Natural Resource Director and Commissioners Receive Fish Decoys

The Michigan Natural Resource Commission convened in Cadillac for their two-day meeting on May 6-7.  On Thursday, Commissioner Bob Garner who lives in Cadillac, presented each of the Commissioners and new DNR Director Becky Humphries with a “Cadillac Style” fish decoy carved by local fish decoy carver, Ross Willis.  Commissioner Garner is a strong supporter of the Michigan heritage of spearing through the ice. 

     Jim Szabo of McBain gave a presentation on the rich history of fishing and spearing of the Cadillac area.  Cadillac is famous for being the hometown of fish decoy carver Oscar Peterson (11-14-87/10-07-51). 

     At the Guyette & Schmidt annual spring decoy auction in St. Charles, Illinois, an Oscar Peterson 15.5 inch pike fish decoy sold for a record $19,800.  Peterson carved between 10,000 and 15,000 decoys during his lifetime.