Type of wood for decoys?

[westt5]

Is it best to use a soft wood like pine so its easy to carve, or do hardwoods swim better?

[Y-bone]

I use mostly cedar, sometimes pine. I have used basswood, but not anymore. I have had too many decoys swell up and crack.

[Waterwolf Doug]

Cedar.

[Higgins]

I use mostly cedar, sometimes pine. I have used basswood, but not anymore. I have had too many decoys swell up and crack.

Yup this is the reason that you see cedar trees on the ground for so many years and barley seem to degrade because they don't expand and contract no where near as much as other woods. Cedar trees grow in the worst weather cause they are one of the toughest trees out there, Heck the north country is filled with them. It's not the easiest wood to carve but it's not bad if you find a good piece with few knots and thick grain, just make sure you carve from the center of the fish out ward and you be good to go 

[westt5]

Great every time I used cedar in my high school  wood working class I got pneumonia from the dust. Lets hope with the bigger shaving that it wont happen this time.

[kiltman]

Westt5...use a mask...use Arborvitae (white cedar)......and like Higgins says, carve from the middle toward both ends.....always draw a "center line" to help. 
Seal your wood with coats of sealer, then paint any way you prefer.
 
Good luck....