Spring Meeting: March 28, 2026, at the Thousand Island Museum, 312 James St., Clayton, beginning at 12 noon.
The Thousand Islands Decoy Collectors Association (TIDCA) was organized in summer 1992, largely through the efforts of Larry Lunman and Bob Rayfield, to bring together individuals who share a common interest in the history of decoy carving and waterfowl hunting along the St. Lawrence River. In addition to the Clayton Decoy Show held each year in July, TIDCA members have met once or twice a year to attend decoy presentations, share information, and participate in displays and contests. Vintage decoy displays and contests have been a feature of most meetings, with the intent of encouraging members to bring choice examples from their personal collections to be studied and enjoyed by all.
In spring 2009, TIDCA was reorganized under the mantle of the TI museum, and individuals who wish to become or remain members of TIDCA can do so by joining the museum. The goals of the association have remained the same and are focused on discovering and sharing information on the decoys and decoy carvers of the Thousand Islands area. In recent years, two events have been held annually, both open to the public. The first event is the spring meeting held during the month of March, the second includes displays presented at the Clayton Decoy Show held the third weekend in July. Displays of decoys by TIDCA have been presented at the Clayton Show each year since 1994. In 2013, TIDCA’s involvement in the Clayton Decoy Show was expanded to include a vintage decoy contest.
Archives of information presented at previous spring meetings, and pictures and information from previous July Clayton Shows, can be accessed using the colored links on this page or from the drop-down menu located at the word ‘DECOYS’ in the darker blue banner near the top of the museum’s home page. The Previous Spring Meetings page provides an outline of the topics covered in all the spring TIDCA meetings since 2001. By clicking on the colored links associated with each of the yearly spring meetings, PDF versions of the presentations and handouts can be accessed. The Previous Clayton Shows page shows the themes of the TIDCA displays since 2001, and the categories in the TIDCA contests since 2013. Pictures of the displays and contest winners shown on the page can be enlarged by clicking on them. Pictures and information used as part of the TIDCA displays since 2010 can be accessed by clicking on the colored links associated with the respective yearly headers.
2025 TIDCA Events:
Spring Meeting: March 1, 2025, Thousand Island Museum, 312 James St., Clayton:
The 2025 spring meeting was held as scheduled on March 1. Similar to previous years, the meeting started at noon with decoy displays and an informal gathering, which included snacks, followed by a slide presentation beginning about 2 PM. The 2025 presentation was given by Tom Eckert.
The 2025 presentation was divided into five unequal sections. A modified and expanded version of this presentation is now available, and can be accessed using the Previous Spring Meetings page, or the link at the bottom of this page. Parts one and two provided brief updates on two carving groups covered in previous spring meetings, with part one providing some updates for the Gove family, while part two provided some updates and corrections for the Schutte school of decoy carvers. The third and primary part of the 2025 presentation consisted of a review of the LaFlair family from the Ogdensburg/Lisbon area of the St. Lawrence River, concentrating on the four members of the family who were known decoy carvers. The LaFlair family was also associated with Tick Island, a small island about six miles down-river from the City of Ogdensburg, and one of the islands removed from the river during the 1954-58 construction of the St. Lawrence Seaway. Part four of the presentation provided some thoughts about the changes that have occurred over the years due to the proliferation of online auction sales and how that relates to decoy collecting. Part five provided a review of decoy shows and sales that would be upcoming over the spring months.
Decoy displays are a traditional part of the TIDCA spring meetings and include decoys that fit the topics covered in the presentation as well as a limited number of decoys that are for sale. In 2025 we were fortunate to have a wonderful display of LaFlair family decoys and miniatures brought by Dick Hollis. Included were examples from Dick’s personal collection as well as examples from other northern New York collections which he was able to borrow for our meeting.
Dick Hollis with some of the LaFlair family decoys and miniature carvings that were displayed at the 2025 TIDCA spring meeting (click the photo to enlarge it)
Clayton Decoy Show: July 18-19, 2025, Gordon Cerow Recreation Park Arena.
The 57th Annual Clayton Decoy Show was held Friday & Saturday, July 18 & 19, 2025. TIDCA involvement in the show included a display of vintage hunting decoys carved by Chauncey Wheeler, Alexandria Bay, NY, exhibited on both Friday and Saturday, and a vintage decoy contest held on Friday.
Decoys for the Chauncey Wheeler exhibit were provided by TIDCA members from their private collections. The exhibit focused on some of the better remaining examples of his work; and attempted to show some of the diversity in species and styles that Wheeler carved. Photos of the display materials and close-up photos of the decoys are included in the archive section.
The TIDCA vintage decoy competition held on Friday was very successful with excellent competition in all three categories. Judging took place at 11:00 AM with Mike Martin, Joe Engers, and Dick Hollis serving as this year’s judges. The Alexandria Bay vintage high-head decoy category had 10 entries including three pairs, a total of 13 decoys. First place was a pair of Gus Rogers goldeneyes owned by Tom Eckert, second place was a pair of Chauncey Wheeler goldeneyes owned by Jeff Synyard, and third place was a Frank Coombs goldeneye hen owned by Bruce Bolger. The category for makers included in the book Great Lakes Decoy Interpretations had eight entries including five pairs, a total of 13 decoys. First place was a pair of Gus Rogers canvasbacks owned by Tom Eckert, second place was a pair of redheads by Bob Burke owned by Tom Eckert, and third place was a redhead drake by Tom Chambers owned by Bruce Bolger. The three vintage black duck decoys by three different makers had nine entries. The first place group included blacks by the Ward brothers, Chauncey Wheeler, and Ken Harris, all owned by Eric Pitman; the second place group included blacks by Ken Harris, Roy Conklin, and Ray Andress, all owned by Tom Eckert; and the third place group included blacks by Bob Kerr, the Ward Brothers, and Chauncey Wheeler, all owned by Bonnie Norton. Group photos of the decoys in each of the categories, photos of the winning decoys in each category, and photos of the contest judges are included in the archive section.
2026 TIDCA Events:
Spring Meeting: March 28, 2026, Thousand Island Museum, 312 James St., Clayton:
The 2026 spring TIDCA meeting was held on March 28, approximately three weeks later in the spring than previous years. Traditionally, the spring meetings have been held the first Saturday in March, and while we faced little competition from other decoy related events it was also a time of year where winter weather could make travel difficult. After due consideration, the decision was made to schedule the spring meetings later, either the last Saturday in March or preferably the first Saturday in April, the exact date to be varied as necessary to avoid conflicts with Easter weekend. Since Easter 2026 fell during the first weekend of April, the 2026 meeting was scheduled for March 28.
The 2026 meeting was held at the Thousand Islands Museum, 312 James St., Clayton, NY, starting at noon with decoy displays and an informal gathering. The feature slide presentation began at 2:00 PM, given by Mark Malys, Lansing, NY, and provided a detailed review of the decoys of Harvey and George Stevens, Weedsport, NY. The Stevens brothers are well known upstate New York decoy carvers and have been the subject of two complete books as well as shorter reviews in other books and publications. Mark’s presentation provided an excellent review of the two brothers, highlighting their family history and variations in their carvings over the years, and discussed the uncertainties that exist concerning the exact relationship between the two brothers in the late 1880s and early 1890s.
Decoy displays are a traditional part of the TIDCA spring meetings concentrating on decoys that fit the topics covered in the slide presentation. In 2026 we were fortunate to have an excellent display of Stevens decoys primarily from Mark’s personal collection. The display provided everyone an opportunity to examine decoys by these men, and to better understand the variations in style and construction that exist. There is always something new to learn about decoys, and personally examining them and discussing them with fellow collectors is one of the best methods of improving your knowledge. The decoys brought by Mark presented a wonderful learning opportunity.
Following Mark’s slide presentation there was a second very brief slide presentation discussing upcoming shows. This included a review of plans for the 2026 Clayton Decoy Show which involve a display and vintage decoy contests to be hosted by TIDCA, and an auction of decoys and artifacts being hosted by the Thousand Islands Museum.
Copies of the two slide presentations and photos from the 2026 spring meeting have been added to the “Previous Spring Meetings” page.
Clayton Decoy Show: July 17-18, 2026, Gordon Cerow Recreation Park Arena.
The 58th Annual Clayton Decoy Show has been scheduled for July 17&18, 2026. TIDCA involvement in the 2026 show will include a decoy exhibit to be displayed all day Friday and Saturday, and a decoy contest to be held on Friday. Help with setting up the displays, registering the contest decoys, and supervising the exhibits and explaining them to the public, is always appreciated. If you can help, please contact Tom Eckert (315-408-8835) or the Thousand Islands Museum.
The 2026 TIDCA decoy exhibit will feature decoys by Sam Denny, Clayton, NY. The exhibit will focus on some of the better remaining examples of his work; decoys in good original paint and in good physical condition. Museum members and show participants with one or more choice decoys they would like to be considered for display are asked to contact Tom Eckert (315-408-8835).
The 2026 TIDCA decoy contest will be held on Friday, July 17. The contest is open to everyone, and each person may make two entries in each of the three specified categories. A matched pair (hen and drake) count as one entry unless the category description specifically states otherwise. The entries may be brought in person to the TIDCA tables and registered from 9-11 AM, or may be mailed to the TI Museum according to the same procedures established for the Hunting Decoy Contests.
Entries in the contest will be judged by a panel of three experts beginning at 11 AM. Ribbons will be awarded to the entries judged to be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, in each category, and the winning entries must remain on display until 5 PM Friday. The contest categories selected for 2026 are quite broad, and were intentionally chosen that way to encourage more participation.
The three 2026 decoy contest categories are:
- Vintage decoy by any maker from the Prescott-Ogdensburg area of the St. Lawrence River Valley: any species by any maker from the area, made before 1970.
- Vintage redhead decoy: any area or maker, made before 1970.
- Vintage merganser decoy: any species of merganser, any area or maker, made before 1970.
