The Cree hunters of James Bay originally used the
life-sized
tamarack birds as decoys during their annual spring and fall
hunts. Made from the tamarack (larch) tree, the tamarack bird
represents the Canada Goose. The hole in it's head symbolizes
the white patch on the head of the Canadian Goose.
The
core of the body is composed of a ball of twigs and the outer part
is shaped into a goose. You will notice the fragrance of the
tamarack tree, if the birds is stored in a hot dry place, but the
aroma will eventually leave the bird as it dries out. To
revive the fragrance, submerge the bird in hot water for
approximately ten minutes. You may repeat this procedure as
often as you wish.
This dying part of the James Bay Cree tradition was revived in
1968 by Mr. John Blueboy of Moose Factory, Ontario. Mr.
Blueboy came up with the idea of making miniature birds to sell as
souvenirs or gifts. Since then, the Cree living in the James
Bay region have taken up the art.
Most of our supply comes from a master tamarack maker who has been making tamarack geese for 40 years. He makes the beautiful three-legged style standing geese that are proportional in shape. Standing Goose Decoys
Order Code |
Description |
Height, from the
top of head measured straight down |
Body Circumference |
Body Length, from base of head to tip of tail |
Price |
R-106-01 |
X-Small Tamarack
Goose |
~4.5" to 6" |
~8.5" to 10" |
~4.25" to 4.75" |
Buy on NaturalExotics.com |
R-106-02 |
Small Tamarack
Goose |
~5" to 5.75" |
~9" to 9.5" |
~5" to 5.5" |
R-106-03 |
Medium
Tamarack Goose |
~5.5" to 6.5" |
~9" to 11" |
~5.25" to 5.5" |
R-106-04 |
Large Tamarack
Goose |
~6.5" to 7.5" |
~11" to 12" |
~6" to 7" |
R-106-05 |
X-Large Tamarack
Goose |
~7" to 8.5" |
~11.5" to 13" |
~6.5" to .5" |
R-106-Gxx |
Tamarack Goose:Gallery |
Buy on NaturalExotics.com |
Fliers
Order Code |
Description |
Size |
Price |
R-106-F-S |
Small Tamarack Goose
Flier |
~16" wing span measured straight from tip to tip |
Buy on NaturalExotics.com |
R-106-F-M |
Medium Tamarack Goose Flier |
~22" wing span measured straight from tip to tip
~9" long from tip of head to tip of tail |
Life-Size Tamarack Geese
Order Code |
Description |
Price |
R-106-06 |
Life-Size
Tamarack
Goose |
Buy on NaturalExotics.com |
R-106-F-LS |
Life-Size Tamarack Goose
Flier |
Genus and species: Larix laricina. Wild.
Native Made in Canada
|