44th Annual Barnegat Bay Decoy And Gunning Show Set In Southern Ocean

TUCKERTON, NJ — Ocean County will hold its 44th Annual Old Time Barnegat Bay Decoy and Gunning Show in Tuckerton on Saturday, Sept. 26, and Sunday, Sept. 27, according to an announcement from Commissioner Robert S. Arace, liaison to Ocean County Parks and Recreation, and the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.

The event will take place at Stanley H. “Tip” Seaman County Park and the Tuckerton Seaport, both on Route 9.

According to the announcement, the show is free and will run rain or shine. Shuttle buses also will be free, connecting the two event sites and parking areas at Tuckerton Seaport, Pinelands Regional High School and Freedom Fields County Park. The announcement lists show hours as 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in the program guide.

Organizers said the show is meant to celebrate the history of Barnegat Bay and will include exhibitors, demonstrations and more than 50 contests. There will be more than 150 vendors offering working and decorative decoys, duck and goose calls, wildlife art and photography, outdoor clothing, decoy lumber, hunting dog supplies, carving materials, hunting and fishing supplies, and hunting guide services.

Displays and educational offerings are also planned. Environmental and sportsman’s organizations will have exhibits and presentations, along with carving demonstrations, basket weaving, local history and folk art traditions.

Contest categories will include decoy carving, boat building, art and photo, skeet shooting, archery, retriever competition, and duck and goose calling, according to the program guide. The winner of the duck calling contest will represent New Jersey in the World’s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas.

Family activities are also part of the weekend. The announcement says visitors can enjoy decoy painting and other crafts and games, while the program guide lists soap carving and a scavenger hunt. A highlight returning this year is the Delmarva Dock Dog Competition, and attendees also can take boat rides on Tuckerton Creek, listen to live music and visit food trucks.

For more information, Ocean County Parks and Recreation lists a phone number at 609-971-3085 and directs visitors to www.oceancountyparks.org.