Dorchester County MD Wooden Goose Decoy

A big solid body wooden goose decoy. Made on Hoopers Island and attributed to the Tolley family. In old gunning paint. Has a neck crack as shown. Shows lots of wear from many years of use. Has a lead pad weight on the bottom. A true piece of Eastern Shore folk art from the Chesapeake Bay. 
 
The “Tolley family goose” refers to wooden Canada goose decoys crafted by the Tolley family of Hooper’s Island, Maryland. These decoys are highly collectible examples of Chesapeake Bay waterfowling folk art, often dating back to the early 20th century.  
Background on the Tolley Family Goose Decoys
Origin: The Tolley family lived on Hooper’s Island in Dorchester County, Maryland, a region famous for its waterfowling traditions.  Their goose decoys were typically large, solid-bodied carvings, often made from repurposed wood such as telephone poles or mast spars.  
They feature carved eyes, heavy bodies, and lead pad weights for stability in water. Many show neck cracks from years of use, which is common in old working decoys.  
Some of the most notable examples were made in the 1920s by Calvert and Will Tolley, who were photographed with large hauls of ducks in the classic waterfowling book The Outlaw Gunner.  
These decoys are considered true pieces of Eastern Shore folk art, representing the hunting culture of the Chesapeake Bay.  
- Auction & Sale Prices:  
  - A Tolley family goose decoy has sold at auction for $76 (with a neck crack, showing wear).  
Goose decoys like those of the Tolley family were not just art—they were functional tools for hunting waterfowl in the Chesapeake Bay’s storied gunning culture.  
Today, they serve as symbols of Maryland’s heritage, blending utility with craftsmanship. Collectors and museums often seek them out as part of preserving waterfowling history.  
 
In short: The “Tolley family goose” is a collectible wooden Canada goose decoy carved by the Tolley family of Hooper’s Island, Maryland. It embodies both the artistry and hunting traditions of the Chesapeake Bay and remains a valued piece of American folk art.