Become a Competitor

The weekend pays tribute to the old decoy while encouraging the carving of new ones through competition.

The Chesapeake Challenge brings together decoy makers who still make their own decoys to compete with each other for ribbons, awards, and prize money. Saturday morning, carvers register their hunting decoys in floating waterfowl, shorebirds, and woodpecker divisions. There is a Youth Division for ages 17 and under. Judging starts at 11 a.m. with the Youth Division. Mail ins are excepted. A live head carving competition is held on Saturday afternoon. For more information, download the Chesapeake Challenge rules and entry form.

The "Old Bird’s Competition" held in the lobby on Saturday of the event. It is a contest in which collectors compete in 10 categories to be determined each year. The competitors pick the first, second and third best for each category as well as the best in the competition. The winners receive ribbons, the first place of each category is put on display in the museum and pictures of the winners and names of owners are published in Wildfowl Art. For more information, download the Antique Decoy Competition rules and current categories document.