HIGHLIGHTS... HIGHLIGHTS... HIGHLIGHTS...

• New Special-Display Non-Contest Area for North American Big Game (Just Added)
  This item -- a non-contest special display -- was created as a bit of an experiment to offer show attendees an opportunity to display their trophies of the other species of North American big game that are not part of the trophy contest.
  “We all like to see wildlife. All species of wildlife. This can be a colorful showing of the diversity and beauty of big game animals we don’t see every day,” Helgeland said.
  There will be no measuring of these display-only animals. They will have their own display boards for head and shoulder mounts and floor area for full-body mounts.
  Full-body mounts of some of these will be spectacular, something we all will enjoy seeing, Helgand added. “We hope some full mounts are brought in.”
  The species that can be brought in for this non-contest display are: Alaska brown bear, grizzly bear, polar bear, bison, barren ground caribou, central Canada barren ground caribou, mountain caribou, Quebec/Labrador caribou, woodland caribou, cougar, Columbian blacktail deer (typical and non-typical), Sitka blacktail deer, coues’ deer (typical and non-typical), mule deer (typical and non-typical), Roosevelt’s elk, American elk (typical and non-typical), tule elk, Rocky Mountain goat, Alaska/Yukon moose, Canada moose, Shiras’ moose, muskox, pronghorn antelope, bighorn sheep, Dall’s sheep, desert bighorn sheep, Stone’s sheep.
  If you’re wondering, there is day and night security at all times.
  All trophies must register in Ballrooms 7-8 and get appropriate paperwork. There is no fee.
  If you have any questions, call 1-800-324-3337 and talk with Glenn.
• Deer Decoying Demonstration Area and Seminars
  Well-known outdoor writer Gary Clancy, who since 1981 has made a specialty of decoy use when bowhunting for whitetails (and written a couple of books on the topic), will present the seminars and host the demonstration area between seminars. He will be available to answer your decoying questions. Various brands of deer decoys will be displayed, with standing, feeding and bedded forms, bucks and does.
• Firearms ‘Answer Man’ Information Center
  Got questions on rifle selection, caliber selection, bullet weight, bullet performance, scope selection and use, windage calculations, or whatever? Ron Spomer, firearms and hunting columnist and feature writer for several major hunting magazines and outdoor television host, will be the available expert to answer them. He also will present seminars on the major points of contention, misunderstanding and usefulness (including scope and binocular optics. In fact, the Hands-On Optics Try-out Area will be positioned with this Firearms Information Center.
• Traditional Archery Alley
  Traditional archery is enjoying resurgence. Several manufacturers of traditional gear decided to group their exhibit space to maximize their exposure and make it easier for everyone interested in traditional archery to find them and talk with them. In addition, archery trick shot Byron Ferguson, who uses traditional gear, will have his booth is this area, and the entire Alley will be located close to the Bow Tryout Area, making it easy for you to try any bow you’re interested in.
• Helping Handicapped/Disabled Hunters
  The Accessibility Advisory Council (AAC), a Michigan DNR committee, was formed to create a program enabling the disabled to achieve their dreams in the outdoors. The Council works to ensure that everyone has access to the DNR's natural resource programs, facilities and services. An attended area of the exhibit floor will show hunting blinds, chairs, vision systems, battery-operated shooting accessories and related products to aid disabled hunters.
• Broadhead Collection
  There has been an amazing array of shapes, sizes, dimensions and designs of commercially-available broadheads over the years. The collection of Bill Hinkley, Ida, will be displayed. He is a long-time collector of all things archery and is a member of the American Broadhead Collectors Club.
• Tickets
  New three-day adult tickets and military personnel reduced rate tickets (1-day, 2-day, 3-day).
  New $1-off money-saving discount coupon. Find it on all printed flyers, in the PREVIEW magazine, and available for downloading on this web-site.
  Check the Tickets Page of this web-site for prices and details.
• The Wildlife of Lansing
  You will enjoy a photo display of several species of game, predators and non-game -- all taken within the Lansing city limits by Bob Scriver, Lansing. Several of his photos were winners in last year's Trail Camera Photo Contest. The species you see will surprise you.
• Antler-Measuring Demonstrations
  There will be one demonstration late Saturday and one late Sunday, with step-by-step explanation of the measuring/scoring procedure. Whitetail antlers will be used. Members of the Commemorative Bucks of Michigan (CBM) will give the demonstrations and explanations of what's being done and why. You will find out why some impressive antlers score lower than less-impressive racks.

• Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Elk, Turkey Trophy Contest & Display
  More than 200 Michigan big game trophy entries are expected. Measuring/scoring by members of the Commemorative Bucks of Michigan. Take your trophy in the main entrance on Michigan Avenue, turn left and look for the DEER REGISTRATION sign halfway down the concourse. Contest fee is $15; in return, you get a three-day pass to the Spectacular. See the Contests Page for new contest trophy entries and 'measure only' non-contest trophies.
• 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. Some of the world's bravest squirrels are shown there. More than 200 photos expected.
• Outdoor Photo Contest
  Photos of your good times in the outdoors make strong, good memories. Show those memories, and your photography skill, by entering this contest. Everyone appreciates great photos. See the Contests Page for details and rules, and last year's winning photos. More than 200 photos expected.

• Byron Ferguson, Archery Trick Shot
  Byron Ferguson and his entertaining archery trick shooting is an annual regular, simply because he's so much fun to see. He will give two performances Saturday, February 14, and two performances Sunday, February 15. He shoots wooden discs and pennies from the air, snuffs a candle with an arrow, shoots ricochet arrows into a target's bullseye, and bursts inflated balloons while shooting from all sorts of twisted positions. Your entire family will enjoy his archery performance. Ferguson is a veteran bowhunter and has taken more than 180 whitetails, plus black bear, a record-book mule deer, moose and game birds.
• Venison Butchering & Processing
  Bill Hesselgrave and his venison butchering demonstrations also return annually. People 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.

• Firearms Auction
  This is the second year of the firearms auction. Firearms will be on display for inspection all three days of the Spectacular in the northwest corner of the exhibit hall. The auction will be Sunday, beginning at 11:00 a.m. More than 125 guns will be sold.
• Optics Hands-On Information Center
  Binoculars and firearms scopes to try out and learn to adjust better for maximum value, maximum use and satisfaction. This will be part of the Firearms 'Answer Man' Info Center because the two topics are interrelated.
• Shooting Ranges (for kids of all ages)
  Airgun, laser firearms, laser archery, NASP (National Archery in Schools Program) archery range 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. Equipment provided at all ranges.

• New Products Special Display Area
  New products from exhibiting manufacturers and sales representatives are displayed together in one area near the entrance for your viewing and inspection ease. All products are identified by exhibitor name and booth number for easy follow-up to get detailed info. 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. This special display is to your right immediately after you enter the exhibit floor at the south end of the exhibit hall. You'll see the yellow banners with the black NEW PRODUCTS lettering.
• Food Plot Display Area
  Some things are better understood when seen. The display items change from year to year; there are countless topics to show and explain because there are a lot of facets to food plot evaluation, creation, preparation, seeds used, time of year grown, purpose (feeding or hunting), and on and on. A FOOD PLOT SOURCES OF INFORMATION handout sheet is available, too.
  * Forage Crop Pocket Guide -- This 52-page, info-packed guide book will again be for sale 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. It can also be ordered by calling 1-800-324-3337 (8:30am-4:30pm, Central Time) or click here.
  

  FOOD PLOT SOURCES OF INFORMATION

• 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
  • Complete whitetail deer skeleton -- The deer skeleton is in a glass case, and nearly life-size artwork of the skeleton identifying every bone is positioned beside the skeleton. See how deer are put together. 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 made thousands of years ago AND see meat cutting demonstrations with the stone knives. The results are impressive. Stone work by Gary Noblit, Jonesville.
  • Mountain Man Camp -- Dennis Neely re-creates the way it was. His outdoor stories explain the unique mix of fair-chase hunting, old-style muzzleloaders and our great American heritage known as traditional black powder hunting. He and his wife have a campsite and their mid-1800s gear at the Spectacular. They wear the old clothing, accoutrements and tools the woodsmen and women used (based on historical documentation).
• Live Animals
  Cougar, wolf, black bear, grizzly bear, bobcat, coyote -- all a part of the fascinating North American wildlife scene.

1. Seminar Speakers
   

   All seminars are FREE once you have purchased your admission ticket. Seminar schedule will be posted as soon as it is completed. 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. 250+ Exhibit Booths
   

   The place to see NEW PRODUCTS and talk face-to-face with factory reps. Get your equipment and accessory questions answered here. An alphabetical list of exhibitors will be published 45 days before the Spectacular and updated weekly. Centerfire firearms, black powder and archery 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 and seasonings, cooking equipment and supplies, jerky and sausage. Many companies work on a rotating basis, exhibiting on alternating years so they can exhibit at more expos over a two-year or three-year span. Those you missed last year may be back this year. Outdoor Lifestyle & Home Decorating Products 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 other booths.

3. Trophy Big Game Contest
   See CONTESTS page for details.