Press Release
Click Here To Download The Document
Contact: Craig Kessler at 751-5850 or ckesslerducks@gmail.com.
The Long Island Decoy Collectors Association (LIDCA) will feature a “History of the U. S. National Decoy Carving Contest” at their 41st Annual Decoy, Fishing and Sporting Collectible Show on March 3 in Hauppauge. Long Island is the epicenter of waterfowl hunting decoys and was the home of the very first decoy contest in 1923. The U. S. National Decoy show was a mainstay of the decoy carving world until its final event in 1994. It was sponsored by the South Shore Waterfowlers Association (formerly the Great South Bay Waterfowlers Association).
The U. S. National display will recount the history and evolution of the contest. It will feature memorabilia and many of the prize-winning decoys from over the years. Some of the Long Island carvers represented will be Capt. Ed Clark, Tom Cornicelli, Bob Hand, Jim Hunt, Bill Joeckel, Dick LaFountain, Tom Matus, Fred Muhs, Ralph Nocerino, Joe Pendergast, Steve Sanford and Pete Valkovich. Carvers from nearby states will be represented with birds by Paul Dobrosky and Terry McNulty from New Jersey and Keith Mueller and Sandy Allen from Connecticut, among others.
A long-standing attraction of the U.S. National Decoy Show was “Mr. Decoy”. Al McCormick made thousands of gunning decoys that became the standard for many Long Island waterfowl hunters. More important, he taught scores of gunners how to carve. Many of the best carvers got their inspiration in Al’s basement workshop. Hundreds of others would watch Al at the U.S. National itself. He would bring his workbench to the Show and teach any and all as he would turn out his classic works. Al’s bench and many of his patterns, tools and equipment will be on display.
Ralph Nocerino, champion carver and U.S. National Show Chairman (1976 through 1994) will be at the March 3 event. “The U.S. National attracted the best carvers from the U. S. and Canada for many years and helped the craft to get better and better through the exchange of ideas and the many friendships.”
Craig Kessler, retired Ducks Unlimited Director, will also attend. “Ducks Unlimited benefited directly from its relationship with the U.S. National when they would contribute proceeds to fund habitat restoration projects.”
Curt Matzinger, past President of South Shore Waterfowlers Association, attests to the role of the Show. “The U.S. National was a not-to-be-missed event for most Long Island waterfowlers. Coming in March as it did each year, many duckhunters wound down their seasons each year by working through the dead of winter on a new bird or two for next year’s rig.”
Tim Sieger, LIDCA President: “The Association is very happy to feature the U.S. National as the centerpiece of our annual show. Most of our members were regular attendees – and even competitors – throughout the National’s heyday.”
The Antique Decoy Collectors show will be held on Saturday, March 3, from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM at the IBEW Hall at 370 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge. It will display thousands of antique decoys, artwork, books, and memorabilia from waterfowl hunting and other outdoor pursuits. For more information, please get in touch with LIDCA President and Show Chair Tim Sieger at Sieger@hamptons.com or VP Dick Richardson at 631-475-4199. Anyone wishing to display Best of Show decoys from the U. S. National Decoy Carving Contest should contact Craig Kessler at 751-5850 or ckesslerducks@gmail.com.
