TUCKERTON – There’s a saying that rain is “good weather for ducks,” and that seemed true for the 42nd annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy & Gunning Show. Thousands of attendees flocked to Tuckerton on a wet and gloomy weekend, but their faces brightened when they walked around the booths.
The two-day event brought in visitors from across the country, all eager to enjoy a unique showcase of the Barnegat Bay’s rich heritage. Over 300 vendors offered everything from handcrafted decoys to folk art, hunting and fishing gear, and framed duck artwork.
One of the greatest crowd-pleasers was the “Jumping in Jersey” dog competitions. Labrador retrievers and other hunting dogs of all sizes and even smaller dogs like Yorkies took part in events called big air and extreme vertical. Delmarva DockDogs hosted the dog competitions set up on one side of the event with a big swimming pool.
“One of the contests is all about how high or far these dogs can jump,” said Laura Arteaga of Delmarva DockDogs. “It’s amazing to see the excitement from both the dogs and their owners.”
While many of the canine participants came from the east coast, Arteaga said that one pup came from Italy to join the fun. She explained the excitement of the high jump, or “extreme vertical,” event:
“Every dog starts at a different height, but it’s always thrilling to see how high they can go,” Arteaga added. “The goal is for the dogs to hit the boom – the long pole you see – and it’s amazing to watch their agility.”
Not just for hunters or sporting dog owners, the show also appealed to art collectors and woodworkers. Keith Salkeld from Forked River shared his passion for collecting decoys, explaining that while some use them for hunting, he finds joy in showcasing them. “In years past, I’ve used them for gunning,” he said, “but now they’re mostly decorative.”
Salkend’s collection included some pretty high end pieces that he hoped to sell so he could invest in additional ducks for display.
Carvers like Rich Moretz from Maryland have turned decoy making into a fine art. He started carving at the age of 12.
“This project is special,” he said, as he described the $4,000 hummingbird commission, which includes a cardinal and an anchor, symbolizing family members who have passed away.
“I’ve been doing this for 30 years now, and it’s all about practice. If you work at something long enough, you get good, or you get bored,” he added with a smile.
Moretz, who came to the show from Maryland, said that he first started carving when he took a class at the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum in his home state. The museum is renowned for its collection of finely carved decoy ducks.
Of course, there were plenty of other ducks, too – whether carved or called. Contestants in the duck calling competition brought their best efforts, mimicking the sounds that bring waterfowl closer to hunters. There was also no shortage of camouflage gear, framed artwork, and even duck hunting boats available for purchase, giving everyone from outdoor enthusiasts to collectors something to take home.
The Ocean County Board of Commissioners and the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation hosted the event. Next year’s show is already planned for September 27 and September 28, 2025.
