bws #188 09/07

SEPTEMBER DECOY SHOW IS OCEAN COUNTY TRADITION

TUCKERTON -- For the 25th year participants from New Jersey and surrounding states will meet at the Ocean County Decoy and Gunning Show Sept. 29 and 30 to compete for top honors in skeet shooting, decoy carving, archery, duck and goose calling, whittling, gunning displays, and boat building. Artists and photographers will compete for blue ribbons. Even Rover will get into the act, if he can retrieve. Attendees at the event will outnumber the 3,780 year round population of this small, Barnegat Bay community.

For the weary, there will be opportunities to relax by watching nature videos, listening to music of the pines or eating regional and traditional festival food. Events and activities run from 7 am - 4 pm. New this year is a Saturday Sneakbox rowing race at 1 pm and a Sunday Rubber Duck Charity Race at 11 at Tucker's Island Lighthouse.

Two recipients of the Hurley Conklin award, presented for living in the Barnegat Bay tradition, will be honored Sunday. They are John Scott Rutherford, a baymen from Tuckerton and decoy carver Alvin Shourds from Marmora.

Freeholder Director John P. Kelly said, "We encourage the public to attend the show which highlights the waterfowling and maritime traditions of the county."

Freeholder John C. Bartlett, Jr. who chairs the Ocean County Parks & Recreation Department, the primary sponsor of the show said, "Ocean County's heritage is closely associated with its bay and pinelands. The show is a great opportunity to learn about these fast disappearing crafts and skills."

The rain or shine show will have close to 400 vendors and exhibitors. It features two days of competitions and spans three locations connected by a free, continuous shuttle service: Tip Seaman County Park and Tuckerton Seaport which are on Route 9 and the Pinelands Regional High School on Nugentown Rd./4th Ave.

While decoy carvers are in abundance and there are shooting competitions, the show offers much more, including antiques, collectibles, suppliers and exhibitors, but the common thread is that they must adhere to the theme of the show which highlights waterfowling, decoys, fishing, nature, the environment and the county's maritime history.

Freeholder Bartlett notes that a special effort is made to keep the event family-affordable by having free admission, shuttle service among the sites, parking, live entertainment and even the program book, which has become a collector's item because of its editorial content.

Bartlett said, "Dining isn't fancy, but you won't find fresher clams on the half shell."

The show also is host to the official New Jersey Duck Calling championship. The winner heads to Stuttgart, Arkansas to represent the state in a world competition.

To reach the show, take the Garden State Parkway to exit 58. Head east, following the roadside signs, to shuttle-serviced parking areas. From the west, take Route 70 to Rt. 539 heading for Tuckerton. For more information call 609-971-3085 or visit www.oceancountyparks.org


AND THE WINNER IS -- Mary Strang displays first place winners in the decoy awards tent at last year's Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show in Tuckerton. This year's event is set for the Sept. 29 and 30.


DECOY -- Last year's winning decoys are exhibited in the awards tent next to Lake Pohatcong in Tuckerton at the Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show which marks its 25th year Sept. 29 and 30.


JUST LOOKING -- Close to 400 vendors and exhibitors participate in the Sept. 29 and 30 annual Ocean County Decoy & Gunning Show in Tuckerton at three sites. They must adhere to the show's theme of waterfowling, maritime history, nature and the arts and crafts of the baymen.


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