Coot decoy by William “Bill” Schauber (1938 -), Chestertown, Maryland. Signed and dated 2005. Approx 7” long. Clean, dry all original paint with a flat bottom. Beautiful paint on this decoy.

Bill Schauber is a Chesapeake Bay–style decoy carver from Chestertown, Maryland, best known for his full-size decorative waterfowl decoys made primarily from the 1970s through the 2000s. Born in 1938, Schauber carved for collectors rather than for use in hunting rigs, producing species such as canvasbacks, buffleheads, redheads, and teal.

He was strongly influenced and encouraged by fellow Chestertown carver Charlie “Speed” Joiner, who helped set him on the path to carving. Schauber’s work reflects Upper Chesapeake Bay traditions, balancing realistic form with decorative paint patterns typical of the region. He commonly used soft woods like sugar pine and relied largely on hand tools.