Recent News

 

Please plan on attending the 53rd Wildfowl Festival in Sacramento, California scheduled for July 12 and 13, 2025.

Selected Species for 2025

300 D.U. Contemporary Decoy: 
        Best Of Show Dabbler Commonly Hunted
        In North America

800 California Rice Commission:
        Dunlin in breeding plumage / American Bittern
        (retracted neck)

810 CWA – Decoy of the Year: Drake Mallard

815 CWA 3-Bird Rig: 
        Scoters (Black, Surf, White-winged)

830 Miniature Decoy: Drake Wigeon

860 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Competitions:
       Black-necked Stilt / Drake Northern Shoveler

870 Six Inch Classic Decoy Swap:
       North American Scoter (Black, Surf, White-winged)

Old Time Decoys

                                                                                                                                                   

Most of us consider a decoy made before the turn of the nineteenth century to be really old. Interestingly enough, you would be right, but the Lovelock Cave in Nevada would provide some evidence that might change your mind about being old. In 1911 a group of miners were digging bat guano to sell as fertilizer when they came across several artifacts that were left by the Paiute-Shoshone Tribe. The University Of California Department Of Archeology was contacted. They sent archeologists to excavate the find and catalogue the items that were found. The most significant find was the eleven reed decoys found inside two woven baskets. These decoys were carbon dated and found to be over two thousand years old. These duck decoys were made Nevada’s state artifact in 1995. Although all of the decoys were found in Lovelock Cave, they are now housed in the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. Check out Joey's bio and photos by selecting Artist > Joey Allen link in the Menu.

 

 

 

Who we are

The Pacific Flyway Decoy Association is a non-profit art association dedicated to the preservation of wildfowl art through education.  Decoy carving is an original American art form beginning with the hunting decoy.  What started out as functional art has evolved to include all birds of the world.  The carvings and fine art have evolved to an artistic level where the bird appears alive.  There are carving associations all along the eastern coast of the United States but there are only three associations on the west coast…. Ours being the PFDA Classic held annually in Sacramento.  The show includes fine art from the top wildfowl artists from the west coast.   Other parts of the show include traditional decoy carving, as well as, decorative life size sculptures and miniature carvings.  Antique decoys make up the third component of the show.

The Pacific Flyway Decoy Association began in 1971 after a couple of years as a swap meet for hunters who were carving their own decoys.  A couple of “get-togethers” were in parking lots in the town of Martinez and then the 1971 event in Berkeley became the origin of our competitive show.  The founders of our event are affectionately known as the “Tule Rats”.  This quickly became an annual show, slowly leaving the hunter behind and making way for the artists.  The association moved its show to Santa Rosa for about eight years, then moved to Sacramento, in 1982, where it continues to this day.   Profits raised by the association help support the California Federal Junior Duck Stamp competition, and the CWA Art Camp.  Aside from supporting these programs we provide museum displays, seminars for beginners and advanced carvers, and “artist in action” programs.  Our major objectives as a nonprofit are to host an annual art show in the Sacramento area emphasizing the beauty of our native bird population, and to educate the public about an original American art form…. decoy carving.

In 1999, U.S. Congressman Mike Thompson selected the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association as a “Legacy Project”.  These projects were snapshots of “Americana” at the end of the century.  Our project consisted of a club history focusing on the spin-off art shows and other competitions along the west coast that can be attributed to the Pacific Flyway Decoy Association.  Our club history is now in the archives of the Library of Congress.

In 2005, the association was approved as a 501 C 3 non-profit educational organization.

What We Do

As a 501c3 non-profit, with an education platform, the PFDA provides a multitude of opportunities to educate its members, and the public about an original American art form, the hand carved decoy.  The PFDA annually staffs “booth days” at bird festivals and other art related events.  This gives us an opportunity to promote the organization, the annual show, and demonstrate bird carving and painting.  Starting each November and ending in May, the PFDA teaches one day and two day carving seminars for beginners. 

Annually, the PFDA produces three newsletters featuring information about carving, painting, and collecting.  All of our instructional effort culminates each July at the annual show held at the Double Tree Hotel in Sacramento.  The show features carving and painting competitions, and advanced seminars presented by master carvers.  With our efforts, we can continue to enjoy an American heritage that began with the hand carved decoy.

 

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