.
Related Work
If you’re interested in waterfowl culture and duck hunting photography, you may also want to see:
The short film “Carved in the Chapel” we produced with Benelli about Zach Benson and his life in the waterfowl world.
Famous duck decoy carver Zach Benson
Zach Benson at work in his shop painting duck decoys
Benson with his dog Bo, waterfowl hunting in a marsh in Upstate, NY
One of a kind duck decoys
Hand carved and painted duck decoys
