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TUCKERTON - The Annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show will return for the 43rd year from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, September 27 and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday, September 28, at Tip Seaman County Park and the Tuckerton Seaport.
This beloved tradition celebrates the region's rich heritage of water fowling, hunting, fishing, and folk art, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Exhibitors will showcase and sell a wide variety of items, including decorative and working decoys, wildlife art, outdoor clothing, antiques, and hunting supplies. Families can enjoy retriever contests, skeet shooting, interactive environmental exhibits, craft demonstrations, live music, and much more throughout the weekend.
While this event serves as entertainment, it also offers valuable educational insights for both Ocean County residents and visitors from beyond state lines. It stands as a testament to the rich history and heritage of the baymen in Ocean County.
"From the artistry of decoy carving to the hands-on experiences for families, this show highlights the unique character of our Barnegat Bay region and continues to educate and inspire new generations," said Ocean County Commissioner Robert S. Arace, liaison to the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation. "It is a great celebration of Ocean County's traditions and natural heritage."
Visitors can purchase the 29th Annual Decoy Show Collector's Pin, which will be on sale for $5 at the Ocean County Parks & Recreation show booth, show gate, and Tuckerton Seaport on the days of the event. The pin, designed by Mary Jane Bavais, Director of the Ocean County Department of Parks and Recreation, showcases the "Bird of the Year," the Ruddy Duck.
The event will also feature over 50 contests, including the New Jersey Duck Calling Championships, whose winner will advance to the national competition in Stuttgart, Arkansas. Visitors can attend special presentations on legendary carvers Harry M. Shourds and Rube Corlies, enjoy live performances by local musicians, and participate in traditional folk art games, soap carving, archery, and children's scavenger hunts.
In addition to the festivities, a key feature of this event is The Hurley Conklin Award, sponsored by the Ocean County Board of Commissioners and named in honor of the last of the Great Old Time Barnegat Bay Carvers, Hurley Conklin. The award is presented to people each year who have embraced the Barnegat Bay tradition. This year's recipients are proudly presented to Mark Ford, who roots run deep in Little Egg Harbor and has been decoy carving since the age of nine, and George Strunk, who carves decoys full time now after retiring from his work as a Union ironworker and has been a regular vendor at the Decoy and Gunning Show since 1986.
"For more than four decades, the Decoy & Gunning Show has brought our community together to celebrate history, craftsmanship, and the great outdoors," said Arace. "It's one of Ocean County's most anticipated events of the year, and we are proud to offer this family-friendly experience."
The event offers free admission and free parking at Pinelands High School on Nugentown Road or Freedom Fields County Park on Route 539. The free shuttle bus will then drop visitors off at the show sites at Stanley "H. "Tip" Seaman County Park or at the Tuckerton Seaport.
The official 2025 Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show program can be picked up at any County park site as well as the County Connection.
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