The Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic is an annual event for Illinois deer hunters, turkey hunters and their families.
- Tech information centers
- Basic hunting skills seminars
- Contests
- Events & demonstrations
- Activities
- Displays
- Core of the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic
NEW in 2010!
Nine hunting equipment subjects loaded with how-to and what-to, etc. All booths located together, with a mini-seminar area. Several subjects will have full-blown seminars in the main seminar rooms instead of mini-seminars at the Tech Info Center.
All tech booths will be hosted by recognized experts in their specific fields.
The tech centers --
- Firearms Answer Man - Ron Spomer
- Archery Answer Man - Larry Wise
- Black Powder & Slug Guns - Dave Henderson
- Optics (Scopes & Binoculars) in conjunction w/ firearms TEC - Ron Spomer
- Turkey Decoys & Decoying - Gary Clancy
- Fabrics/Hunting Clothes/Footwear - Mike Faw
- Food Plots - Judy Helgeland
- Venison Butchering & Processing - Bill Hesselgrave
- Wild Foods Handling & Cooking - Jason Coleman
These will be nuts-and-bolts seminars of 25 minutes or less ... because many new hunters can’t sit still longer than that. They shouldn’t be overloaded with information at the beginning anyway. Starting out ... it must be fun and exciting. Parents ... come along with your kids. First-year hunters of any age are welcome, too.
The schedule, with topics and speakers, will be posted as soon as it is completed.
Illinois Whitetail Deer Trophy Contest & Display
Nearly 600 Illinois whitetail deer trophy entries are expected. Measuring and scoring is by people certified by the Boone & Crockett Club, Pope & Young Club, or Illinois Big Buck Recognition Program. Boone & Crockett / Pope & Young scoring system is used. Contest fee is $15; in return, you get a three-day pass to the Classic.
See the Contests Page for all rules on contest trophy entries and 'measure only' non-contest trophies.
See Illinois Whitetail Deer Photo Gallery.
Illinois State Turkey Calling & Owl Hooting Championship
Contest held Saturday, Feb. 27. Contact: Gary Eichenberger (309-454-6502 evenings) for details. This is a sanctioned NWTF event.
See the Contests Page for details and rules.
Trail Camera Photo Contest
Trail cameras see some strange things among wildlife populations -- and some big antlers -- when no humans are around.
See the Contests Page for details and rules, and last year's winning photos. More than 225 photos are expected.
See Illinois Trail Camera Photo Gallery.
Outdoor Photo Contest
Photos of good times in the outdoors make good memories. Show those memories, and your photography skill, by entering this contest.
See the Contests Page for details and rules, and last year's winning photos. More than 225 photos are expected.
See Illinois Outdoor Photo Gallery.
Byron Ferguson, Archery Trick Shot
Byron Ferguson and his entertaining archery trick shooting is an annual event. He is fun to see and his shots are awesome. Your entire family will enjoy his performance.
He will give two performances Saturday, February 27, and two performances Sunday, February 28.
Byron has videos and books titled "Become The Arrow" to help you learn his shooting system.
Cooking Venison & Other Wild Foods
A cooking demo, plus meat handling, freezing, thawing, seasoning and serving tips will be given at the Tech Info Center seminar area on the exhibit floor. Be ready to sample some great flavors. Come prepared to take notes. Venison and wild food cookbooks will be available at the Hess Video Productions booth.
Venison Butchering & Processing
Bill Hesselgrave and his venison butchering and processing demonstrations return annually. First-timers want to see how to do it right, and returning folks like to review Bill's demonstrations to be sure they heard right and remembered right when it came time to do their own venison butchering.
Shooting Ranges (for kids of all ages)
Laser- Airgun
- Archery (FREE shooting instruction)
Airgun and archery ranges are operated under the watchful eyes of adult range masters for best learning and safe operation. One laser range has big game video footage complete with sound; one has video game-type action. Shooting and safety equipment is provided. Airgun range is operated by the Lexington Sportsmen Club; archery range is operate by the Illinois Bowfishers.
Bow Tryout Area
“Try before you buy” is an old, and very good, adage. This is the place to find out whether the handle fits your hand, or the draw is as smooth as you like, or...
New Products Special Display Area
New 2010 hunting products and accessories from exhibiting manufacturers are displayed together in one area near the exhibit floor entrance. All products are identified by exhibitor name and booth number.
Many people don't want a sales person hanging on their elbow when they first look at a new product. This is the perfect opportunity to examine new products on your own.
Forage Crop Pocket Guide
This 52-page, info-packed guide book will be available at the Food Plot Demo Area. There's more good info per page in this little booklet than you'll find in any other book. It's affordable ... only $3.
See Forage Crop Pocket Guide on Bookstore Page for details
OWAA National Outdoor Photo Contest Winners
Some of the best black-and-white and four-color nature and outdoor photography you will ever see. Sponsored by the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA).
Natural History Displays
You and your family will enjoy these.
- Complete whitetail deer skeleton in a glass case. Artwork of the skeleton identifies every bone. This will help you figure out best aiming point-of-impact for quickest results, where to shoot and where not to shoot.
- Flint-knapping demonstrations -- See stone arrowheads, spear points, knives and axes made the same as they were thousands of years ago. Stone work by Mark McDaniel, Metamora.
- Hides / furs / pelts of Illinois fur-bearers -- Provided by Illinois Trappers Association.
- Live Game Animals & Predators -- Cougar, wolf, black bear, grizzly bear, bobcat, coyote.
CORE OF THE ILLINOIS DEER & TURKEY CLASSIC
1. Seminar Speakers
- All seminars are FREE once you have purchased your admission ticket.
- 2010 Illinois seminar schedule is posted.
- Most speakers and topics change every year. The food plot topic (see above) is one of the few that have become continuous, but even here we vary the specific subject matter within the broad food plot field.
2. Exhibit Booths
See NEW PRODUCTS and talk face-to-face with factory reps at more than 320 booths. Get your hunting equipment and accessory questions answered here. An alphabetical list of exhibitors will be published 45 days before the Classic and updated weekly.
Many companies exhibit on a rotating basis, exhibiting on alternating years so they can reach a wider market over a two-year or three-year span. Those you missed last year may be back this year.
Centerfire firearms, black powder and bowhunting gear.- Accessories - scopes, binoculars, game and bird calls, tree stands, GPS, scents and lures, hunting blinds, deer feeds, knives, camouflage and other hunting clothing, footwear ...and a lot more.
- Guides and outfitters from throughout the United States, Canada and South Africa for all types of big game.
- Wildlife art and artists, book and magazine publishers, video producers
- Wild game cooking items and seasonings, cooking equipment and supplies, jerky and sausage.
- Outdoor lifestyle and home decorating items and ideas. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors will like these items for home, office, den, cabin or lodge. Products include food seasonings, clothing, cooking gear (kitchen & camp), carved and painted wildlife art, log homes and furniture, antler art, hats/purses/leather goods, etc. These exhibit booths are distributed randomly among all booths.
3. Illinois Trophy Deer Contest
See details in CONTESTS pages.
Tell Your Friends About the Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic
- Information posters and flyers are available FREE.
- Flyers include the new $2-off ticket discount coupon.
Contact us if you want free posters and/or flyers to give to friends, companies and organizations that cater to the hunter and outdoorsman.
