Decoy Carving, Tradition & Creativity: Inside the Work of Josh Brewer (Ep 783)

Decoy carving lives at the intersection of hunting, history, and personal expression.

In this episode, host Katie Burke sits down with Josh Brewer, decoy carver, at the North American Decoy Collectors Association show — a unique gathering where hotel rooms turn into galleries, workshops, and meeting spaces for collectors and artists alike.

The conversation explores what it means to make decoys today: balancing tradition with innovation, function with form, and personal creativity with the expectations of collectors. Josh shares how his work has evolved, why simplifying design can be harder than adding detail, and how spending time around real birds continues to shape his craft.

They also dig into the process behind building full decoy rigs, the importance of movement and realism on the water, and why carving remains deeply rooted in experience rather than just technique.

Along the way, Josh reflects on learning as an artist, raising kids in the craft, and why passing along knowledge matters just as much as producing great work.

This episode offers an authentic look at the mindset behind modern decoy carving — and why it remains one of the most meaningful connections between hunters and waterfowl.

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