SPENCER TINKHAM
Spencer won Best of Show -Youth Division - 2008 Ward World Championship

When did you start?
I live in Norfolk, Va. I hunt the lower Eastern Shore, and Back Bay. I built tree forts with the kids who lived near me, and one kid got a swiss army knife. I was SO amazed of what he could do with it. I got a regular old pocket knife. I went to a few duck shows (the big ones they used to have in Virginia Beach) and I bought the wood that I now would either burn, or throw away (scrap.) A plumber left a hacksaw at our house, and just said we could keep it. Between that and my pocket knife, I carved miniatures out of scrap wood. I would throw out corn off the pier and get hundreds of divers, some widgeon, and pintail. I would carve a block into a duck that I saw in front of me. I first made soap carvings, then a mallard out of balsa. It was my first duck I carved. That mallard was the last thing that I took when I last saw my grandfather before he passsed away because of cancer. He was the one who really encouraged me to carve, hunt and be outside. So that mallard really means a lot to me.

A few years later my dad said I should make some gunners, because it would be cool to "fool ducks" with decoys my hands made. I made a ruddy duck and a bufflehead. I never shot or saw a ruddy, so I painted it in the wrong plumage with that neon bill! I didn't want to embarass myself using it, so it is mint. It's round bottomed, but I carved a round keel to fit it! I didn't know better, it is also the size of a mallard.

Favorite specie to hunt?
DEFINITELY SWAN - its unbelievable. If you haven't hunted swan you're missing out big time. It is like hunting deer out of a water blind with your mouth to call them, and only one chance to get one.

Most memorable win?
Well to me I win when I am out hunting in a blind, or just looking at ducks come into my spread whether I have a gun or not. I think that my first bird - huge drake blackduck- was a great day.

Favorite Show?
Old Va Beach show, now probably Rappahannock Show (I haven't been to many, but I loved Rappahannock)

Who started you - mentor(s)?
I am kind of self taught, but Mr. Whetzel really helped me by sending me cut-outs, and different sketches of where I should hollow and carve. I think that even though it is hard to learn by looking at lines and finding out on your own, I think that it really benefited me in the end. He is a VERY nice man.

Favorite medium? (Type of wood and paint)
For me and my gunners/competition birds juniper/cypress and Wal-mart paints. For customers, juniper and Golden, JoSonjas, or Benjamin Moore. Wal-mart works fine for me, but customers don't like it, so I use the good stuff with them. By the time I ever find myself repainting my decoys I think I should either retire the decoys or use a different paint pattern I like more.

What are you working on now? Future plans?
Six woodies, 6 GWT, 2 cormorant, spoonbill, hairyhead (hooded), 12 burlap swan, 12 baldpate, a full size flying swan, some dove/pidgeon decoys, and some divers for myself when I get around to it. Oh, and teaching my brother how to carve decoys on his own. Future plans - I'd like to make 12 brant to use.

Favorite style of carving ( Decorative, antique, gunners, IWCA, shorebird)
Gunners for myself to use.

If you could add three birds to your collection, what specie and from whom?
Three birds - this is really tough - I'd have to go with a '36 Ward blackduck, Dudley ruddy, and a Cameron McIntyre deadhang or standing blackduck. Carvers I'd have to say I appreciate are the real old timers who made decoys so different and with some reasons or tricks that we can still can try to find out why and learn from today. I hope someone can pick up a teal of mine in 100 yrs and appreciate it.

Most difficult part of carving in your mind?
I hope no one takes this in the wrong way, but I don't really think anything is difficult IF you spend enough time practicing and finding your "groove" and what fits you. I can spend 5 years carving the best bird of my life that is really detailed, or a couple days making a gunner that will work for me. I guess my answer would be for myself and maybe others, it is finding and accepting what is wrong, and investing the time into fixing it. I always say, its just a gunner it won't matter, but you have to make it matter to get better, and to TRULY be pleased with your birds. That is my weak spot.

Inspiration?
Watching (not always shooting) ducks drop from up high into my rig. I like getting the personal satisfaction of hunting with my decoys, and I like feeling like I can almost go back in time hunting with traditional wooden decoys.
I like how pintail drop, blackheads swing, cans lock their wings, and I love every part about a blackduck.

Name 5-10 essentials for carving
Good straight blade knife (Bob Barts)
Bandsaw
Radio/iPod!
Ruler
Spokeshave
Hatchet
Lead
Screws/glue
A dead bird of that species (I think is one, if not the most important, tool)
Drill press/hand drill