About

My name is Jeff Van Brookhoven. I started Susquehanna Decoys LLC with a love of decoy collecting.

I realize we collect decoys for many different reasons. Some enjoy the hunt or discovering a new acquisition while others enjoy the decoy collecting community and all the collectors we meet. Others collect with a self-obligation to capture and document history by doing research and expanding knowledge on the actual artifacts themselves. Some collectors love the ducks and geese and the waterfowl hunting lifestyle, while others have never hunted a day in their life. What amazes me the most is that all these different types of people can come together and be honest and fair to each other while mentoring and interacting with each other enjoying the common interest.

This site is designed for many purposes and hopefully will fill a small gap in the decoy collecting community. This site is designed to buy, sell, and trade decoys, while providing information with articles, news, and updates including links to help the experienced collector and the inexperienced collector alike.

Whether you’re a new collector or an experienced collector, I urge everyone to join a club, attend events, and find a mentor you can trust. Remember it’s not about the biggest names or the Google search that comes up first. Learn to trust an expert and ask around if you need help.

I have been collecting for over 25 years and have a self-set of rules. If you choose to follow these guidelines, collecting decoys will be kept in perspective and be more enjoyable for everyone. I have learned many things while building a decoy collection. The people I trust and enjoy interacting with the most all follow the same rules and have hopefully made the hobby more fun!

Rules:

Never lose a friend or make an enemy over a decoy. They are simply wood and can be replaced, friends cannot.

Research your purchases thoroughly. Find a trustworthy mentor and lean on them. These people are worth their weight in gold!

Buy the best you can afford but enjoy what you buy. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Ward decoy or an Animal Trap decoy as there is value in all of them. Value is what you place on them.

Be a steward of the community. Share your knowledge and mentor new collectors. Always be respectful, fair, and honest in every transaction.

Finally, remember, we are only a temporary keeper of each piece.