New photo galleries are up.

New photo galleries are posted and availble now in the gallery section.

Now posted are the photos from the 2012 ODCCA

Al Fulford, BOS Decorative Floating Open Division - 2012 ODCCA

As well as the 2012 Rappahannock River show

Ames Belote, BOS Bench Division - 2012 Rappahannock River

And, as a reminder to everyone in case you missed any of the galleries or results getting posted, don't forget to like us on facebook and follow us on twitter. As soon as photo galleries, show results, and news entries are posted, you'll get notified in your facebook/twitter feed. You'll never miss another update again!

2012 ODCCA Show

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.

Photos posted from the 2012 California Open

The photos have finally been posted from the 2012 California Open and we have hundreds of them. Check them out at the photo result page where we have Laurie J McNeil's wonderful Common Loon palm frond entry as the featured photo for the gallery.

Visit our photo gallery and enjoy.

2012 Rappahannock River Waterfowl Show

The Rappahanock River Waterfowl Show is coming up on March 17th in White Stone, Virginia. It is a unique art festival showcasing all forms of wildfowl art. 

James Richmond, Best in Show Buoy Decoys, Division B, 2011 Rappahannock River

This particular show a few contests that are quite unique, in addition to the typical contests you are accustomed to seeing. Some of the more unique contests include:

• The 2012 IWCA Canvas Decoy Championship. This contest is open to everyone, and follows the IWCA Canvas decoy rules. 
• Buoy Body Decoys - The first and only buoy competition in the country. The body must be made of some type of float, and must retain the appearance of a buoy. There are two divisions within this contest. Division A requires that the head must be a silhouette and paint should be simple. Division B requires a fully carved head and allows more advanced painting.
• Foam Decoys - The only rules in this contest are that the body must be made of some type of styrofoam and the decoy must self right. Unlimited painting and head/bill detail are allowed.
• The show features IWCA Working, IWCA Style and IWCA Gunning Shorebird competitions as well.

Mail-in entries are allowed. You can visit the Rappahanock River show profile on our site for more details on show contacts, or you can visit the website of the Rappahanock River Show itself.

Show brochures and entry forms are available for downloads at the following links:

Show Flyer
Entry Form

2012 Championship Contests

Don't forget, IWCA members, three of the four IWCA sponsored championship contests are being held during the weekend of March 17th and 18th this year, and that weekend is approaching quickly. Get those entries finished up if you're still working on them.

Bob Sutton IWCA Style Decoy Championship contest 

Jerry Harris' drake long-tailed duck, 2011 Bob Sutton IWCA Style championship

This year the contest is being held at the ODCCA show in Westlake, OH - March 17th and 18th. Letters went out this week to the quailfying carvers. However, carvers can still qualify at the ODCCA show the weekend of the championship, so it's not too late if you haven't yet qualified. In order to qualify, you need to earn a first, second, or third place finish (in species, BOS not required) at an offical IWCA Style contest. If you didn't receive a letter and feel you should have, or have additional questions, please contact us to confirm. 

Mail-in entries accepted but must be received by Wednesday, March 14th. You can download a copy of the entry form here

For more details on the contest, you can visit the Bob Sutton IWCA Style Championship page.

2012 IWCA Young Guns Championship

First in all age divisions at the 2009 Young Guns Championship

The 2012 IWCA Young Guns Championship will also be held during the same weekend at the ODCCA Show. The contest is open to all carvers 17 years old and under.

Mail-in entries accepted but must be received by Wednesday, March 14th. You can download a copy of the entry form here. 

You can see aditional details on the contest at the Young Guns Championship page.

2012 IWCA Canvas Decoy Championship

Drew Zajac, Best in Show, 2010 IWCA Canvas Championship

The IWCA Canvas Decoy Championship will be held at the Rappannock River Waterfowl Show on March 17th. IWCA Canvas Decoy Rules are followed for this contest. Mail-in entries are accepted via UPS or Postal Service. Please contact Heck Rice for more information. Entry form and show details are available here:

Show Flyer
Entry Form

California Open and East Carolina Full Results Posted

Full show results from both the 2012 California Open and East Carolina Wildfowl Arts Festival have been posted in the competition results section.

Pat Godin's Mallard Hen - Best of Show in IWCA Decorative Floating - 2012 California Open

Here are the direct links:

2012 California Open Results

2012 East Carolina Results

2012 East Carolina Wildlife Arts Festival

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

Click to read more ...

2011 Decorative Carver Of The Year Results

Congratulations to the 2011 Decorative Carver of the Year winners:

   Intermediate:

1.       Ervin Cruey of Cortland, Virginia - 362 Points
2.       Everett Rodriguez of Salinas, California - 189 points
3.       Bob Mathews of Fair Oaks, California - 137 points

Ervin Cruey, BOS Carolina Wren, 2011 Core SoundEverett Rodriguez, Virgina Rail, 2011 Columbia FlywayBob Mathews, Kildeer, 2011 California Open

Novice:

1.       John Wood of Claremont, North Carolina - 258 points
2.       Tom Oakes of Walnut Creek, California - 146 points
3.       Mel Gustafson of Tempe, Arizona - 119 points

For full results, check out the final 2011 Decorative Carver of the Year page

Click to read more ...

The 39th Annual California Open Wildlife Art Festival

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.

Click to read more ...

Byrn came home today

from JoAnne Watson 

Byrn came home today with his walker.  He goes eveywhere with it at a pretty fair speed.  Just don't get in his way.  He is so happy to be home and free.

He will have Physical Therapy three days a week for four weeks and then he should be good as new.  But he probably cannot drive for 3 to 6 months.  My guess is that it will be less than three months of my driving. He is carving and writing letters on the computer.  I would say he is very lucky!

You can call him at home 360 736-1082 or come over and see him.  We'll be around home a lot except for therapy times.  E-mail is good too.

Thanks for all the well wishes, calls, cards, and prayers.  I know they played a big part in his recovery.

Merry Christmas!

Hope to see you at the shows soon,

JoAnne and Byrn