In this case, you would think that the name says it all. It is a very simple name, direct and to the point. Yet, somehow it really does not do this beautifully handcrafted product justice. It is hard to accurately describe “The Duck Strap.” If you call it stylish and elegant, it seems to take away from the massively overbuilt nature of this utilitarian object. If you call it bombproof and indestructible, then you somehow don’t get the effect of early morning light streaming onto

 thick but supple hand cut leather hides linked together with gleaming solid brass hoops and snaps. Like I said, it is really tough to describe. If I had to use only 2 words, they would be “rich” and “rugged.” I believe the picture with this review will back me up.

This strap is clearly meant for serious business. It is made of very heavy 1 3/4" wide oil tanned leather straps with massive nickel and brass hardware. The leather is supple, rich and very thick. It is a 12 strap model with each strap ending in a slip loop. The version that I have is made of a heavy 9 ounce leather permanently died in Mossy Oak Break Up. I have seen tow ropes that did not exude toughness like this strap does. However, the effect of the thick, rich leather and brass hardware is quite striking. Think of this strap as a railroad locomotive that came to the costume party as a Mercedes-Benz sedan, and you will get the overall effect. This strap is heavy, make no bones about it. Not so heavy that you would not want to use it, but a neoprene puffball it is not. At first I had some reservations about the heavy brass hardware. But, what the heck, if the duck is close enough to see the brass on the strap, or the band on a call, it better be saying it’s last rites.

There are 2 main types of duck straps. The first is the familiar 24" neoprene strip with wire ovals that hold your ducks by the neck. The second type is comprised of a main center strap, similar to a rifle sling, with 6 long tendrils coming from each end and ending in a slip knot. This type of strap is much loved in Louisiana and frequently used as a gun sling since the individual strips are long enough to reach from the pistol grip of your stock to the barrel of your shotgun. The Duck Strap is a hybrid of both designs, keeping the compactness of neoprene, and the traditional slip loop feature of the Louisiana style strap. The problem sometimes seen with the “neoprene and wire” straps is that if they are not reinforced, the weight of a limit of ducks stretches the neoprene as you walk. Thus your ducks go “boing, boing, boing” on your neck with every step that you take. The problem sometimes seen with the Louisiana style straps is that the “tendrils” can be so long that your ducks are banging around your knees and ankles as you walk back to the boat.

You will not have either of these common problems with The Duck Strap. If you can carry enough weight to “boing” this monster, you need to be in the Olympics. You can carry a dozen geese with this strap and be “bounce free” all the way to the camp. The Duck Strap is also thoughtfully designed so that even big Canada geese do not bang around my knees. Also, the leather on this strap is supple enough that the slip loops will not “spring back” and slip over the head of your birds like some stiffer versions are prone to do.

The Duck Strap is the creation of Mark Schafer, PO Box 966, North Platte, Nebraska 69101. He runs Duck Point Acres, a private duck club in West Central Nebraska. His straps are available online from You can get a strap with or without a 1 3/4 solid brass snap hook for $30.00 plus shipping. It is not inexpensive when compared to a neoprene strap. However, a Hummer is not cheap when compared to your typical used car, either. The strap comes with a lifetime guarantee. According to the web site: “The strap is indestructible. If the snap hook fails or if you try to tow your truck with it and tear a loop-call me. I will send you a new snap hook or loop assembly at no charge.” That my friends, is a guarantee!