Curious if anyone is planning on attending the Wisconsin Deer & Turkey Expo the weekend of April 1st. I am planning on making the trip up just not sure if it will be Saturday or Sunday yet.
We are planning on arriving early Saturday. Anyone else going to be arriving early? Hope I get a chance to meet a few new guys from the forums!
If anyone is near the Kenosha/IL state line area and wants a ride to the show let me know. Thought my buddy was going to be going with but he has bailed now. Have room for 2 more.
Heading there this afternoon/evening. I will never go on a Saturday again!!! Too many people for this small-town boy.
It was good as usual Jim. Two of my buddies and my ol man decided earlier in the day on Friday they didn't want to go so I brought my 7 yr old son. I had a better time with my boy anyway!! I'm not sure if it was the rain during the afternoon or what, but there seemed to be less people this year. Sat thru a couple seminars that were OK (Fred Abbas and John Eberhart). I was really looking forward to the Eberhart presentation as I have read a couple of his books. Also, most of my whitetail hunting these days is on rather competetive public hunting grounds similiar to public land that he has been quite successful. I'm sure he is a nice guy on a personal basis, but as a public speaker I was a dissappointed. BH.com was not there again this year as you probably know so I didn't win a CanCooker or Mathews bow yet again this year!! Lots of interesting, awesome, strange, stupid and ridiculous products in the exhibition hall. I walked out at night with a new XOP tree stand, a rubber band gun for Ethan and 2 jars of Ben's mustard. If you are into the "celebrity" hunters/huntresses, Pat and Nicole Reeves were there wandering around. Have a great time man!! Mike
Great review! I haven't hit the road yet the gf is sick and the snow has slowed me down this morning but should be at the show by noonish.
I arrived just before 9 and walked right in as doors opened Saturday. Line was wrapped quite a ways around the building by this time. I went to 3 speakers, I was hoping to get in a 4th but needed more time to walk around. I also dodged out before the last session as I wasn't feeling well. The first 2 I attended were good, but I must agree with an earlier post in that John Eberhart is not a public speaker. Not only that, but I really didn't feel like in over an hrs time he shared even 1 thing that wasn't basic knowledge. As far as exhibits I was let down. That said, it felt similar to that of the last 2 years. I wan't more SNP and they weren't there (never have enough). I was shopping for deals and personally didn't find much (maybe have to go on Sunday next time). I was hopeful of some good decoys and prices on what was there (not much) were elevated. I wanted to see new redneck soft sided blind and it wasn't in yet. Also wanted some Sitka gear.....they were my biggest letdown. When I asked how much stuff was they merely directed me to the catalog and price inside and informed me they really weren't selling anything. As far as cameras go I was hoping to stumble across some deals. Outside of one booth selling most brands and the Exodus booth there wasn't another exhibitor selling cameras in the whole place. Maybe things were just down overtime I walked by, but it looked pretty slow for Exodus. Couple place had vortex glass I wanted, only to be told they were only exposing buyers to products/not for sale. I was hopeful to find some lone wolf, muddy, camo, arrows, or really anything new for 2016 this wasn't the case. Like I said, it was what I have come to expect given that we are so well educated with products when it comes to whats going on in the industry (we have sites like this to thank for that). That said, YES I will be going again next year if it pans out in my schedule. Its just a great chance to see fellow hunters, to get even more jacked about the upcoming season, maybe snag a bargain, do some networking, and spend time with family and friends.
