The Sam Dyke Memorial “Old Bird” Antique Decoy Competition was held November 10-12, 2023 at the Waterfowl Festival. Decoys were entered by collectors in the following ten categories and were working decoys made before 1950.
Best in Show Charles Birch Bufflehead collected by Ron Lewicki (pictured above)
Second Best in Show Virginia Shorebird Curlew collected by Lawrence Myers
Third Best in Show Cobb Island Black Duck collected by Tim Daniels
- Best Cobb Island Decoy: Black Duck collected by Tim Daniels
- Best Dorchester County Decoy: Taylor Island Merganser collected by Kim & Ronnie Newcomb
- Best Ward Brothers Mallard Drake Decoy: 1948 collected by Ron Lewicki
- Best Cecil County Decoy: Taylor Boyd Canvasback collected by Edward & Rosemary Dean
- Best Wood Duck Decoy: Unknown Maker collected by Sue Bauer
- Best Elliott Brothers’ Decoy: Canvasback collected by Richard Petti
- Best John Smith Decoy: Pintail collected by John Bauer
- Best Virginia Shorebird Decoy: Curlew collected by Lawrence Myers
- Best Charles Birch Decoy: Bufflehead collected by Ron Lewicki
- Best Hartford County Decoy: Bob McGaw Pintail collected by Ron Lewick
The decoys were judged on Saturday, November 11, 2023, by Capt. Art Leonard, Ward Foundation Chairman of the Board, Jerry Serie, Waterfowl Festival Board of Directors, and Jeff Cross representing the Delmarva Decoy Collectors Association. Ballots were also cast for People’s Choice by those visiting the contest table!
First in People’s Choice was Best Wood Duck Decoy Unknown Maker collected by Sue Bauer. (pictured below)
For more photos please visit our Facebook Page!
Thank you to those who entered, voted, or stopped by just to say “Hi!”. Also, thank you to everyone who participated in soap carving held at the Academy of Art Museum during the Waterfowl Festival!
This event is sponsored by the Delmarva Decoy Collectors Association and the Waterfowl Festival!
