Charles McCoy

While Charles McCoy’s birth and death dates remaln a mystery, it has been estimated that he carved during the early 1900’s. He worked at the Island Beach Life Saving Station as a member of the Life Saving Service. Apparently, McCoy did not produce a large output of decoys, but the birds he carved demonstrate characteristics typical of the Tuckerton school. A few black duck and scaup, some miniatures and several pairs of green-winged teal provide the only tangible reference to his work. It is interesting to note that on each bird, the bill has a groove carved into it that extends from the center of the bill forward.