Yeah, the show’s definitely gone PC. So PC, in fact, that the NRA was invited as an exhibitor this year, after a long absence. They surely must be trying to take the “gun” out of the show. Or perhaps it’s something else.
Gunning is a common term for hunting in South Jersey, but little-used elsewhere, even in the northern part of the state, which has its fair share of hunters. I’ve given countless press interviews about the show over the years and one of the more common questions has been in regards to the name, with the misconception being that it was a gun show. If it were a gun show, I’d defend it to the last breath, but it is not. It started as a gathering of a small and local group of decoy collectors and was quickly turned into an actual show by the Ocean County Parks Department. Other contests related to waterfowling, in addition to decoys, were added in subsequent years, including boatbuilding, duck calling, skeet shooting from a duck boat and hunting retrievers. But the emphasis of the show has always been waterfowling.
Waterfowling is an accurate, long-standing and widely used term for the sport. It is also a more precise one, as “gunning” can refer to deer, rabbit, squirrel or other types of hunting, which are rarely represented by exhibitors at this show. What is represented at the show are vendors and visitors from many parts of the country where gunning is not a term used for hunting. One can hear southern accents emanating from many of the vendor spaces and we’ve even had vendors from Canada. If relevant and desired vendors and exhibitors do not understand the nature of the show, they might not be attracted to it. We also may be losing free advertising in print and online calendars of events for the same reason. I’ve often submitted material that never made it into these calendars, which is unusual for a large event. If clarifying the difference between a waterfowling show and a gun show is considered PC by those looking for bogeymen under every bed, then so be it. The show is primarily intended to highlight and preserve the traditions of the area’s baymen and sportsmen, and the unique tools used by them. The semantics are less important, and were changed to address a wider and changing audience, even in our own region.
My departed friend Pete is surely rolling over in his grave, if he were in one. Still one of the best shows around for outdoors stuff, even if it is now politically correct.
