Please join us in thanking the PSWA California Open, IWCA Affiliate member organization, for their years of dedication. We wish the best to their organization, in their goal to discover grants and funding to bring back the show in the next few years. February 18-19, 2017 will be the 44th and final show until which time funding is secured for future events... Thank you PSWA!
East Carolina Wildlife Festival - Washington, NC - February 6-8, 2015The 2015 IWCA Style Shorebird and Working Decoy Championships are just around the corner! Here's a link to the show's website and important information....
Rules, Brochure, and Registration Information
Just around the corner, February 14-16, Is the PSWA California Open Wildlife Art Festival in San Diego.
John Gewerth's 3rd Best of Show Green-winged Teal - IWCA Style - 2013 California Open
The IWCA Novice and Intermediate Decorative Carver of the Year Awards Presentation is on Friday, February 14th. Hope to see you there!
You can download your entry form and show brochure from our site here or directly from the PSWA website
Harkers Island comes to life the first full weekend in December each year as the Core Sound Decoy Guild holds its annual Core Sound Decoy Festival. People have been 
making the pilgrimage to the event since 1988.
The 26th Annual Core Sound Decoy Festival will be held on Saturday, December 7th and Sunday, December 8th at the Harkers Island Elementary School.
The festival has many attractions that include antique decoy exhibits, retriever demonstrations, competitions including duck calling, loon calling, head whittling, and a live and silent auction. There’s always delicious food offered by Harkers Island Elementary School staff and volunteers, and plenty of shopping opportunities from the many vendors who flock to the festival each year.
As always, this show features several events uniqe to the region, as well as some IWCA contests.
The Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild has a very nice website you can visit for additional information. You can also download the show brochure and entry form here:
My best,
Heck Rice, president
The show features events, seminars and contests all weekend long at the Doubletree Hotel. The show features many IWCA contests as well as some contests very unique to the PFDA and the west coast. Including:
And this just scratches the surface of the events at the show. Please see the show brochure for full details.
Download and read the show brochure carefully for information regarding carver’s eligibility, rule changes, new competitions, and mail-in requirements: 2013 PFDA Show Brochure
You can also download the registration form here: 2013 PFDA registration form
Walter Gaskill - Best of Show - Tri-County Telephone Canvas Gunning Decoy
The East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival and North Carolina Decoy Carving Championships is presented by the nonprofit East Carolina Wildfowl Guild. The weekend long event is centered around Washington’s Civic Center at the corner of Main and Gladden Streets with many adjacent areas on Stewart Parkway beside the Pamlico River. The carving competition will be located at the Peterson Building adjacent to the Civic Center and the Wildlife Art and Decoy Auction will beheld at the Washington Yacht and Country Club at 7155 River Road. Again at this year’s event will be the “Dockdogs” Competition as seen on the Outdoor Channel and ESPN. The Dockdogs events, held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will be held at Kugler Field at the corner of Hudnell and East Fourth Streets.
The show will begin on Friday, February 8, 2013, with the Dockdogs Competition and a Preview Reception, co-hosted by The East Carolina Bank and the guild, for sponsors and invited guests at The Meeting Place 225 West Main Street, Washington, NC. The entire festival will open to the public at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 9, and will close at 5:00 p.m. The show will reopen at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, February 10, and will close at 4:00 p.m.
On Saturday, February 9, 2013, over one hundred pieces of wildlife art and decoys will be sold at the annual auction. A seafood buffet will be available along with a cash bar. A silent auction will begin at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:00 p.m. and a live auction at 7:00 p.m. Reservations and prepayment will be required by contacting us at 800-999-3857 ext. 2 or 3 starting January 1, 2013.
Admission to the festival will be $10.00 for a one day ticket (Friday, Saturday or Sunday), or a three day weekend pass can be purchased for $15.00 for all events. Friday will be Dockdogs only, as all other parts of the event will not be opened until Saturday. For additional information on any show details, contact us at 800-999-3857 ext. 2 or 3.
Festival Events Include:
You can find out more details about the decoys carving contest, as well as download entry forms, on the newly revised ECW Guild website here: http://www.ecwguild.com/ecw-arts-festival/decoy-carving-competition-rules/
Just a reminder for everyone that next weekend (Dec. 1st & 2nd) is the:
Andy Pope, 3rd place, Duplin County DU Lesser Scaup Competition
Come and join us for the 25th Annual Core Sound Decoy Festival, held by the Core Sound Decoy Carvers Guild, at the Harkers Island School.
As always there is something for everyone.
Decoy Carving Competitions:
The 2012 show also features the IWCA Working Decoy Championship. There are no quailfying rules for this event, so send in your gunners following the IWCA working bird rules.
Also Featuring:
Raffle Drawings for the following:
25th Annual Core Sound Decoy Festival Shirts, 25th Anniversary Shirts, Other Festival Souvenirs for sale. And of course Good Food!
Admission is $8 Daily
Kids 12 and under free
Sunday is Kids Day and all who are 17 and under get in free
For more information you can go to:
decoyguild.com
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages...s-Guild/261904186313
2012 Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show Report by Donald Baiar
The 25th Silver anniversary Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show wowed the crowds viewing the carvings displayed in our largest show ever with 98 artists and significantly more carvings that ever before. The City owned Water
Resources Education Center, the picture perfect taylor made venue for our show, draws competitive carvers and awed guests from far and near to view the best display of exquisitely carved Birds, Mammals, Decoys and Fish in the Northwest. The Feather and Quill Carvers extend appreciation to the many out of town carvers and IWCA board members who held their annual meeting again at the Center on Thursday. Their help was crucial to the success of the CFWS. The weather as usual was perfect for floating our large slate of IWCA Style and Working Decoys in the beautiful entrance fountain pond on Saturday and the increasing popular contest on Sunday, the 6” Mini Canvasback floating decoy trade event where everyone gets to take home someone else’s bird. The three judges took almost an hour to decide on the top 3 out of the 17 entries with Gary DeCew Ist, Don Baiar 2nd, and Jerry Harris 3rd. BEST OF SHOW was deservedly awarded to Michael Buelna for a remarkable Bench carving of a Sea Turtle. Michael also presented a Sunday Afternoon bonus workshop on creating faux marble in bases as seen on his BOS carving. Two other demonstrations were presented on Saturday and Sunday morning by Byrn Watson on making Canvas Decoys and by featured carver Anthony Donato on “Reference tools for Success.
Special Awards were given by the Audubon team to Peter Kaune for a stunning Pyrrhuloxia. Ducks Unlimited chose Anthony Donato’s beautiful Widgeon drake and the Sportswriter’s Award was bagged by Michael Buelna’s unique wall hanging Rooster fish. Vancouver’s and Ridgefield’s Mayors’ Awards went to Brad Snodgrass’s ornate Baikal Teal and Novice carver Timeri Hansen’s Burrowing Owls. Saturday’s People’s Choice Award was earned by Debbie Van Vliet for an entrancing Chickadee pair and Tom Newell picked up a trio of awards with Sunday People’s Choice the Chairman’s Award and the coveted Carver’s Choice Award for a wonderful frog stalking American Bittern
The weather was once again perfect and all had a great time at our sold out Banquet that beat all past
banquets for elegance, quality, and service. So put September 14 and 15, on your calendar for next year and plan to visit and compete at the CFWS. A Great time is guaranteed. Next year our two $1000 Purchase Awards species are the Cedar Waxwing and the Red Crossbill. Our six inch Decoy trade species will be the Pintail hen. For all rules, info and photos please visit our website: columbiaflywaywildlifeshow.com
Sep 8th and 9th, 2012
Water Resouces Education Center, Vancouver, Washington
http://columbiaflywaywildlifeshow.com/
Anthony Donato's Decortive Floating Green Winged Teal
The Feather and Quill Carvers Club, in a partnership with the city of Vancouver, Washington, presents our silver anniversary Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show on September 8 and 9, 2012. This is our sixth year at what Bob Sutton, past president of the IWCA, describes as the finest facility for a wildlife carving show he has ever seen. That compliment is appreciated and deserved since the city owned venue is picture perfect—architecturally and functionally—and comes complete with an outstanding staff, an impressive entrance fountain pond to float our decoy devisions, a state of the art classroom, and a premier top floor reception/show area that is framed by wrap-around windows overlooking the scenic park and river.
CFWS specializes in realistic carvings of birds, fish, mammals, and decoys, with interpretive and miniature divisions. Most divisions adhere to IWCA rules. Over $7000 in awards and ribbons will be presented. In addition to IWCA mainstay contests such as Working decoys, IWCA style decoys and shorebirds, and IWCA decoratives, there are three purchase awards for 2012:
This year we are also lucky to have Anthony Donato giving a seminar on Sunday from 10-12 on incorporating reference into your carvings. We are also happy to have Byrn Watson presenting a seminar on Saturday from 9:30 - 11:30 on making carvings from alternative materials. Both these seminars are provided free of charge.
So come to beautiful Vancouver, Washington for this year’s event and as always, our best show ever. A great time is guaranteed.
Admission: Free to the public; donations accepted
You can download the full show brochure by visiting the CFWS website, or you can direct download them from our site:
Saturday, August 11th, 2012
Perch Point Conservation Club -7930 Meisner Road
Casco Twp., MI 48064
http://www.scfwa.net/
Gary Hanson's Market Gunner, Single - Best of Show winner 2012
This weekend, Saturday the 11th, is the 29th annual St. Clair Flats decoy show. Please join us at the Perch Point Conservation Club for our one-day event. This is classic decoy show featuring both traditional, regional categories as well as IWCA categories. The St. Clair Flats show features "Market Gunner" contests that have always allowed carved and raised primary feathers to capture the essence of the species, and continue to do so.
Some of the contests featured at this show include:
There is also a kids painting contest at 11 am. The class is open to kids 17 and under. The decoy to be painted will be a Canvasback Sleeper from The E. Allen Decoy Company, using Golden Acrylic paints with brushes & supplies from The Duck Blind. This years Kid’s Painting Class is sponsored by Lou & Anne Tisch from Lock Stock & Barrell, Inc and The E. Allen Decoy Company.
This show also features a special offering in the action. Each year club members pick a specific species and members carve a donate birds to create a truely impressive rig. The 2012 St. Clair Flats Rig species is an Old Squaw and includes birds carved by the following members:
Friday July 13th - Sunday July 15th
Double Tree Hotel - 2001 Point West Way, Sacramento, CA
http://www.pacificflyway.org/
The PFDA and IWCA would like to extend an invitation for all to attend the 42nd annual Pacific Flyway Wildfowl Art Classic. We hope that you can join in on the celebration, in the heart of California’s duck country. Whether your interests are carving, collecting, fine art, hunting, fishing, or bird watching, this year’s “Classic” will bring you closer to the world of original wildlife art.
Brad Snodgrass, Hen Red-Breasted Merganser, 2nd Best in Show Floating Decoratives
The show features events, seminars and contests all weekend long at the Doubletree Hotel. The show features many IWCA contests as well as some contests very unique to the PFDA and the west coast. Including:
And this just scratches the surface of the events at the show. Please see the show brochure for full details.
Download and read the show brochure carefully for information regarding carver’s eligibility, rule changes, new competitions, and mail-in requirements: 2012 PFDA Show Brochure
You can also download the registration form here: 2012 PFDA registration form
New for 2012, the Calgary Wildfowl and Art Show:
Friday July 6th - Sunday July 8th
Inglewood Community Centre and Recreation Grounds
(Wildfowl Carving Competition, Fine Art Festival & Sales)
1740 24 st SE Calgary, Alberta
http://www.calgarywildfowlcarving.com/index.htm
Glenn McMurdo, Hen Wood Duck
This show is the first ever in Calgary to be combined with other artists who participate in all types of art. It is the show’s intent to provide a venue large enough to attract the General public to come and enjoy a weekend filled with many types and styles performed by various artists. Our show will display art done with Oils, Acrylics, Wax, Bone, Antler, Fine Print, Book Binding, Jewellery and many others. It will allow the general public to perhaps purchase a special piece from any one of the various participating artists and vendors.
COMPETITION AND SHOW: Calgary Wildfowl Carving and Arts Festival
LOCATIONS:
Inglewood Community Centre and Recreation Grounds
(Wildfowl Carving Competition, Fine Art Festival & Sales)
1740 24 st SE Calgary, Alberta
Slovenian Hall (one block west)
(Friday Social and Saturday Night Banquet)
2335 16A SE Calgary, Alberta
SHOW TIMES - 2012:
| Friday | July 6th from 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM |
| Saturday | July 7th from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Sunday | July 8th from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM |
ADMISSION:
$5.00 per adult or $10.00 per family
CONTACT:
| Keith LeVoir - Show Chairman PH 403-861-6846 keith@carvingsbykeith.com |
We're a little over a week away from the ODCCA show. The show is held, as always, at the Holiday Inn Westlake, 1100 Crocker Road, Westlake, OH on March 16th, 17th, and 18th.
Joe Brewer's Best of Show entry in the 2011 Shooting Stool (Wildfowlers Rig) contest
If you've never made it to this show, you really owe it to yourself to attend. There are contests and demonstrations that go on all weekend long, starting on Friday, some running well into the night, and continuing until the conclusion of the Wildfowler's Contest in the pool on Sunday. See the show's new website for more information on the events of weekend as well as detailed rules for every contest.
The Wildfowler's contest is a classic gunning bird competition and if it's not the biggest gunning bird contest in the country, it's certainly in the top two and it's a sight to see.
Andy Chluspa, Best in Show Shorebirds, 2010 ODCCA
There are also IWCA contests in style, decorative, and shorebirds as well as unique carving and painting contests that run for the weekend. Don't forget as well, the 2012 Bob Sutton IWCA Style and Youth Championships are being held at this show. It will be quite a weekend of top-notch contests.
The show also attracts a nice mix of vendors. There will be booths that completely fill the huge ballroom at the hotel, with many more spilling out into the surrounding halls. It's a good time to stock up on those supplies so don't forget your wallet.
The show really has a unique and fun feel to it that you have to attend to appreciate. So please plan a trip to Westlake OH, March 16th - 18th, whether you have birds to enter, or simply just want to experience the show.
James Richmond, Best in Show Buoy Decoys, Division B, 2011 Rappahannock River
The 2012 East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival will be held on February 10-12 in Washington, North Carolina.
Andy Pope's 3rd best of show goldeneyes in the Pamlico River Gunning Pairs Competition
You can download a copy of therr rules brochure here: 2012 EC Rules and also download a copy the entry form: 2012 EC Entry Form
This festival features many IWCA events such as decorative floating, decorative non-floating, IWCA style, shorebird, and canvas divisions. They also have many contests that are unique to their show including several gunning bird and gunning pair contests, contemporary antiques, and a decorative head and bust contest.
In additional to the carving contests, this festival includes manu other fun activities such as the dock dog contests, judging of the NC duck stamp competition, childrens decoy painting contest, and a duck, goose and swan calling contest.
The 39th Annual California Open Wildlife Art Festival is just around the corner. The show is on February 11th and 12th at the McMillen Event Center in beautiful San Diego, CA.
Del Herbert's 1st place entry in the 2011 Palm Frond, Decoy contest
You can download the show brochure and entry form at the PSWA's download page.
In addition to being an IWCA member show with the classes you expect at a member show, there are a few additional events that make this show truely one-of a-kind.
Palm Frond Carvings:
These carvings are truely classic California. You can learn more about the history of palm frond carvings in our enrichment article section here: Palm Fronds: Found Wood. The challenge is to portray the “essense of the species” of your subject while retaining as much of the character of the palm frond as possible. There are two divisions. A Decoy division, and a decoritive division. There is also a substantial amount of prize money availble, so if you haven't already, look into this unique contest.
Golden Green Winged Teal:
Contemporary Working Decoy:
The PSWA has taken a unique approach to the traditional working decoy class. In an effort to simplify the rules and encourage competition, yet still attempt to honor the spirit of the classic working decoy, The PSWA has taylored the event and rules to be as follows:
These are just a few events of many that make this a special show. Visit the PSWA's website for more details, and download the brochure for the full listing of events.
The Core Sound Decoy Festival is right around the corner, on December 3rd and 4th.
In addition to the regular categories featured at the show, a new contest has been added this year. The Duplin County Ducks Unlimited Chapter has agreed to sponsor a carving competition at the 2011 Core Sound Decoy Festival.
The bird will be a Lesser Scaup Drake. Decoys must be carved according to IWCA Working Decoy Rules. Prize money is as follows:
These are purchase awards and the decoys become the property of Duplin County Ducks Unlimited. Entry fee is $25/decoy.
If you haven't already finished those birds, get cracking. Plan on heading out for the weekend or get those birds boxed up and sent out. Mail in's must be received by Wednesday, November 30, and include return postage.
You can download the 2011 rules book and entry forms here:
Visit the home page for the Core Sound show here: http://www.decoyguild.com/decoyfestival/decoycompetitions/. Or check out our show profile on this site.
