The 26th Annual Lake Erie Waterfowlers Festival will be held at Crane Creek on August 23 - 24, 2008.

There will be two classes open and novice in the Hunting Decoy Contest. There is three bird minimum per specie. Judges will have the option to judge more than one specie if the specie minimum is not met.

The Lake Erie Stool and Three Bird Rig contests will be judged in Lake Erie weather permitting. Gunning Shorebird will be judged on the shores of Lake Erie.

Decoys entered in previous Maumee Bay Decoy Contests are not allowed in of the contests.

Contestants may enter as many decoys, species, and categories as they wish.

Decoys must be constructed of a practical material, individually handcrafted and painted Decoys must not have any visible marks that would identify the carver. Please cover marks with tape.

Decoys are to be carved in traditional gunning, decoy style (i.e. no fragile bills, necks, wing tips or tails).

All decoys must self right from any position. The only exceptions are geese/swan decoys. They must self right from a side position.

All weights and/or keels used for ballast and/or balance must be practical and non-fouling in design. Decoys must have facility for anchor line attachments.

All decoys will be floated and judged in a tank.

There will an Open and Novice Class. Any carver may enter the Open Class, however, you must enter the Open Class if you have won a first, second, third Best of Show or numerous Best of Category Awards.

Previous Best of Show Novice winners at the Maumee Bay Carvers Show must move up to Open Class.
 

Decoys must be constructed of a practical material, individually hand crafted and painted. Machine duplicated decoys will be disqualified

Decoys must be carved to accentuate decoying capabilities, not necessarily realistic qualities. Decoys must be carved in traditional hunting decoy style - no detailed or fragile bills, necks, wing tips or tails.

Decoys must be painted in traditional hunting decoy style - brushing, ragging, stippling, combing, scratching, blending or burned cork. Feather definition must be executed in a simplified manner.

Decoys will be tossed into the water and must self right from the position that they land. The goose class is the exception and it must self right from the side.

Decoys must be equipped a short line for attachment to a mother line. No weights required.

The decoys entered in this contest will not be eligible to be in entered in the Shooting Stool Competition or the Working Class Contest.
 

Shooting stools will be judged by class and the rules described in the Lake Erie Singles Contest will apply to this contest as well.

Contestant must enter 3 decoys with a least one drake or hen in each rig of puddle ducks or divers.

The decoys must be equipped short lines with attachment to mother line. No weights required.

Contestants may enter as many rigs as they wish.
 

Decoys must be made of wood or cork. Bills can be made of any material.

Decoys are to be carved life size and must be full bodied. No silhouettes decoys will be allowed.

Texturing, inserts and fragile parts and individually carved feathers will not be permitted, except for bills, where fragileness will not be considered in judging.

Decoys must be mounted on a detachable dowel and base for display. Base and dowel (leg) are not considered when judged.

Realistic painting is expected.
 

Judges decision will be final in all of the contests.

The show committee has the right to prejudge and disqualify any entries as deemed necessary.

The show chairman must be made aware in a private discussion prior to judging of the contest of any problems.
 

Lake Erie Singles Contest - Best of Show - $125, Plaque and Rosette.
Second Best of Show Rosette and 3rd Best of Show Rosette.
Best of category winners will be given ribbons.

Lake Erie 3 Bird Rig - Best of Show - Award $150, Plaque and Rosette, 
Second Best of Show and Rosette and
3rd Best of Show Rosette.
Best of category winners will be given ribbons.

Gunning Shorebird Contest - Best of Show - $75, Plaque and Rosette, 
Second Best of Show Rosette.
3rd Best of Show Rosette.
Best of category winners will be given ribbons.
 

Hand carried registration times for all contests - 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM.

Lake Erie 3 Bird Rig Contest - Judging will begin at 10:00 AM to Completion.

Lake Erie Singles Contest - Judging will begin at 11:00 AM to completion.

Lake Erie Shore Bird Contest judging will begin at 11:30 PM to completion.

Working Decoy Class Contest judging will begin at 12 Noon to completion.

Decoys will not be released until 3:30 PM or until contests are concluded.


 

UPS decoys to: Charlie Hall, Tool Grinding Service, 4126 Upton Avenue, Toledo, OH 43613. UPS fees and insurance to return decoys must be included