WELCOME TO THE 20th ANNUAL SAGINAW BAY WATERFOWL FESTIVAL The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area partner with the Frank N. Andersen Foundation, the Michigan Duck Hunter s Association, Ducks Unlimited, and many others to put together this event to stimulate interest and awareness in Michigan s waterfowl resources, the sport of waterfowl hunting, and the need to conserve these valuable resources! Read on and you will find a truly unique festival, designed for your entire family, which has been going strong for 20 years! There is something for everyone the hunter, the wildlife watcher, the wildlife artist, and those interested in conservation of wetland and wildlife resources Come out and discover why this sportsman s show is unique! The event is specially designed as a way for outdoorsmen and women to introduce their children to a wide array of outdoor and natural resource based activities. Throughout the day, there are hands-on clinics and programs which introduce participants to traditional forms of outdoor recreation like duck calling, canoeing, retriever dog training, air rifle marksmanship, decoy carving, wildlife photography, wildlife watching, and skills of bird identification. The event also focuses on safety in the out-of-doors, and offers many opportunities for families to reinforce methods of keeping outdoor adventures safe for their children. We look forward to you visiting our great festival to help us celebrate such a fantastic landmark year. We know you and your family will have a wonderful time! For more information contact the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center inside the Bay City State Recreation Area at (989) 667-0717, email waterfowlfestival@sbcglobal.net, or visit friendsofpark.org FRIENDS OF BAY CITY STATE RECREATION AREA The Saginaw Bay Visitor Center and the Bay City State Recreation Area partner with many hunting and recreation clubs, service and outreach organizations, and businesses, and there is one that is truly unique to our park: The Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area. They are a group of regular people, like you, who appreciate the conservation and enhancement of the Saginaw Bay s natural resources, and enjoy spending time in Michigan s Great Outdoors. Our Friends organization is very active in helping improve our park; from fundraising for and helping construct a new outdoor stage for our yearly calling contests and Music from the Marsh and Movies by the Bay series, to providing coffee supplies for visitors in the Visitor Center. They provide volunteers for park improvement and beautification projects, donate money to support Visitor Center and park events, and help organize and staff this very Waterfowl Festival! They are a wonderfully dedicated group of citizens who want to see our park grow in every way possible, and for that we are endlessly thankful! Do you enjoy outreach programs that include archery and fly fishing? Are you someone who loves the outdoors, and wants to help conserve and improve them? What about just getting outside to enjoy the peace and beauty of our State s great natural resources? If you like all these things, consider joining the Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area while you re at the Waterfowl Festival! Simply stop by the Friends Information Booth to speak with a Friends volunteer. They can tell you all the things they do around the park, including upcoming projects and fundraising efforts, and help you join a group of people that care about the Great Outdoors and Michigan s unique natural resources here at the Saginaw Bay. You can also visit their website (http://www.friendsofpark.org/) and like them on Facebook! NEW THIS YEAR! Chainsaw Carving Competition Includes a live auction of carved pieces! We are very excited to bring a new competition to the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival: chainsaw carving! Chainsaw carving is a challenging mix of art and skill, and this competition will feature some of the best chainsaw carvers from across Michigan. Starting with a plain log, these chainsaw masters will spend most of the day Saturday working on carving their entries. They will work on two creations Saturday their main piece and a quick carve piece. Quick carving is a timed competition where each carver has 1 hour to create the best work possible. Quick carve will begin at 10 AM on Saturday. Judging of the main piece creations will begin at 4 PM Saturday with prizes awarded following during the Awards Ceremony at 5 PM. Be sure to return on Sunday when the quick carve pieces will be sold at a live auction starting at 1 PM. Although the competition is over, carvers are invited to return on Sunday to carve and sell previously made inventory. You won t want to miss this exciting new competition, or the live auction! If you re a chainsaw carver yourself, and you want to show off your skills and have a chance to win cash prizes, contact Tom Gillman at 989-415-1356 or tgillman49@gmail.com to register.
Special Exhibits inside the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center: The Michigan DNR Duck Stamp Print Collection Working Decoy & Wildlife Carving Shows Wildlife Photography Contest Featured Wildlife Artist Display, Gina Calocassides Featured Taxidermist Display, Travis McLeod Featured Waterfowl Carver Display, Tony Kirby Featured Wildlife Photographers Display, Michael & Teresa McGill Saturday & Sunday Look for these ON-GOING Activities: Hunter & Outdoor Recreation Expo Parking Lot Wildlife Art & Craft Show Lagoon Trail DNR Wildlife and Law Divisions Information Booths Expo Area Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials Lagoon Dock Waterfowl Hunting Video Simulator Expo Area Chainsaw Carving Competition Parking Lot Blacksmith Demonstrations Expo Area Future Duck Stamp Contest near the Flagpole Kid s Area Activity Shelter along Lagoon Trail Ducky Craft Corner next to Activity Shelter Play it Safe on the Water (US Coast Guard Reserve) near the Lagoon Dock Eat Safe Fish along the Lagoon Trail Retriever Demonstrations and Dog Training Tips Lagoon Dock Adult Decoy Toss Lagoon Dock Waterfowl ID Trail Trail begins at Lagoon Dock Air Rifle Shooting Gallery Expo Area SATURDAY EVENTS (Awards Ceremony at 5 PM at the Outdoor Stage) 10 AM *Quick Carve Chainsaw Carving Competition Parking Lot *Quack-Athlon Sign up Begins Lagoon Dock (Register by 2PM; see pg 7) Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials Lagoon Dock Wetland Critters Activity Shelter Wood Duck House Workshop Clinic Tent 11 AM *Chainsaw Carving Competition Continues Parking Lot New Fish & Wildlife Laws: What, Why & How You Can Help Auditorium *Duck Decoy Toss Lagoon Dock Youth Waterfowl Calling Clinic Activity Shelter 11:30 AM Featured Carver Demonstration & Tips Clinic Tent 12 PM Duck Tales Story Time with Maverick the Mallard Canopy near Stage Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials Lagoon Dock Wildlife Recovery: Live Birds of Prey & Michigan Loon Update Auditorium Invasive Species: Become an Alien Spotter Activity Shelter 12:30 PM Adult Waterfowl Calling Clinic Clinic Tent Waterfowl Wonders Puppet Show Visitor Center Back Porch Duck Games Activity Shelter SUNDAY EVENTS (Awards Ceremony at 3:30 PM at the Outdoor Stage) 9 AM *Quack-Athlon Sign up Begins sign up at the Lagoon Dock (Register by 12 PM) Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials at the Lagoon Dock Ducky BINGO at the Activity Shelter Adult Waterfowl Calling Clinic Clinic Tent Ducky Craft Corner next to Activity Shelter 9:30 AM DNR Law Enforcement Division at the Auditorium 10 AM *Quack-Athlon Events at the Lagoon Dock & Expo Area (Register by 12 PM) Eat Safe Fish Game at the Activity Shelter DNR Waterfowl Hunting Forecast at the Auditorium 11 AM Featured Carver: Tony Kirby at the Clinic Tent Youth Waterfowl Calling Clinic at the Activity Shelter Waterfowl Hunting Clinic at the Clinic Tent Ducky Craft Corner next to Activity Shelter 11:30 AM Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials at the Lagoon Dock *Jr. Goose Calling Contest sign up at the Outdoor Stage (Register by 11:15 AM) 12 PM Duck Tales Story Time at the Activity Shelter Wildlife Recovery at the Auditorium Quick Carve Live Auction near the Lagoon Dock Paint a Decoy at the Clinic Tent 12:30 PM Waterfowl Wonders Puppet Show at the Back Porch *Quack-Athlon Canoe Races at the Lagoon Dock (Register by 12 PM) *State Goose Calling Contest sign up at the Outdoor Stage (Register by 12:15 PM) Ducky Craft Corner next to Activity Shelter 1 PM Draw a Duck at the Activity Shelter 1:30 PM Featured Taxidermist: Travis McLeod at the Auditorium Bird Banding Demonstration at the Clinic Tent *State Duck Calling Contest sign up at the Outdoor Stage (Register by 1:15 PM) 2 PM *Adult-Youth Canoe Race sign up at the Lagoon Dock (Register by 1:45 PM) Waterfowl Wonders Puppet Show at the Back Porch 2:30 PM Featured Photographers: Michael & Teresa McGill at the Auditorium Wood Duck House Workshop at the Clinic Tent Wetland Critters at the Activity Shelter 3 PM Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials at the Lagoon Dock 1 PM Michigan Endangered Species with Michigan Waterfowl Legacy Auditorium Sculpt a Duck Soap Carving Activity Shelter *Adult-Youth Canoe Race Lagoon Dock (Register by 12:45 PM; see pg 7) 1:30 PM Wildlife Management Areas: A Picture Tour Auditorium Featured Taxidermist Demonstration & Tips Wet Lab in Visitor Center Bird Banding Demonstration Visitor Center Field Observation Room 2 PM Featured Photographers Share Photos & Stories Auditorium Draw a Duck with Featured Wildlife Artist Activity Shelter Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials Lagoon Dock 2:30 PM *Jr. Duck Calling Contest Outdoor Stage (Register by 2:15 PM; see pg 4) Waterfowl Hunting Clinic: Tips & Techniques for All Ages Clinic Tent 3 PM Duck Tales Story Time with Maverick the Mallard canopy near Stage Invasive Species: Become an Alien Spotter Activity Shelter 3:30 PM Wildlife Recovery: Live Birds of Prey & Michigan Loon Update Clinic Tent *Quack-Athlon Canoe Races Lagoon Dock (Register by 2PM; see pg 7) Waterfowl Wonders Puppet Show Visitor Center Back Porch *Team Duck Calling Contest Outdoor Stage (Register by 3:15 PM: see pg 3) Public Viewing of 2016 Michigan Duck Stamp Competition Auditorium 4 PM Chainsaw Carving Competition Judging Parking Lot Wetland Critters Activity Shelter 4:30 PM Retrieving Dog Fun Hunt Trials Lagoon Dock Paint a Decoy Clinic Tent 5 PM Ducky BINGO Activity Shelter 5:30 PM 2016 Michigan Duck Stamp Award Ceremony Auditorium 7 PM Music from the Marsh: Michigan Musicians in the Round Outdoor Stage Note: * indicates that the event is a competition VIEW THE 2015 SCHEDULE WITH EVENT INFORMATION AT: www.friendsofpark.org/waterfowl-schedule.html BAY COUNTY FAIR AND YOUTH EXPO SCHEDULE Tues, Aug 4 Figure 8 Race w/monster Truck Show Wed, Aug 5 Truck/Tractor Pulls Thurs, Aug 6 Mini Tractor Pulls Fri, Aug 7 Flying StarPro Rodeo Sat, Aug 8 Bump N Grind Race ** All week * D & R Shows Rides * LeCronier s Baby Acres * * Radio Controlled Car Racing * Race Car Simulator * Activity Tent * Monster Truck Rides * Scavenger Hunt * and more.. * 2015 RACE SCHEDULE Oct 24 Halloween Bump N Grind CHAMPIONSHIP RACES Sept 25 Figure 8 Sept 26 Bump N Grind OR EMAIL waterfowlfestival@sbcglobal.net DON T FORGET YOUR COMMEMORATIVE T-SHIRT saginawbaywaterfowlfestival.itemorder.com Gun Raffle & Chicken Dinner February 20, 2016 800 Livington Ave Bay City, MI *989-895-3744* www.baycountyfair.com Like us on Facebook 2015 HORSE SHOWS Aug 2 Open Pleasure Aug 8 Open Pleasure Sept 11-13 MI NBHA Sept 19 Open Speed
Wildlife Arts & Crafts Expo The Arts & Crafts Expo brings a special touch to the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival. Most of our crafters are local, and they bring handmade products built from simple materials to show and sell. Many of these products are labors of love; hobbies that have grown and provided satisfaction for many years. The Arts & Crafts expo is a perfect opportunity for you to take home some of these items! From birdhouses to jewelry, our crafters display a variety of items with an emphasis on the outdoors. Hunting & Outdoor Recreation Expo The 2014 Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival attracted over 12,000 waterfowl hunters and their families! The Hunting & Outdoor Recreation Expo was a busy attraction where dozens of exhibitors displayed their hunting, archery, camping, boating, wildlife watching, and other outdoor products and services. Festival exhibitors are also knowledgeable outdoorsmen and women who are very willing to share valuable information and tips, and offer the latest in waterfowl hunting gear, outdoor clothing, wildlife watching equipment and attractive wildlife home decor. NEW THIS YEAR! Blacksmith Howard Eagle Eagle Forge represents the passion of blacksmith Howard Eagle. Howard has works metal right here in Bay City, and has been a blacksmith for over 30 years. He is a member of the Max Kerry Blacksmith Guild and Michigan Blacksmiths, the former of which provided him with his training when he was in high school. Blacksmithing is a craft with a long and rich history, and blacksmiths have played an important role in society for many hundreds of years. From forging rivets that held the first metal ships together, creating weapons like swords or spears, hammering arrowheads used in hunting, to shaping the knives and saws used to build houses, blacksmiths have left their mark on history. Despite their unique talents and importance in metalworking, blacksmiths are few and far between today. Fortunately, it is a not a skill lost to time, and Howard will be at this year s Waterfowl Festival to demonstrate what a blacksmith can do with modern metals using tried and tested tools of the trade. His demonstrations, and their results, will certainly be a unique sight to see. Howard will be shaping metal throughout the day, so join him at his forge near the entrance of the festival (where the wind can better blow his fire s smoke into the Saginaw Bay) for the chance to ask him questions and learn about one of the oldest trades in the world! WATERFOWL CALLING CONTEST Can you blow a duck call? Are you just starting out, or are you ready to be Michigan s representative at the World s Championship Duck Calling Contest in Stuttgart, Arkansas? Either way, we have a duck calling contest for you! The Duck Calling contests get better every year, with callers young and old displaying their skills with a duck call. Don t miss your opportunity to compete in the 2015 Calling Competitions: SATURDAY at 2:30 PM is the Jr. Duck Calling Contest with 3 divisions: Fledglings (first time calling), Tenderfoot (12 & under), Hunters (16 & under). SATURDAY at 3:30 PM is the Team Duck Calling Contest with Novice (Adult/Youth) and Masters divisions. Winners of the Masters division receive a $200 cash prize! SUNDAY at 11:30 AM is the Jr. Goose Calling Contest with 3 divisions: Fledglings, Tenderfoot, and Hunter. At 12:30 PM is the State Goose Calling Contest, and at 1:30 PM is the State Duck Calling Championship. The State competitions will each feature two divisions: Novice and Masters. Winners of these Masters competitions can advance to national level contests, and win $300 cash prizes! Trophies and Limited Edition Duck Stamp prints are just some of the other prizes offered! There is a $20 registration fee for the Team Contest; a $25 fee for the State Goose & Duck Championship Masters division, and $10 Novice division fee. Jr. contests are free! Entries will be accepted at the Friends of BCSRA Information Booth up to 15 minutes before each event begins. Nest box for Wood Ducks Members of the Michigan Duck Hunter s Association have played a vital role in bringing back the Wood Duck from the brink of extinction, to being the most common nesting duck in the Saginaw Valley today! Almost all of Tobico Marsh s 150+ Wood Duck boxes were built and maintained by MDHA members. Parents and their children can also get involved in helping the Wood Duck by building a Wood Duck box for their own hunting property. The Wood Duck House Workshop is from 10 AM to 11:30 AM on Saturday, and from 2:30 PM to 4 PM on Sunday. Be one of the first 20 families to attend the Festival s Wood Duck Nest Box Clinic on Saturday and Sunday, and you will receive a free nest box to take home to improve nesting habitat in your favorite wetland location!
MICHIGAN DNR LAW ENFORCEMENT PROVIDES WATERFOWL EDUCATION Conservation Officers will be available to answer your outdoor recreation questions at the DNR Law Enforcement Information Booth, located in front of the Hunting & Outdoor Recreation Expo tent during the Festival. Area Conservation officers will also be discussing 2015 Waterfowl Hunting Rules & Regulations, and changes to expect this year. They will give updates on local, State, and National fishing and wildlife hunting policies and regulations during a presentation in the Visitor Center Auditorium at 11 AM on Saturday and at 9:30 AM on Sunday. Kids and parents are invited to try out their Duck ID skills and enter the officer s Duck ID Challenge for a chance to win special waterfowl prizes! DNR WILDLIFE DIVISION Michigan DNR biologists will be available to answer your wildlife questions both days of the Festival. The DNR Information booth is located inside the Visitor Center. On Sunday, at 10 AM, DNR Wildlife Division biologists from Nayanquing Point, Fish Point, and Crow Island will present the DNR Waterfowl Hunting Forecast in the Visitor Center Auditorium. They ll be giving picture tours of some management areas at 1:30 PM on Saturday and Sunday in the Clinic Tent. Area managers will also be on hand to give updates on conditions of the State s staging areas and predictions in regards to the upcoming waterfowl season. You can find more information by visiting www.michigan.gov/dnr or calling: Wildlife Division Information - (517) 373-1263 Saginaw Bay District Wildlife Division - (989) 684-9141. Nayanquing Point Wildlife Area - (989) 697-5101 St. Charles Field Office - (989) 865-6211 Fish Point Wildlife Area - (989) 674-2511
Featured Wildlife Photographers: Michael & Teresa McGill Michael and Teresa McGill are passionate wildlife videographer and photographers. They began their journey over fourteen years ago after a strange encounter with an exotic bird walking through a marsh in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. That bird was a sandhill crane, which was near extinction in Michigan at one time. Since then, Michael and Teresa have spent their time joining research teams studying toxin levels in eaglets, to filming and photographing bald eagles from their eagle blind in a farmer s field, to photographing the black bears along the Toonerville Trolley tracks. Michael and Teresa spend as much time as possible in the wilds of Northern Michigan. One of their favorite locations is Seney National Wildlife Refuge in the Upper Peninsula. It is, in fact, a refuge for the McGills, because it provides them with a peaceful, serene place to do what they love most: photographing and filming Michigan s amazing wildlife. Teresa journals everything they observe when at the refuge, and she closely follows the life of the oldest known banded common loon, ABJ, who will be 27 years old this year. They like to think they are just ordinary people discovering extraordinary things in this wonderful State of Michigan that they call home. They hope to spread the word about what this amazing State has to offer from the Pictured Rock National Lakeshore, to the Bald Eagles that have made a spectacular comeback, to the multitudes of other hidden treasures that this Great Lakes State has to offer. They ll be talking about their exciting work in the Visitor Center Auditorium on Saturday at 2 PM and on Sunday at 2:30 PM. And be sure to check out their website at www. mcgillsnatureinmotion or McGill s Nature in Motion on Facebook. Wildlife Carving Competition Brought to you by the Saginaw Bay Decoy Carvers The carving contest inspires in our visitors awareness and appreciation for the beauty and variety of Michigan s waterfowl & wildlife that depend upon wetlands for their habitat. Visitors can see a unique form of recreation that gives value to the wildlife of the wetlands: decorative wildlife carving. The Wildlife Carving Competition also gives local artists an opportunity to display and share their artistic creations with others, compare their high-quality work to others, and learn from other artists. The exhibit inside the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center includes for categories of Michigan wildlife (fish, songbirds, waterfowl, and general wildlife) for all visitors to enjoy. The Working Decoy Competition includes Amateur and Open divisions, which are judged by the Saginaw Bay Decoy Carvers. Judging for the Working Decoy Competition is Saturday at 1 PM on the island in front of the Visitor Center. People s Choice Awards continue through 1 PM on Sunday. You can register for this event by contacting Ron at 517-525-3628 or derdowskironald@gmail. com, or Mike at 989-284-4355 or mmielens@ yahoo.com Michigan Wildlife Photography Contest Have you taken a memorable photo of Michigan s wildlife in your favorite outdoor location? Why not enter your wildlife photo in this unique contest where the visitors are the judges? Bring your entry to the Visitor Center before 9 PM Friday, July 31. The photograph should be matted (not framed) and no larger than 11 x17 (matte included). First prize for each category is a Michigan Duck Stamp print. Come see the beauty of Michigan s wildlife in the Visitor Center, and vote for your favorite! Public voting closes at 1 PM on Sunday, and awards are given at 3 PM on Sunday. Featured Waterfowl Carver: Tony Kirby Tony Kirby thought he would only begin collecting decoys when he went to his first Ohio Duck Collectors & Carvers Association show with his brother. Instead, he began carving his own. Tony had hunted his entire life, mainly small game and deer, but didn t get into duck hunting until his midtwenties, after his brother Jim and father-in-law Buster Sampier asked him to try it. He grew up in Algonac, and spent much of his time hunting the St. Clair Flats in St. Clair, Michigan. He was hooked, and went duck hunting whenever he could, always hunting around the Old Club and channel around Harsens Island. Tony has always lived, and spent much of his childhood, in the Blue Water area. Living in an area that is rich in history, and rich in decoy carvers, he was lucky enough to have a few world-class mentors. He credits Gary Hanson, Jon Jones, Bud Shell, and his brother Jim Kirby for helping him learn the art of decoy carving, and cutting his learning curve in half. Since he began decoy carving, Tony has won numerous ribbons, and a couple Best of Shows, including the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival contest in 2014. Tony is excited to be this year s Featured Waterfowl Carver, and said it is an honor being named Featured Carver at this year s show, and I am looking forward to meeting all of the hunters that have been hooked on this great sport we call waterfowl hunting. Tony s work is on display in the Visitor Center, and he ll be talking about the art of decoy carving in the Clinic Tent on Saturday at 11:30 AM and on Sunday at 10 AM.
Enter the QUACK-ATHLON! The Quack-Athlon is back! This is an event for teams of three (one adult and two youth, 17 & under) to test their waterfowl hunting skills and compete in a unique competition composed of 4 events: Decoy Toss, Canoeing, Waterfowl ID, and Air Rifle Marksmanship! You can register for this event at the Friends of BCSRA Information Booth. Registration will close at 2 PM on Saturday and 10 AM on Sunday. The competition begins at 11 AM on Saturday and at 12 PM on Sunday. The Waterfowl ID Trail, Decoy Toss, and Air Rifle Marksmanship can be completed any time before the start of the day s Quack- Athlon canoe race. The canoe races begin at 3:30 PM on Saturday and 1:30 PM on Sunday. Awards will be given during the awards ceremonies on Saturday and Sunday. See Page 9 for more information. Don t have enough time for the Quack-Athlon? Try the Frank s Great Outdoors Adult-Youth Canoe Race! Whichever event you choose, you ll have great fun and could win great prizes in Michigan s Great Outdoors! Frank s Great Outdoors Adult-Youth Canoe Race The Adult-Youth Canoe Race has been a popular event for a number of years, and always ends in fun! The race is conducted in heats of five canoe teams, with the winning team from each heat competing for the grand prize: one dozen duck decoys, courtesy of Frank s Great Outdoors. The prize for each heat winner is a single duck decoy. Each team must be composed of one adult and one youth (17 & under). You can register at the Friends of BCSRA Information Booth prior to the races, which are at 1 PM on Saturday and 11:30 AM on Sunday. Registration for this event closes 15 minutes prior to the beginning of each race. There is plenty of room for spectators to enjoy this challenging competition! Featured Wildlife Artist: Gina Calocassides Gina Calocassides has nurtured a lifelong love for wildlife, in particular waterfowl and North American mammals, which she expresses through her paintings. She enjoys competing regularly in various State stamp competitions, such as the Michigan State Duck Stamp Competition. Gina works primarily in acrylics, and tends toward a classic style, favoring action of the subject and featuring the natural beauties of its habitats. Gina has also branched out into pet portraiture, and enjoys working in other media, such as pen and ink. She has a distinct and witty flair for cartooning as well, especially animals. She has previously taught art and drawing classes in a community education setting in the Metro Detroit Area. Gina currently resides in St. Clair Shores. She has 3 adult children, is working as a licensed Respiratory Therapist, and is, of course, painting. Stop in at the Visitor Center to view Gina s work, and be sure to have her help you draw a Duck Stamp in the Activity Shelter on Saturday at 2 PM, and on Sunday at 1 PM. Featured Taxidermist: Travis McLeod Travis McLeod has been doing taxidermy since he was 12 years old. His father, who he has spent many hours learning from, has had a successful taxidermy business for over 30 years. He has helped Travis to fine tune his artistic eye. About 5 years ago, he decided to start offering waterfowl taxidermy services to his good friends. This allowed him to expand his knowledge and skills with taxidermy. In the last few years, word-of-mouth referrals have brought in many new clients, and business had really picked up for Travis. This gave him what he needed to start his own business and jump in feet first. Travis has hunted sea ducks on the east coast, and spring snow geese in Missouri. He understands what it means to finally get that trophy bird you have been waiting for. Waterfowl hunting is a true passion of his, and that is why he focuses all his effort on birds. Currently, waterfowl taxidermy is the only service Travis offers, and whether someone asks him to mount a little teal or a giant Canada goose, his goal is to make the mount the envy of all. In creating artistic live mounts and dioramas, he has one main goal: to keep his customers happy with his services and thrilled with their trophies. He doesn t want to just mount a duck to your satisfaction. He wants you to be so happy when you pick up your bird you can t wait for next waterfowl season to come so you can add another trophy to your wall. He feels he is truly successful when he can provide such excitement to his customers. His impressive work will be on display in the Visitor Center, and he ll be talking about his hobby-turned-career in the Visitor Center Wet Lab on Saturday at and Sunday at 1:30 PM.
Fishing Licenses Live Bait - Including Minnows Eagle Valley Outfitters can help you select from hunting and fishing Fishing Gear and Tackle supplies or apparel. Stop in or go Tactical Weapons & Gear selection of shotguns, handguns, rifles Bows & Crossbows Ammunition online and check out our large and tactical gear as well as AR-10 s, AR-15 s and hard to find parts. (989) 846-1809 4 )VSPO 3E t 1JODPOOJOH.* Located at the corner of Worth Road and M-13 between Standish and Pinconning. www.eaglevalleyoutfitters.com OPEN 7 DAYS! 8 am -8 pm
QUACK-ATHLON EVENTS WATERFOWL ID TRAIL Waterfowl ID Trail Open Both Days Try out your skills of duck identification! Over 100 decoys will be set out along the Tobico Lagoon Trail for you to identify. This is a great opportunity for adults to help children learn and exercise waterfowl identification and bird watching skills! Free DNR Wildlife poster for each family who participates. There is a free prize drawing at the end of each day for those who hand in their score sheet, and a special grand prize drawing for those with perfect scores! DECOY TOSS The Decoy Toss is not only for anyone who wishes to try, but an individual event for youth participants in the Quack- Athlon. Those who wish to test their decoy throwing skills simply need to stop by the dock! A ring target will be placed in the lagoon, and you earn more points for being closer to the center of the ring target. Youth participants in the Quack- Athlon can throw between 11 AM and 12 PM on Saturday, and between 10 AM and 10:30 AM on Sunday, so be sure to register early! AIR RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP Provided by Duncan s Outdoor Shop, our Air Rifle trailers will test the outdoor skill of marksmanship for not only participants in the Quack-Athlon, but anyone who wishes to give it a shot! The trailers are staffed by certified Hunter s Education teachers, making this a safe environment for youth to learn safety and proper shooting techniques. Be sure to register for the Quack-Athlon early so you can complete this popular activity. You don t want to end up being stuck in line! CANOE RACE Be sure you register early and complete all the other Quack- Athlon events, because you CAN NOT miss the Quack- Athlon canoe race! The races are from 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM on Saturday, and from 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM on Sunday. This is the chance for teams to show they can work as a unit, paddling to the other side of the lagoon and back to try and win it all! Canoes, paddles, and life jackets are provided. The awards ceremony will take place on our new outdoor stage after the canoe races are completed. DOG FUN HUNT TRIALS Do you have a sporting dog? Then bring him or her down to the Lagoon Dock for the Fun Hunt Trials! The Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival is always excited to provide sporting dog owners the opportunity to test their dog s skills in retrieving a downed duck. Every dog that participates will receive a ribbon. This year, the Central Michigan Hunting Retrievers Club will be on hand to provide training techniques and tips for hunting dog owners during the Fun Hunt Trials. Kaybee s K9 Training will also be present all weekend near the Lagoon Dock to demonstrate utility canine field skills, and provide training tips for owners who are interested in learning about utility dogs. Saturday Trials 10 AM 11 AM 12 PM 1 PM 2 PM 3:30 PM 4:30 PM 6 PM Sunday Trials 9 AM 10 AM 10:30 AM 11:30 AM 12:30 PM 1:30 PM
DON T MISS YOUR COMMEMORATIVE WATERFOWL FESTIVAL T-SHIRT CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF WATERFOWL HUNTING AND WETLAND CONSERVATION Multiple colors available. Order by July 19, and pick it up at the Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area Information Booth during the Waterfowl Festival Purchase your shirt at: saginawbaywaterfowlfestival.itemorder.com Shirts are available from Sandlot Sports LLC as pre-order. Very few shirts will be available to purchase at the Festival. Available for pick up during Waterfowl Festival hours. For more information: visit friendsofpark.org or email waterfowlfestival@sbcglobal.net
SEE OUR BRAND NEW OUTDOOR STAGE! The Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area gained help from Sequin Lumber, Younkers, Bay Area Runner s Club, Bay Area Community Foundation, Dow Corning Advisory Fund, Morning Rotary Club, and the Michigan DNR to construct a brand new Nancy Weiland Memorial Stage! This stage will be used for the Recreation Area s two outdoor series: Movies by the Bay and Music from the Marsh. And, of course, we ll be using it for this year s calling contests! Visit friendsofpark.org for event schedules and other information. OUT WITH THE OLD... AND IN WITH THE NEW! 1893 Sagatoo Road Standish, Michigan 48658 t 'VMM 4FSWJDF BOE.BJOUFOBODF 0O 4JUF t %BJMZ BOE 8FFLMZ %PDLT t 'VMMZ 4UPDLFE 4UPSF t -BVODI 1BTTFT t 0O 4JUF 'VFM 4BMFT t #BUISPPN BOE 4IPXFS 'BDJMJUJFT t #FFS 8JOF 4QJSJUT "WBJMBCMF t #PBU BOE 5SBJMFS 4UPSBHF t.psf UIBO 60 SLIPS AVAILABLE XJUI 'MPBUJOH %PDLT t FREE SHUTTLE UP BOE GSPN 4BHBOJOH &BHMFT -BOEJOH $BTJOP 25 $ PAVIL ION RENTA L ZZZ HDJOHED\PDULQD FRP
A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS AND PARTNERS For 20 years, the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival has had the wonderful support of many local outreach and conservation groups, and local businesses. If it were not for them, we would not still be here! Their contributions provide the festival with contest prizes (ranging from duck calls, to trophies, to cash prizes), and allow us to cover the many fees and costs required to host the Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival here at Bay City State Recreation Area. Every year, local businesses choose to advertise in this very newspaper program, and it would not exist without them! We are proud to be able to partner with such enthusiastic people, organizations, and businesses that support our mission: to stimulate interest and awareness in Michigan s waterfowl resources, the sport of waterfowl hunting, and the need to conserve these valuable resources! Enjoy this 20th Annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival! Kids! Don t forget to register for the Jr. Ranger Patch! Earn this FREE patch by participating in 5 activities on the day of the festival. Register under the Hunting & Outdoor Recreation Expo Tent at the Jr. Ranger Registration Table, or at the Visitor Center information desk! AN UPDATE FROM THE MICHIGAN WATERFOWL LEGACY The Michigan Waterfowl Legacy has had a productive year since the previous Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival. Many projects have been underway including the revamping of the Bad Creek Unit of the Pointe Mouillee State Game Area and Ford Marsh of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge. These projects have been prepared with our partner, Ducks Unlimited. MWL has also been scattering the word about waterfowl related recreation, events, and activities through our seasonal newsletter. Some of the events that MWL has been present at during this time have been the Muskegon Sportsmen for Youth Day, several youth waterfowl hunt events, Constitution Hall Earth Day, spring birding tours, and Potter Park Zoo s Migratory Bird Day. The Michigan Waterfowl Legacy has also implemented their new mascot, Maverick the Mallard. Maverick has been banned, like any other mallard, but now voyages around and educates about waterfowl and wetlands. Maverick has been present at our Earth Day and Migratory Bird Day events in addition to a few of the spring birding open houses. This summer on Facebook, updates from the Duck Banding Team have kept track of their exploits. Be sure to like us on Facebook to continue to follow the team through the fall migration and to be updated on everything MWL. Let s Get Quackin!