Frequently Asked Questions
Click on a question to find the answer.
How long
have you been carving?
How do I order a carving?
How do I know if an item is
available immediately, from the web?
Are all of your custom calls and
birds "one of a kind, originals"?
Can I order a "special" carving, just
to my specifications?
Do you carve on calls made by someone
else?
Where can I see your work? Do you have
a gallery somewhere?
Where is your studio?
How long does it take to make a call?
How long does it take to make a bird?
When I order a carving, when will I
receive it?
How long have you been
carving?
I have been carving since I was a teenager, about thirty eight years.
Please look at my "Who is Kent" page, for
more biographical information.
How do I order a carving?
Ordering is easy. Please click on the
"Ordering" button on the
"Wildfowl Carvings and Calls" home page.
How do I know if an item
is available immediately, from the web?
Any item that is available for immediate purchase is marked
*new* . For
example, on the "Duck Call" page, go to
"New Calls". Most of the carvings pictured in the galleries have
already been sold. The images are shown as examples of my work. Just
email me at quackz@ldd.net or telephone me
at 573-888-1169, if you have a question about availability.
Are all of your custom
calls and birds "one of a kind, originals"?
Yes! I don't have any capability, or desire, to make duplicates of
my calls, or birds. I sometimes redo a successful pattern, but I use the
pattern as a general guideline to start a carving. The carving is all done
by hand, so I don't duplicate, exactly, any of my prior works. There will
not be another carving exactly like yours, ever!
Can I order a "special"
carving, just to my specifications?
Yes! That's the type of work I enjoy doing the most. Special
orders, made to your wishes, are what I want to do. I do my best work in
those situations. Signatures, Initials, Company Logo's, Personal
Photographs, are just a few of the items I regularly incorporate onto a call.
You can either request a specific theme for a call, or a certain pose for a
bird, or just let me use my imagination. You have that choice!
Do you carve on calls
made by someone else?
Of course. If you have a wood or ivory call made by someone else,
and want me to carve on it, I would be delighted to talk to you about it.
Just email me at quackz@ldd.net or telephone
me at 573-888-1169 and we'll discuss your wishes.
Where can I see your
work? Do you have a gallery somewhere?
I don't have a gallery anywhere. All of my work is sold from my
studio. The images on the web page are the easiest way to see my carvings.
Or, any of my customers would be glad to show you one. Just email me at
quackz@ldd.net or telephone me at
573-888-1169 and I'll let you know if there is a call or bird in a collection
near you, and I'll help arrange a meeting with my customer so you can see a
carving, personally.
Where is your studio?
My studio is in my home, in Kennett, Missouri. If you are in
the area, let me know, and come on by.
How long does it take to
make a call? How about a bird?
Carving is a process that requires a great deal of time and patience.
Carving a call takes less time than carving a bird. Plain calls don't
require an inordinate amount of time to make. A plain duck call can be
turned in an hour. "Finishing" takes a while, depending on the finish you
desire. A plain "hunting" turkey call will take several hours to build.
A completely decorated game call generally takes a week or two to complete.
The time required to complete a bird carving varies greatly, too. A
"slick" decoy takes a few days to carve, and another few days to paint.
The painting can be done in a couple of hours, if you want a honest-to-goodness
hunting decoy. I like to paint decoys so they look alive, and that takes a
few days. I plan at least a month of work when I start working on a small
"realistic" bird, and at least six weeks for a medium sized decorative duck.
The amount of surface area is the key variable, in all carving.
When I order a carving,
when will I receive it? What is the usual waiting time?
I keep a list of orders. The length of the list varies from time to
time. Of course, if you order a carving marked
*new* it will be shipped
immediately, upon receipt of your payment. If you place an order for a
custom made call or bird carved "just for you", then your order will go on the
list. We will be talking about the commissioned piece, when you order, and
you will have a good idea when it will be finished. The usual waiting time
for an order is only a few months, but that depends on when you really want to
receive it. That is, if you want a call for a special occasion, like
Christmas, or a birthday or anniversary, I will do everything I can to
accommodate your wish.
