One hundred and fifty years of hunting the canal

The Long Island Decoy Collectors Association 2026 annual show will once again display and offer for sale thousands of antique decoys and other sporting collectibles. This year’s show will celebrate a century and a half of hunting one of North America’s best-known waterfowl—the Canada goose. The exhibit begins in the mid-1800s, when all Canada geese were born in Canada, and continues to the year 2000 when they were also breeding here in the Lower 48 and became true Long Island residents. The hunting has changed along with the birds’ habits—but their unmistakable calls and inspiring flights still excite our gunners from east to west.

Also inside will be another vintage vessel. This year features a Great South Bay grass boat that once belonged to George “Pops” Combs Sr.—one of the founders of the Decoys Collectors club. Featured in Newsday back in 1941, the vessel has recently been restored meticulously by a local father-son team.

Begun last year, more than a dozen miniature duck boats will be on display—each competing for a valuable prize. And, an award-winning pint-size decoy carving shop will also be there.

The Long Island Wildfowl Heritage Group will provide updates on its local waterfowl research activities. This year’s project focuses on what has been learned about the migrations of the North Atlantic population of Canada geese.

Outside, the fourth annual Duck Boat Exhibition is an opportunity for hunters to display their duck boats in the parking area north of the show entrance. This feature was a great success in its first three years, with dozens of waterfowl hunting vessels on hand. All duck boat owners are encouraged to bring their rigs and are asked to pre-register on the LIDCA website.

Admission to the annual show is $10 for adults; children 12 and under get in free. Parking is free.