Bay City State Recreation Area hosts 17th annual waterfowl festival Aug. 4-5

Presumably, this image will NOT be a serious contender
for the 2013 Michigan Duck Stamp Competition

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will host the 17th annual Saginaw Bay Waterfowl Festival on Aug. 4-5 at Bay City State Recreation Area. Festival activities focus on getting families outdoors to appreciate Michigan’s ducks and geese, which depend upon the wetlands of the Saginaw Bay Watershed for staging, nesting and breeding habitat. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Visitors are invited to be a part of a wide range of activities and programs and learn about Michigan’s waterfowl resources, the sport of waterfowl hunting and conservation programs, which need volunteers to succeed. The event is co-sponsored by the Michigan Duck Hunters Association (MDHA), the Friends of Bay City State Recreation Area and Ducks Unlimited. Last year more than 10,000 visitors attended this popular event.

The festival’s main events include:

The Michigan Duck Stamp Competition
This event showcases the entries in the 2013 MDHA Duck Stamp Contest, which is open to all artists. This will be the only opportunity for the public to view all entries for the 2013 Duck Stamp. The Michigan Duck Stamp Program began 34 years ago to raise money for wetland habitat restoration and habitat acquisition for waterfowl. A portion of every waterfowl stamp and print purchased goes toward Michigan wetland habitat restoration.

Waterfowl Calling Championships
The Michigan Goose Calling Competition and the Michigan Championship Duck Calling Contest are two of the festival’s popular events. The calling competitions include Master and Novice divisions. There will also be a Junior Duck Calling Competition and a Junior Goose Calling Contest for youth ages 16 and under. The festival will also host a Team Duck Calling Contest, designed for teams of two hunters using working field calls, on Saturday. The Saginaw Bay Chapter of Delta Waterfowl will also offer youth and adult calling classes.

Hunting and Outdoor Recreation Expo
Over 100 exhibitors will be involved in the Hunting and Outdoor Recreation Expo, providing waterfowl enthusiasts with hunting, archery, camping, boating, wildlife watching and habitat enhancement products and wares. The expo includes a special Wildlife Art and Craft Show with fine art originals, prints, photos, carvings and crafts all inspired by the wonder and beauty of nature.

Dog Fun Hunt Trial
Bring your retriever to participate in the Dog Fun Hunt Trial. Learn tips from trainers on dog handling or find a new hunting buddy in "Puppy Alley."

Quack-Athalon
One of the increasingly popular events is designed to offer an opportunity for adults to mentor young hunters in a three-person team (one adult, two youth) competition. The "Quack-Athalon" is a contest of skill and timing in three events: canoeing, air rifle marksmanship and duck identification.

Special Exhibits
Displays will be featured by wildlife artist Chris Wosniak, wildlife carver John Cottingham and taxidermist R.J. Meyers. Visitors will also be able to enter their own wildlife carvings and wildlife photographs and participate in judging the Wildlife Carving Show entries and the Wildlife Photography Contest entries.

For more details on these activities and information for exhibitors, visit www.michigan.gov/saginawbayvc; stop by the Saginaw Bay Visitor Center, located within Bay City State Recreation Area, 3582 State Park Drive in Bay City; or call 989-667-0717.

Admission is free to festival events, but a Recreation Passport is required for all vehicles entering the park.