Bill Enright Decoys

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 William " Bill" T. Enright lived from 1913 to 1979. He spent
much of his time hunting on the perimeters of Lake Erie
and carving working decoys. Few of his birds were
carved from wood; he preferred to work with cork. The
pine heads of the decoys remain durable and represent
content and alert attitudes. Enright also carved the
heads in a variety of positions to portray the activities of
birds at ease on the water. Using a rasp, Enright textured
the surfaces of the heads and detailed the sturdy bills
with nostrils, nails and mandible separations. Enright did
not apply this much surface detail to the rest of the
bodies however, and carved only a hint of feathers
across the wings.

 Enright produced a fair range of species including black
ducks, bluebills, canvasbacks, geese, mallards, pintails
and redheads. He sold these decoys commercially
between the 1930's and 1960's. During this period,
Enright entered the 1948 National Decoy Makers contest
in New York City. Instead of carving special decoys for
the competition, Enright randomly selected working
decoys from his own rig and ended up winning several
prizes, including First prize and Third prize, and beating
the likes of Shang Wheeler and the Ward brothers.
Though competing won him national recognition, he felt
that the combination of competition, judging and prizes
lured sportsmen away from the original intent of carving.
To retain his own integrity, Enright ceased entering
contests, but continued carving until his death.

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  A Great Cork Over Wood Painted Drake Mallard Decoy

With A Wooden Head Made & Signed By Bill Enright

(William T. Enright) Of Toledo, Ohio.

 It placed in the Professional Hand Made Class.

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Signed Cans Matched Pair

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 Matched pair of Cans

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All wood carved Hen Canvasback 

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Have size all wood decorative standing Canvasback



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 Pintail Drake

 Pintail rig



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Match Pair Of Blue Bills

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Rare Oversized Decoys

 (standard size decoys in background for size comparison)

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This Pair of cork body mallards are wonderful examples of the masterful work of Bill Enright.

This pair are in great condition and feature a lowhead hen with remarkable style. The drake has raised wing areas.

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All Wood Carved Drake Mallard. Enright did not make a lot of all wood carved decoys

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 Mallard

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 Low Head Hen

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 Fiberglass proto-type

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  Unfinished Carved Head

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Competition Grade Canvasback Decoy Head

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 Black Duck 

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Detailed Decorative Black Duck

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 Competition Decorative Heads

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Bill Enright / Tom Restle Combo Foam/Carved Wood Heads Proto-type Mallards

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These mallard drake heads are actually half heads, and where made by Bill .

Enright carved the molds and made this piece's late in his decoy career, to be used on a plaque's. They are molded fiberglass with a wood core, realistically painted and made in association with "Doc" Godie (see Decoy Magazine, Jan/Feb, 2008.) 

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Life Size Goose

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 Matched Pair of Bluebills

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 Strange Painted Drake Mallard 

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Carved Canvasback Stained Head

w/Carved Eyes 

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 Unfinished Early (Various Stages)

 Pintail Heads

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 Mini -Unfinished Canvasback body

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Unfinished Early (Various Stages)

Mallard/Blackduck Heads

Unfinished Early (Various Stages)

Canvasback Heads

 Unfinished Blue Bill Half Head 

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Unfinished Early (Various Stages)

Goose Heads

 Unfinished - (2 Different Stages)

Bufflehead Heads

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 Drake Mallard head constructed out of metal.

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 1860 Blue Bill Decoy used on the Maumee River .

 Hand noted by Enright on the bottom (see pics)

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Full size decoy heads: 

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Unfinished heads with carved eyes 

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RE-Paint by Enright: Hand noted by Enright on the bottom (see pics)

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This great antique decoy was made by Walter Bailey, a punter (guide) at the Long Point Company, Ontario, Canada

(see Barney Crandell's Decoying--St. Clair to the St. Lawrence, p. 80 and 89).

The Walter Bailey decoy below was repainted by Enright

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Matched Mallard "Oversized" (Marsh -no keel) Pair

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Black Duck "Oversized" (Marsh -no keel) rig

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Signed & Dated Match pair of Canvasbacks

ca. 1940

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Signed & Dated Drake Mallard  ca. 1940

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 Signed & Dated Low Head Hen Mallard  ca. 1940

No Keel " Limited Marsh version"

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Signed & Dated Black Duck  ca. 1940

 All efforts have been made to make Enright  information accurate but it is not 100% guaranteed.

This collectors website is a work in progess as we will update new information on the History of Enright Decoys as we obtain new items/facts. If you have any information on Enright Decoys please contact us at: info@restledecoys.com Thanks !