Celebrating a master carver: Roger Desjardins

A lifelong passion for waterfowl and art

Roger Desjardins was born in 1941 in the Montreal neighbourhood of Verdun, along the shores of the St. Lawrence River. Given that his birth coincided with that year’s duck season opening date, it’s not surprising that he developed a deep appreciation for waterfowl from an early age.

The Verdun locale is perfect for a budding waterfowler and carver to take inspiration. According to Patricia Fleming in her book Traditions in Wood: A History of Wildfowl Decoys in Canada:

“Although the skyline of Montreal looms ever closer to the hunting shacks and duck boat slips at Verdun, Quebec’s waterfowling tradition still thrives. The St. Lawrence River continues to support the weed beds that have attracted annual migrations of waterfowl for centuries, and the customary hunting grounds around Ils Des Souers and Ile Verte, just a few minutes from traffic jams of downtown Montreal, are active each fall.”

Desjardins’ father, Roger Sr. (1918-1997), was also a skilled carver, and young Roger honed his craft starting at the age of 10 by helping repair worn working decoys. What started as a simple act of restoration soon grew into a lifelong artistic pursuit; leading the younger Desjardins to become one of the pioneers in decorative decoy carving.

A self-taught artist, Desjardins’ attention to detail and respect for nature shone through in his early work, with diving ducks (and favourite hunting quarry) like bluebills and goldeneyes. His later, more decorative carvings, known for their realism and aesthetic beauty, have earned him numerous accolades, including seventeen Decorative Decoy Championships and multiple “Best of Show” and “Artist of the Year” awards. His work has been showcased in galleries and fine gift shops worldwide, with collectors coveting original pieces that reflect his mastery.

A commitment to conservation

Beyond his artistry, Desjardins played a pivotal role in Ducks Unlimited Canada’s growth, particularly in Quebec. Like his father before him, who had devoted himself to carving after his wartime service World War II, Desjardins dedicated himself to conservation and volunteerism after serving in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.

Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, his decoys were donated to and then auctioned at DUC events, helping raise funds for wetland conservation initiatives. His contributions, both as an artist and a volunteer, helped strengthen the connection between the waterfowling community and conservation efforts in his home province. Desjardins’ original waterfowl carvings or their replicas are proudly displayed by DUC supporters in Quebec and throughout North America.

One of these supporters is Tim Binch, a longtime employee and DUC national manager of volunteer fundraising, Binch, who owns several of these treasured Desjardins cast decoys obtained early in his DUC career.

“DUC has been fortunate to feature Roger’s replica decoys at our fundraising events over the years,” says Binch. “His decoys were highly sought after, and they helped contribute significant money to help our wetland conservation mission.  Early in my DUC career I was a successful bidder of one of these great decoys, that still has a special place in our home.”

Honouring a legacy

Desjardins is undeniably one of Quebec’s best-known carvers at home and internationally. Many of Desjardins’ carvings have been replicated in resin molds, copied in large quantities and sold around the world.

Our conservation and waterfowling community is taking time to reflect on his impact—not just as a carver, but as a passionate advocate for nature and wildlife.

The legacy of Roger Desjardins is not just in the exquisite decoys he creates but also in the passion he instills in others. His story reminds us of the deep connections between art, nature and conservation—a reminder that, much like his carvings, his influence will endure for generations.

Decoys: An early part of Canada’s rich waterfowl hunting tradition

The country’s earliest documented floating decoys date to the 17th century when East Coast First Nations fashioned decoys from harvested waterfowl by stuffing the skins with grass. These forms were then mounted on wooden platforms and scattered across the water near the hidden hunters. This practice was reportedly used by settlers more than 200 years later in Eastern Quebec.

Decoys: An important part of DUC’s history

In May 2016, B.C. businessman Peter Brown donated 1,000 antique duck, geese and shorebird decoys, appraised at $1.5 million, to DUC. In turn, DUC offered the majority of the collection to the public through auction by Guyette & Deeter, Inc. DUC was the beneficiary of all proceeds from the sale. Most of the birds are working decoys carved in the late 1800s and early 1900s. It was a rare opportunity for DUC supporters, waterfowlers, folk art collectors and decoy enthusiasts to acquire an historical, important waterfowl hunting artifact while supporting DUC and its mission.