MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Oct. 9, 2020 - Ducks Unlimited added three new world-class exhibits at the Waterfowling Heritage Center (WHC) inside Bass Pro Shops at the Memphis Pyramid.

On display through September 2021 are Doug Miller&squo;s decorative palm frond decoys, Mike Lewis&squo; Arkansas duck calls and Jeff Churan&squo;s tip-up style decoys.

"We are pleased to offer three great new collections for visitors to enjoy,&dquo; said DU Waterfowling Heritage Center Manager Katie Burke. "These exhibits represent some of the best functional waterfowl art preserved today and are wonderful additions to our museum.&dquo;

Doug and Ellen Miller of Denver, Colo., are lifelong supporters of decorative decoy carving, and their palm frond decoy collection is unique. Carving decoys from palm fronds began in the marshes of California as an affordable decoy option in the early 1930&squo;s. In 1995, the Pacific Southwest Wildfowl Arts Open brought the palm frond decoy into carving competition.

Duck call collector and author Mike Lewis of White Hall, Ark., began studying Arkansas duck calls and carvers in the early 1990s. Since then, Lewis has assembled a 2,000-call collection complete with extensive research. A 300-call sample of his collection is on display in the WHC, representing the rich waterfowling history of Arkansas. Many of the displayed calls are featured in Lewis&squo; book Calling the Wild.

Jeff Churan owns the largest-known collection of tip-up style duck decoys. Tip-up decoys replicate feeding ducks, and this style is still popular with hunters even today. Churan began collecting tip-up decoys after receiving one as a gift from a fellow hunter and has collected more than 400 decoys in this style. Select decoys from this collection are now on display at the WHC.

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Ducks Unlimited Inc. is the world's largest nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving North America's continually disappearing waterfowl habitats. Established in 1937, Ducks Unlimited has conserved almost 15 million acres thanks to contributions from more than a million supporters across the continent. Guided by science and dedicated to program efficiency, DU works toward the vision of wetlands sufficient to fill the skies with waterfowl today, tomorrow and forever. For more information on our work, visit www.ducks.org.

Media Contact:

John Gordon

901-758-3753

jgordon@ducks.org