Regulations apply only to Canadian National Wildfowl Carving Championship
- Only Wildfowl Carvings will be accepted. No Domestic Birds.
- A carver may enter carvings in ONE class only. Once moved up in any class, a carver cannot go backwards in class in subsequent years.
(Purchase Awards are not considered to be a class) - Carvers who enter birds not native to North America are required to provide reference materials to assist the Show Committee and the judges.
- All carvers may enter Open class by choice, except carvers who have qualified as Canadian Masters.
- All carvers may enter Intermediate class by choice, except carvers who have qualified for Open or Canadian Masters.
- Purchase awards are not considered to be a class. All carvers may enter the Purchase Awards.
- Carvers who enter birds not native to North America are required to
provide reference materials to assist the Show Committee and the judges. - Entries are to be handmade of wood. Other materials may be used for habitat, eyes and structural purposes.
- Habitat and feet in Canadian Master, Open and Intermediate Classes must be hand-made by the carver.
- Driftwood is allowed as a base for dowel mounted birds only, in all classes.
- Cast feet/legs, stones, driftwood habitat are allowed in the Novice and Beginner Class only.
- Carvings in all classes and categories MUST be painted, except Interpretive class, which may be finished to the carver’s discretion/interpretation.
- NEW! Carvings not previously entered in the Canadian National Competition will be accepted for entry.
- The decisions of the judges will be final.
- All entrants must complete and sign the entry form.
- Entry fees are non-refundable. Post-dated cheques will NOT be accepted.
- We prefer all entries to be pre-registered and accompanied by an on-line payment. If off-line/mail-in entry please remit by cheque payable to Grand Valley Woodcarvers.
- While the organizers of the competition agree to take every reasonable precaution to ensure the safety of articles submitted, it must be understood that the owners of each article are required to directly assume all risks, including an article accidently damaged. For lost or stolen articles, the organization will provide assistance for recovery, but will not recognize any claim for payment of the value of the article or costs incurred, whether in full or in part.
Class Qualifications
Canadian Master Class
Carvers who have won Two (2) BEST OF CLASS, Open class or a total of Five (5) 1st place by category in the Open Class competition must advance to the Canadian Master Class. Two (2) 1st place wins for any Purchase Award will require the carver to compete in Canadian Master.
Open Class
Carver’s who have wone ONE (1) BEST OF CLASS or a total of TEN (10) 1st place by category in the Intermediate Class competition, must advance to the Open Class.
Intermediate Class
Carvers who have won ONE (1) BEST OF CLASS, or total of TEN (10) 1st place by category in Novice Class competition, must advance to Intermediate.
Novice Class
Carvers who has won ONE (1) BEST OF CLASS, or total of FIVE (5) 1st place by category in Beginner Class competition, must advance to Novice.
Beginner Class
A carver who has not qualified to advance to Novice by winning ONE (1) BEST OF CLASS, or a total of FIVE (5) 1st place by category in Beginner Class competition.
There are two (2) special Classes
Contemporary Antique Decoys – 2 categories:
* Expert – Carvers in the Canadian Masters and Open Class
* Amateur – Carvers in the Intermediate, Novice and beginner.
Decoys will be judged in hand. All entries must be signed and dated. Decoys should be made to look old by the manner in which they are carved, painted and finished. Shore birds and wading birds must be mounted on a dowel and have a simple base.
Interpretive Stylized Wildfowl – Any species, scale or finish – 2 categories:
* Expert – Carvers in the Canadian Masters and Open Class
* Amateur – Carvers in the intermediate, Novice and beginner
At any Class, the Show committee has the right to expand or remove any category that is too large or too small with the regard to the number of entries.
Categories for Canadian Master Class:
Master Class only – entries maybe textured or smoothie
Category 1
Decorative Life-Size Floating Ducks
Diving or Marsh ducks, Grebes, Loons.
These will be floated, but do not have to self-right.
Category 2
Decorative life-size DUCKS -NON-floated
NON-floated. including Grebes, Loons.
Category 3
Decorative Wildfowl – Songbirds:
All songbirds must be life-size with habitat.
Category 4
Decorative Wildfowl – Birds of Prey
Category 5
Decorative Wildfowl – Other
Example-Shorebirds, Game, and Sea birds
Category 6
Decorative Miniature Wildfowl
Any species of bird.
Decorative Miniature Wildfowl shall be one half (1/2) life-size or less.
The maximum length of the body cannot exceed 8 inches. The measurement is made from the base of the bill to the end of the longest upper tail covert using a tape measure.
Both criteria must be met.
Category 7
Decorative Working Decoys – floated, must self-right
Diving Ducks, Marsh Ducks, Grebes, Loons, Geese, Swans. Decoys will be floated and must self-right from any position. Geese, Swans and their subspecies will be required to self-right from the side. Entries should represent decoys that would withstand the rigorous and rugged treatment by a hunter. Combing, blending and scratch painting will be acceptable, but NO burning or fine texturing. Keels required. Decorative painting to the artist’s highest ability is expected.
Categories for Open, Intermediate and Novice Classes:
Category 1
Decorative life-size DUCKS -floated
Ducks include Grebes and loons. Do not have to self-right.
Category 2
Decorative life-size DUCKS -NON-floated
Diving Ducks, Marsh Ducks, Loons, Geese, Swans, Grebes. These will not be floated.
Category 3a
Decorative Songbirds with habitat
Category 3b
Decorative Songbirds with habitat
Category 4
Decorative Wildfowl -Birds of Prey
With habitat.
Category 5
Decorative Wildfowl – Other
Shore birds, Game birds, Sea birds
Category 6
Decorative MINIATURE Wildfowl
Any species of bird
Decorative Miniature Wildfowl shall be one half (1/2) life-size or less.
The maximum length of the body cannot exceed 8 inches. The measurement is made from the base of the bill to the end of the longest upper tail covert using a tape measure.
Both criteria must be met.
Category 7
Decorative Working Decoys – floated, must self-right
Diving Ducks, Marsh Ducks, Grebes, Loons, Geese, Swans. Decoys will be floated and must self-right from any position. Geese, Swans and their subspecies will be required to self-right from the side. Entries should represent decoys that would withstand the rigorous and rugged treatment by a hunter. Combing, blending and scratch painting will be acceptable, but NO burning or fine texturing. Keels required. Decorative painting to the artist’s highest ability is expected.
Category 8
Decorative Smoothies
Any species, including shorebirds dowel mounted.
Categories for Beginner:
Category 1
Decorative Ducks and Waterfowl
Category 2
Decorative Song Birds
Category 3
Decorative Birds of Prey, Game Birds & Shore Birds
Category 4
Decorative Miniatures
Any species of bird
Decorative Miniature Wildfowl shall be one half (1/2) life-size or less.
The maximum length of the body cannot exceed 8 inches. The measurement is made from the base of the bill to the end of the longest upper tail covert using a tape measure.
Both criteria must be met.
Category 5
All other birds
Contemporary Antique Decoy:
Expert
Interpretation of an “old” decoy. Expert-entries must be the carver’s original design.
Amateur
Interpretation of an “old” decoy. Amateur-copies are permitted.
Interpretive Stylized Wildfowl:
Expert
Any Species, scale or finish.
Amateur
Any Species, scale or finish.
Entries must remain on display until 4:00 p.m. of the last day of the show.
Carvings MUST be picked up by 4:30 p.m.