To Those That Participate on FB Duck Hunting Groups

[Anthony Babich]

Hey Eric & All!
I agree with you on many aspects and honestly have taken some steps away from FB as I found it's taken so much of my time not to mention the (Slight) addiction to purchasing duck boats / related material on Marketplace....lol but unfortunately so much has become commercialized within the hunting industry. I see it on both sides within my field and it's disappointing to see. For instance... open up a copy of Wildfowl you will see the major brands throughout with some simple, some complex, come catchy advertising that costs thousands then look towards the back where the "Mom & Pop's" shops once were... you'll find only 4/5 maybe... if that where there was 15-20+ just a few years ago.
Look at the shows... Easton, Maryland vendor rates went up 200%.... $2,000 for an outside space where it once was affordable to those who I feel understood the traditions, heritage and sport way more than 3-5 teens selling products that that are a "trend" or the "best of the best".. times have changed and hunting is just another industry for the $$.
In regards to Facebook groups, I manage about 23 groups in total.. 23 and I can tell you the spam messages, the AI influence has dramatically brought that down with Admin power but the actual valuable connection is nowhere near the connection I feel when I visit this site.
As a "youngster" myself >35 I see the shift here everyone's glued to the phones but that's the way society is transforming towards.. I just finished up a meeting today about virtual headsets for drone deliveries... it's a crazy world out there but one day they will look back at today's present as unrecognizable.

 

[Richard Lathrop]

Hey Eric & All!
I agree with you on many aspects and honestly have taken some steps away from FB as I found it's taken so much of my time not to mention the (Slight) addiction to purchasing duck boats / related material on Marketplace....lol but unfortunately so much has become commercialized within the hunting industry. I see it on both sides within my field and it's disappointing to see. For instance... open up a copy of Wildfowl you will see the major brands throughout with some simple, some complex, come catchy advertising that costs thousands then look towards the back where the "Mom & Pop's" shops once were... you'll find only 4/5 maybe... if that where there was 15-20+ just a few years ago.
Look at the shows... Easton, Maryland vendor rates went up 200%.... $2,000 for an outside space where it once was affordable to those who I feel understood the traditions, heritage and sport way more than 3-5 teens selling products that that are a "trend" or the "best of the best".. times have changed and hunting is just another industry for the $$.
In regards to Facebook groups, I manage about 23 groups in total.. 23 and I can tell you the spam messages, the AI influence has dramatically brought that down with Admin power but the actual valuable connection is nowhere near the connection I feel when I visit this site.
As a "youngster" myself >35 I see the shift here everyone's glued to the phones but that's the way society is transforming towards.. I just finished up a meeting today about virtual headsets for drone deliveries... it's a crazy world out there but one day they will look back at today's present as unrecognizable.

Anthony,

I wasn't aware of the vendor rate changes. The Waterfowl show felt like there were less vendors and visitors this year.

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

Anthony,

I wasn't aware of the vendor rate changes. The Waterfowl show felt like there were less vendors and visitors this year.

I was disappointed in the Waterfowl festival this yr. I had not been since Covid, but found it focused too much on drinking, and all the venues were changed and the cataloge was worthless to figure out where things were being displayed. The basement of the Elks Lodge was food, the Armory had flat art. I struggled to find festival merch and what I found was over priced and limited. Guess I need to spend a couple days to learn the new locations.

 

[Eric Patterson]

@Anthony Babich & @Dave Diefenderfer

A few years back I took a 90s Wildfowl magazine and started comparing the number of product endorsements and advertisements per page to a recent issue. I got tired of counting, but the difference was huge. Tell me something, at the shows is the merchandise stuff guys make out of their homes/shops or has it become a place for the well-known national vendors to set up booths?

 

[Richard Lathrop]

I was disappointed in the Waterfowl festival this yr. I had not been since Covid, but found it focused too much on drinking, and all the venues were changed and the cataloge was worthless to figure out where things were being displayed. The basement of the Elks Lodge was food, the Armory had flat art. I struggled to find festival merch and what I found was over priced and limited. Guess I need to spend a couple days to learn the new locations.

Dave,

I agree, for years Dave Clark was at the Elks lodge. This year he was out at the Country Day School. There were less sculpture vendors this year and the photography was moved to downtown across from Albrights. I get the feeling that Waterfowl wants to be more about socializing and art then hunting.

Rick

 

[Dave Diefenderfer]

@Anthony Babich & @Dave Diefenderfer

A few years back I took a 90s Wildfowl magazine and started comparing the number of product endorsements and advertisements per page to a recent issue. I got tired of counting, but the difference was huge. Tell me something, at the shows is the merchandise stuff guys make out of their homes/shops or has it become a place for the well-known national vendors to set up booths?

Eric, I was unable to find the hunter/carvers this time. In the past, the middle school was the place for them, Veneasy, Smyzer, etc, would all be there and I always found a decoy to add to my spread. This year, they used the parking lot for parking and a bus stop but nothing else. I did pick up a GW teal at the tailgate at the Country School, and a silly deal on Keith Mueller's The Art of Making Decoys, signed Collector's Editions at the high school.... so silly I bought 4! I will go back, as it is close for me just 2.5 hrs away, and try to find where my interests have been relocated.

 

[Anthony Babich]

@Anthony Babich & @Dave Diefenderfer

A few years back I took a 90s Wildfowl magazine and started comparing the number of product endorsements and advertisements per page to a recent issue. I got tired of counting, but the difference was huge. Tell me something, at the shows is the merchandise stuff guys make out of their homes/shops or has it become a place for the well-known national vendors to set up booths?

Eric, I would say 90% of the merchandise is factory made.. yes you will have some call makers actually make the entire product but many outsource clothing, calls, decoys and other products. The traditional root feel is long gone, in regards to Wildfowl on another note... the "Gear-Guide" issue where they showcase the BEST of the BEST products within the industry and recommend for public is all based on who gives the actual $$ there is no independent source, there's no true research its all about "ok this sponsor donated us xxx amount" lets put them in the gear guide. I've seen the contracts like WHAT! Like naming the top 10 players in the MLB but $$ is required to be mentioned lol! Years past it was never like that, manufacturers and other various product makers were excited to see if they were featured, it was something of a competition among the industry. The vendors I saw in Easton, MD even just 10 years ago no longer attend because they are 1. Too old lol and 2. feel that sense of authenticity to what really was the spark of this show is long gone. Where are the decoy carvers? Where are the call makers who are hand carving with their lathe? Where are the guys who have these new innovative ideas? Not someone on their phone standing behind a booth selling screen printed shirts for $40 lol. You'll find the last outlaw waterfowlers left at the high school parking lot otherwise stop by the show for some pale ales

 

[Matt Mahoney]

Easton Waterfowl Festival had record attendence this year. Our Retriever Demonstration was visited by hundreds of visitors on Saturday. But, there is no doubt that over the years it has become more of a Fall festival than a weekend dedicated to the interests of waterfowlers. Just witness the popularity of the Dock Dogs event.