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Champion decoy carver 7, 8/9 (L. Jeff ery goes daffy over ducks Wins awards at national event in Toronto By Jack Evans The Intelligencer The Intelligencer Don Jeff ery doesn't know whether to credit a "lucky duck" or his own skill following some major awards at the Canadian National Wood Decoy Contest at Toronto last week. The contest was held in con- junction with the annual Cana- dian National Sportsmans Show where Jeffery garnered the "best marsh duck" trophy in the intermediate carver cate- gory and first place in interme- diate wood duck carving. The city resident also won second prize in the intermedi- ate for a mallard drake and an- other bird won a third place in the intermediate scaup class. Jeffery says he is particu- larly proud of the first-place status of his Wood Duck drake. This was in a competition em- bracing carvers from across much of Canada and parts of Intelligencer photo by Jack Evans Award-winning carver Don Jeffery. the United States, with over 50 entries and judging by a panel of experts, including ornitholo- gists. In exhibition decoy carving, details must be precise in size, proportion and color, Jeffery adds. Even each feather must be painted individually, with several coats of paint involved. Jeffery has been doing decoy carving as a retirement hobby for about 10 years and has won several other awards. A few years ago he won a second place in the intermediate carving cat- egory for an Old Squaw in the World Championship Decoy contest at Ocean City, Mary-, land. For Jeffery, such competition quality work requires "about two months or more. But some people might work a bit faster," he quipped. Jeffery also won a first for a hooded merganser at the Sportsmans Show last year. Some of his carved ducks end up in proud owners' collections, ^s he regularly donates decoys to the Anglers and Hunters Federation and Ducks Unlim- ited as gifts for fund-raising auctions. T) (T*