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Join us at SITKA Vernon Hills for an event you won’t want to miss!Master carver Pat Gregory will be in-store carving a duck decoy live from 11 AM–3 PM.
Pat Gregory grew up in Joliet, Illinois. He is the great-grandson of famed Illinois River decoy maker George “Homerun” Barto, who began carving duck and goose decoys in the late 1890s. Barto himself was influenced by legendary carvers Robert Elliston, Bert Graves, and Charles Perdew.
Pat inherited Barto’s tools, patterns, and passion for waterfowling. He began hunting in 1972 and carved his first decoys in 1984. Today, he carves over 100 decoys each year, creating nearly every species of ducks and geese native to North America using cork, white pine, and white cedar.
His work has earned national recognition:
• Featured on ESPN’s Duck Trek in the article “A Wing, A Feather and A Prayer” (2009)
• Selected twice as a Master Carver by the Ward Foundation Museum of Collectible Decoys
• Named Featured Carver at the 2018 North American Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show
• Recipient of the 2025 Peter Ward Waterfowl Hunting Heritage Ambassador Award from the Delta Waterfowl Foundation
This event is free and open to the public.
Enjoy complimentary beverages, enter for door prizes, and meet Pat in person as you watch a true professional at work.
Stop by—this is a chance to see craftsmanship and heritage come alive!
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
925 N Milwaukee Ave Unit 100, Vernon Hills, IL 60061, United States
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