LA CONNER — It was a long and at times tedious and difficult process. Then again, nobody said carving a brant goose from a solid block of cedar was going to be easy.

Yet, Eric Flones of Mount Vernon, Duke LeVan of Everett, Tom Kelley of Anacortes, and Ron and Buck Kilby of Bow teamed with master carver Tom Newell to make carving the decoys for a prestigious competition a fun, outdoorsmen-bonding experience.

The group reaped the rewards of those long evenings sawing, gouging, sanding, puttying, drilling, gluing, painting and floating their decoys at Newell’s shop in La Conner.

The group’s completed decoys did well at the Chesapeake Challenge, a competition that is part of the Chesapeake Wildfowl Expo.

The decoys were judged as working decoys alongside those made by other carvers from throughout the country.

Newell not only accompanied the decoys to the East Coast, he judged other’s entries. His students’ work, however, stood out.

Ron Kilby’s brant returned from the competition draped in first-place ribbons. It took first in the open class, then received another pair of blue ribbons in the instructors competition.

Ron Kilby was philosophical about the ribbons.

“I really don’t care about those (ribbons),” he said. “It was getting to that point that was important. We had such a good time. Honestly, I didn’t really think it would be that fun.”

And learning from such an esteemed carver?

“He’s as good a teacher as he is carver,” said Ron Kilby. “He really showed us the way. He was so good about making it perfectly clear that these were our birds. If we thought we were done sanding in a couple of hours, that was fine with him. If it took a month, that was fine too. It was always up to us.”

Ron Kilby’s 14-year-old son Buck had a solid showing as well. His brant took first in the youth division and first among all species of geese.

By garnering top honors in the youth division, Buck Kilby was moved into the adult division where he finished second to his father. He also earned a second-place ribbon in the instructors competition.

“I am really proud of him,” said Ron Kilby. “He’s really picky about the things he does. Now he’s learned something he can do the rest of his life. He definitely wants to do more and I expect him to continue to advance in the hobby.

“A big reason why was this group. They treated Buck just like one of the guys and not like a kid. I wouldn’t trade the time I spent with these guys for anything. They are just a great group and I hope we continue to carve as a group. It was just a fantastic experience. I loved every minute of it.”

Buck Kilby said he was surprised when he found out how well he did. He received the news while on an antelope hunt in Montana.

“I thought I had a shot at doing pretty well, but I can’t believe we all did as well as we did,” he said. “This group obviously has a lot of talent.

“Tom (Newell) was great. He really guided all of us. He is so good with the details. He’s just amazing.”

Flones completed the sweep for the group by taking third in the open division and receiving a third-place instructors award.

“It went really well,” said Flones. “Honestly, I was just happy to be involved. It was a great opportunity to learn from a real master and it was good to get some national exposure.”

Newell was one of 12 professional carvers chosen by the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art to teach students how to carve and paint working decoys.

The National Endowment for the Arts provided the funding to help preserve and promote the decoy carving traditions of the United States.

The NEA covered the professional carvers’ instructor fees and stipends for materials.

The students, meanwhile, had the opportunity to learn how to craft a functional hunting decoy from a professional carver at no cost.

Flones said he would participate in the program again.

“Absolutely,” he said. “I’d love to have the chance to do it again. I imagine with this exposure, there are going to be a lot of folks wanting to get involved.”

Flones plans to enter his brant it other competitions and eventually plans to give it to his wife.

Kelley has already carved another decoy.

“This just makes me want to do more,” he said. “And to keep on doing it. I already have another decoy done and a whole bunch in the works.”

This time of the year, however, carvers become hunters.

“It’s duck season,” Kelley said with a wide smile. “It’s time to sweep up the sawdust and get out in the field.”

One decoy that won’t be bobbing in the water is Flones’.

“I’m not going to take it out (hunting),” said Flones. “It doesn’t need any holes in it. It’s going to sit on a shelf where I can look back on the experience and remember all I learned and the great time I had.”

And that’s just fine with Newell. After all, those transformed blocks of cedar always belonged to the carvers.

“I couldn’t be prouder of this group,” said Newell. “They all did very well and are just a great group of guys. Their decoys got a lot of compliments from all the other judges. They probably received more than any other group. They all carved great birds. It was really neat to see them progress. And what is really great is that they are all continuing to carve.”

Vince Richardson can be reached at 360-416-2181 or by e-mail at .