Competition Divisions & Categories with Descriptions -
2023 For printable documents click here
Updated 4-27–2023
Competition Divisions & Categories with Descriptions - 2023
Division A. Decorative Lifesize Floating - IWCA Rules
Decorative Floating Decoy entries will be made of wood. Decoys will be flat-bottomed. No restrictions on carving, texturing, or painting. Decoys will be floated.
Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
DDD Decorative Diver Ducks
DDPD Decorative Puddle Ducks
DDGC Decorative Goose and Confidence
Division B. Decorative Lifesize Non-floating - IWCA Rules
The subject must be made of wood. It must be full-bodied except when part of an environmental composition. Feet and legs must be hand-carved or constructed by the carver in Open level only. Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
DWF Decorative Waterfowl
SB Song Birds
BOP Birds of Prey
SHB Shorebirds
GB Game Birds
Division C. Decorative Miniature - IWCA Rules
The subject must be made of wood. Maximum subject size must be one-half life-size or less, not to exceed eight inches from the tip of the bill to the tip of the tail, along the length of the spine. Entries must be full-bodied except when part of an environmental composition. Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
MWF Miniature Waterfowl
MSB Miniature Song Birds
MBOP Miniature Birds of Prey
MSHB Miniature Shorebirds
MGB Miniature Gamebirds
Division CBD. “Honoring Our Past” Charles Bergman Pintail Drake Contest
Carve a replica of a Charles Bergman full-size Pintail Drake. Carvings may be finished by traditional painting or using antiquing methods. Entries will not be floated. Open to all Carvers. A basic pattern is found on the Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show website. Carver's name and year of completion are required on each entry. Entries lacking this information will not be eligible. Winners receive cash awards for Best of Division: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50.
Division D. Style Decoys - IWCA Rules
Same IWCA Rules used in 2023 IWCA Style Decoy Championships
Novice and Intermediate Only Best of Division: Ribbons
Open Level competes in the Division DSD. 2023 IWCA Style Decoy Championships
ISDD Diver Duck
ISPD Puddle Duck
ISGC Goose & Confidence
Division DSD. 2023 IWCA Style Decoy Championships - New
Same IWCA Rules provided in Division D. Style Decoys - Open to all levels
Decoys must be made of wood, cork, or stretched canvas. Texturing will be allowed by rasping, chip carving, combing, scratching, stippling, and flocking. No wood burning except as a cutting tool. Stoning or carving (no burning) will be allowed on the crest, tuft, or hood of any species of waterfowl with a crest, tuft, or hood as long as it remains sturdy and functional. Undercut areas, wingtips, tails, and necks must not be fragile. Feather groups may be simply carved (back, side pockets, rump, and breast). Only primaries, tertials, scapulars, and tail feathers may be individually carved.
1st Best of Show - $300, 2nd Best of Show - $200, 3rd Best of Show - $100
IWCA Categories
DSPD Puddle or Marsh Duck
DSDD Diving Ducks
DSSD Sea Ducks
DSGS Geese and Swans
DSC Confidence
Division E. International Open Single Working Decoy Championships 2023 - IWCA Rules - New
Can be made of wood, canvas, or cork. No detailed bills, carved nostrils, or nails. A slight mandible separation is permitted. Undercut primaries are acceptable as long as they are sturdy. Texturing is acceptable except for stoning or burning. A facility for an anchor line is required. Decoys will be placed in the tank bottom-up, pushed to submerged, and must self-right. Swans & Geese will be tested from their side. The test will be performed two (2) times.
Best of Division Open: 1st $750, 2nd $500, 3rd $250 & Plaques
Intermediate Best of Division: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50 & Ribbons
Novice Best of Division: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50 & Ribbons
WDD Diver Duck
WPD Puddle/Marsh Duck
WSD Sea Duck
WGC Goose, Swan & Confidence
Division G. Style Shorebird Decoy - IWCA Rules
Decoys must be made of wood, The bill may be made of any material. Life-Size, full bodies are required and may not be a silhouette. Simple carved feather groups are acceptable. Bills may be carved and fragility will not be considered in judging. Open bills are allowed. Texturing is acceptable except for stoning or burning. No restrictions on painting or bases. The final judging will be from 8 feet. Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
ISSC Curlews, Godwits, and Whimbrels
ISSY Yellowlegs and Willets
ISSP Plovers
ISST Turnstones, Knots, and Dowitchers
ISSA Avocets and Stilts
ISSO Other Shorebirds
ISSW Wader
Division H. Interpretive
Must be hand-carved wood. Transparent stain and texturing are allowed, but no paint. Glass eyes are permitted. Entries may include wildfowl and mammals. All entries will be judged as one division. Open to all. Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Best of Division.
Division J. Mammals
There will be no restrictions on the size of the carving. All texturing techniques are acceptable and no restrictions on painting. Any form of base may be used for support or display. Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
WM Wild Mammals
MM Marine Mammals
MD Domestic Mammals i.e. dog, horse, cow
Division K. Future Antiques:
Entries may not be copies of works or styles of noted old-time carvers. No restrictions on artistic expression. Any carver may enter. The Carver’s name and completion date must be on the carving, not the base. Open to all. Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
AW Waterfowl
AS Shorebirds
AO All Other
Division L. Bench
BCH Any carving of Birds, Fish, & Mammals that does not fit in any other division. Open to all. Ribbons 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Best of Division.
Division M. Don Baiar Memorial Contest - Mini Floating Decoy Trade
The decoy must be self-right. No keel is necessary, must have an anchor attachment. No restrictions on detail, style, or carving material. Awards: Ribbons, 1st $75 2nd $50, 3rd $25 1st place gets first pick, then 2nd place gets to pick, then 3rd place. Others draw a number to pick. You cannot pick your own decoy. Open to all.
MFD Blue Wing Teal Drake 6” maximum length, breast to tail
Division N. Native American Carving
Attention should be given to the established traditions of the art form. Carvings to be made of wood. Add-ons may be Copper, Cedar Bark, Abalone, Operculum, Hair, Antler, Skins/fur, Feathers, Horn, and Leather. For more details please read the "Show Rules" section on our website at: www.columbiaflywaywildlifeshow.com
Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50 & ribbons
Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
NCM Masks
NCR Relief
NIE: Boxes, bowls, rattles, etc.
NCO All other carvings,
Division O. Fish
Fish carvings must be of wood as the major material. Glass, plastic, or formed eyes may be used. Metal may be used for whiskers, barbells, fin trailers, and where strength is needed. Rough-outs, plastic plants, real rocks, and plastic fins/tails/gills, may not be used. Entries for Miniature Division must be one-half size or less and must be 8 inches or less in every dimension for the fish. For a more in-depth rule description, please read the "Show Rules" section at: ColumbiaFlywayWildlifeShow.com
Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50.
Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
FWF Freshwater Fish
SWF Saltwater Fish
MF Miniature Fish
WHF Wall Hangers
Division P. Artistic Creations in Wood with 4 categories NEW
This competition is open to everyone. Carvings can be life-size or miniature:
Best of Division Open: 1st $100, 2nd $75, 3rd $50. Ribbons for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Best of Category
Novice and Intermediate Best of Division: Ribbons
PC. Caricatures - A portrayal of a personality or animal often in a distorted or exaggerated form. Often depicted without fixed rules for the purpose of humor, mockery, or criticism.
PRC. Relief Carvings - A carving in which figures or patterns are carved into a piece/panel of wood, including chip carving
PWS. Walking Sticks/Canes - The walking stick/cane is crafted and often carved from its handle to the bottom of its shaft.
PP. Pyrography - The art of decorating wood or other materials with hand-burned design creations resulting from the application of a heated metallic point.
Division Q. Feathers
Feather must be carved of wood. Can be a feather of any species. Quill, shaft, and down can be painted to emulate the feather you are presenting. Open to all carving levels. Best of Division, Ribbons 1st, 2nd & 3rd Open, Intermediate & Novice Best of Division: Ribbons
Division Y. Youth
YWF1 15-17 years of age Wildfowl or Fish
YWF2 14 and under Wildfowl or Fish
YWF3 11 and under on the first day of the show
Division YS. Youth Silhouette
YS1 15-17 years of age on the first day of the show
YS2 14 and under years on the first day of the show
YD3 - 11 and under on the first day of the show