There is a truism in life that says “If Mama ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.” and Glenn Helgeland, the producer of the upcoming Ohio Deer and Turkey Expo, says that thought has been a lightning rod for much of the planning of his deer and turkey expos, such as the 16th annual Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, next Friday through Sunday, March 14-15-16, in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

“We try to produce an event that has something of interest for every member of the family and many things which have overlapping interest for several members of the family,” he notes. “That really came into focus several years ago when we began an effort to get 10 percent to 15 percent of our exhibitor base with products of an outdoor-lifestyle orientation. We don’t get into country crafts, but we do have exhibitors with home and den and cabin decorations and furnishings, and log furniture and such, far beyond the basic wildlife art and carvings and picture frames ... but we have them, too,” he hastens to add.

In his early research, Helgeland said, he asked women if promotional efforts should focus on them as a group. They all said no. When they’re hunters, they want to be known as hunters, not women who hunt. They have higher concern than men for comfort and style -- “because we’re not as interested in suffering as are men,” one woman said. Men often seem to have the motto of “I don’t know how much more of this fun I can stand ... but I’m gonna find out,” she said.

Second, all women said, “Don’t group the product categories you think we might be most interested in. Scatter them randomly among all the other exhibits so when he’s looking at bows and arrows in one booth, I can move down a couple of booths in the same aisle and see something I’m more interested in. I certainly don’t want to be dragged up and down aisles of products in which I have no interest, and neither does any Significant Other.”

Helgeland pointed out that his company does all it can to encourage the total utilization of, understanding of, and appreciation of wildlife, the outdoors and all its beauty. “That’s why we have photo contests and butchering and cooking demos. After all, wild game is the original organic food. It is nutritionally outstanding and chemical-free, with all the right minerals and few of the bad cholesterol and such things.”

The special events and special activities at the expos are located throughout each exhibit facility to maximize their individual attractiveness. (More packages under the Christmas tree always is more exciting than one big box.) A list of all that’s going on gives you a truer picture of the many facets of any given deer-and-turkey expo. In sum, there’s a lot going on all the time.

Here’s the Ohio list:
• Live Animals (game and predatory); furs / hides / pelts of fur-bearers native to Ohio; OWAA (Outdoor Writers Association of America) national photo contest winners display; trail camera photo contest (new event); outdoor photo contest; locked deer antlers display (new); food plot demo area (including soil test materials display); optics hands-on area, sponsored by Outback Sports and Alpen Optics; laser firearms ranges; bow tryout area; airgun shooting range; National Archery in Schools Program (NASP) instructional archery range;
• Black powder gunmakers’ shop; flint knapper, making arrowheads and stone knives as the Ancient Ones did; venison butchering demos; wild food cooking demos; deer skeleton and structural identification; new products special display; Byron Ferguson, archery trick shot (Saturday & Sunday); Ohio State Turkey Calling & Owl Hooting Championship Saturday, March 15.
and, of course, the mainstays --
• Exhibits & New Products;
• Seminars -- How-to on hunting, scouting, equipment, habitat, game animal natural history;
• Trophy Deer Contest & Display (400 expected to be entered).
For details on the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, visit the expo’s web-site -- www.deerinfo.com

Locked antlers are tragic reminders of the harshness of Mother Nature and her operating rules, because they almost always result in the agonizing deaths of two magnificent whitetail deer. Antlers must be large to lock together when two bucks battle for breeding dominance, and that almost always removes some of the best bucks from the breeding base, giving notice once again that Mother Nature’s rules are harsh and play no favorites.

More than 15 sets of those results will be a dramatic display at the upcoming Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, March 14-15-16 in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

There will be unmounted antlers-and-skulls displayed on tables, and various mounted sets on pedestals or hung on display boards. “Taxidermy work on locked antlers is difficult, at best,” said show producer Glenn Helgeland, “but the results and drama are worth the effort and expense.”

Some of the locked sets will have printed background information and photos displayed with them. “Plan to spend some time here,” Helgeland said. “The people displaying them usually are more than happy to talk about the locked antlers.”

For details on the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, including regular ticket prices and special offers, seminar topics and schedule, hotel and exhibitor lists, and trophy and photo contest rules, directions to the site and parking information, visit the event’s web-site -- www.deerinfo.com.

An outdoor photo contest and a new trail camera photo contest will be visual treats at the upcoming Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, set for March 14-15-16 in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus. The contest is open to all expo attendees who are amateur photographers; you must first purchase an expo general admission ticket before you can enter the contest.

The outdoor photo contest has five categories: Wildlife (North American only), flora (wild; no domestic), scenic, people in the outdoors, and miscellaneous. The trail cam photo contest has eight categories: Whitetail deer – bucks; whitetail deer – groups; whitetail deer – other; predators (four-footed and flying); big game other than whitetail deer; wild turkey – gobbler(s); wild turkey – groups, and weird and unusual stuff / miscellaneous. Trail cameras see some strange things – and some big antlers – when humans are not around.

Entry rules for both contests are the same: Entry fee is $5 for up to three photos, and $5 for every additional group of one to three photos. Bring your entries to the expo office; no mail-in entries are accepted. Black-and-white or color prints only. Photos may be mounted but cannot include glass and cannot be framed. Image size can be anywhere from 5"x7" minimum to 11"x14" maximum. Your name, address and telephone number, including area code, and choice of contest category, must be on the back of each entry.

Entry deadline is 10 a.m. Sunday, March 16. Judging will be at noon Sunday. There may be up to three awards per category. Photos must remain on display until 3:00 p.m. Sunday. They will be available for pick-up after that at the display area. After 3:00 p.m. each photo contest entrant can get in free to pick up his/her photos. You must have a photo contest receipt to get in free at that time. For admission before 3:00 p.m. you must buy a general admission ticket. Photos not picked up will not be returned.

For details on the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, go to the event’s web-site -- www.deerinfo.com.

Two closely related and informative demonstrations -- venison butchering and wild food cooking -- will be presented each day of the upcoming Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo. The Expo will be March 14-15-16 in the Bricker Building at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

Bill Hesselgrave, a professional butcher and deer hunter will show you how to process your deer so you get exactly the cuts of meat you want and are assured of top quality. Judy Helgeland, a food specialist and hunter, presents the wild food cooking demonstrations, specializing in quick, easy recipes that produce tastiest results with least amount of time in the kitchen. Hesselgrave uses a video camera set up to show his work on a large screen so everyone can easily see the detailed cuts and knife angles needed. He also gives a nifty knife sharpening demonstration and explanation.

Both experts emphasize the need for quality care of wild game in the field, beginning with cooling the meat quickly and keeping it dry. Bring a notebook with you; you'll want it.

“We emphasize total utilization to the extent practical, appreciation and enjoyment of game animals and birds,” says Expo producer Glenn Helgeland. “That’s why we have these demonstrations, two outdoor photo contests, and various other natural history demonstrations. We feel this is another excellent way to introduce younger family members to the outdoors.”

For information on all seminars, seminar schedule, and other Expo details, go to the show's web-site -- www.deerinfo.com.

Internationally-known archery trick shot Byron Ferguson will perform at the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo at the Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds) in Columbus. The Expo will be March 14-15-16; Ferguson will give Saturday and Sunday performances, March 15-16.

"Year after year Byron's amazing shooting performance draws the biggest crowds," said Glenn Helgeland, producer of the event. "Kids and adults alike enjoy him, and many see his presentation every year. He always has something new, and he gets kids involved in his finale."

Ferguson 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 contorted positions.

Ferguson is a veteran bowhunter and has taken more than 180 whitetails, plus black bear, mule deer, moose and game birds.

For details on the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, including regular ticket prices and special offers, seminar topics and schedule, hotel and exhibitor lists, and trophy and photo contest rules, directions to the site and parking information, visit the event’s web-site -- www.deerinfo.com.

COLUMBUS -- The 2008 OHIO Deer & Turkey Expo will be March 14-15-16 at the Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds) in Columbus. Two new features in 2008: 1) Locked Antlers display, 2) Trail Camera Photo Contest. State turkey calling and owl hooting championship, Saturday, Mach 15. More than 40 seminars on a dozen deer, turkey, bear, food plot topics. Food plot demonstration area. Trophy deer contest; 400 entries expected. Other major features: Hands-on optics tryout area; new-products special display; live big game and predatory animals display; flint knapping demos; Black Powder Gun Maker’s Shop; wild game cooking and venison butchering/processing demonstrations, hands-on shooting opportunities (archery, airgun, laser firearms and laser archery). Byron Ferguson, internationally known trick archery shot, performs Saturday and Sunday, March 15-16.

Hours are 2 p.m. - 9 p.m., Friday, March 14; 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday, March 15, and 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Sunday, March 16. Tickets are available at the door. All youth ages 11 and under are admitted free on Friday when accompanied by an adult.

For details, including seminar topics and schedules, special ticket offers, lodging information, maps and directions, visit the show's web-site -- www.deerinfo.com.

Trophy whitetail bucks from any Ohio season are eligible to be entered in the trophy deer contest. All deer hunters who had a successful 2007 season should be especially sure to enter your prized buck in the trophy contest. You’ll have a chance to get it scored by qualified measurers. You’ll have a chance to display your deer to an audience of show attendees who appreciate your accomplishment, and hope they, too, can enter a trophy some day.

Here are the trophy whitetail deer contest rules.

1) Entries begin at noon Friday, March 14, and close at 10 am Sunday, March 16. No advance entry. Just bring your trophy to the show.
2) Entry fee is $15 for the first trophy you enter. You get a three-day show pass ($30 value). For additional entries, it’s $7.50 if the trophy has been officially scored, $15 if it hasn’t been officially scored. Bring paperwork proof of official scoring. No heads that have been officially scored are rescored.
3) Typical Antler and Non-Typical Antler classes in firearms, archery, crossbow and black powder divisions. Current Year (2007 season) and Historical (2006 season & earlier) categories in archery and firearms divisions. All-Years categories in crossbow and black powder. Typical Antlers categories have 8-, 9-, 10-, 11-, 12- and 13+-point classes to keep a level playing field.
4) Antlers do NOT need to be mounted, but skull plate must be solid.
5) No trophies released between noon and 3 pm Sunday.
6) Award presentation begins at 4 pm Sunday, and entries must be present to win. “Best of Show” awards in Archery, Firearms, Crossbow and Black Powder categories, typical and non-typical antlers. Awards are proportional to entries: 1-3 entries in class = 1 award; 4-8 entries in class = 2 awards; 9 or more entries = 3 awards.
7) The only first place winners from previous years which are eligible for re-entry are those which won first place in the Current Year category last year in firearms and archery divisions. They may be entered in the Historical category this year.

All other first-place winners in all divisions and classes and categories are automatically invited to display on the “Board of Honor”, but they may not be entered in the trophy contest again. This is to keep the contest fresh each year.

Awards are given on antler score only; this is not a beauty contest The Boone & Crockett / Pope & Young Club scoring system is used.

The contest is sponsored for the first time by Toyota.

Nationally-known outdoor writers and hunting experts on a wide range of deer, bear, turkey, food plot and more will help you build your bank of hunting knowledge at the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, March 14-15-16 at the Ohio Expo Center (State Fairgrounds) in Columbus. There will be more than 40 seminars over the two-and-a-half days of the event. Seminars are free once you've purchased your admission ticket.

The speaker list is headlined by M. R. James, founding editor of Bowhunter magazine, member of the Archery Hall of Fame and current president of the Pope & Young Club. Nationally-known outdoor writer Jim Zumbo will detail the challenges and rewards of elk hunting on your own and on outfitted hunts. Tony LaPratt and Gordon Whittington, experts on food plot development and deer habitat improvement, will address those topics of high interest to serious deer hunters. Whittington speaks on the basics of food plot design, location, planning and soil preparation, and LaPratt details how to design food plots and surrounding habitat to attract and hold deer longer on your property. Two timely topics (how to beat the cold and hunt better in late season, and spring turkey hunting) and two demonstrations (venison butchering and wild foods cooking) add informative depth to the seminar list.

Byron Ferguson, the internationally known archery trick shot, will give two performances Saturday and two Sunday.

Glenn Helgeland, producer of the Expo, says, "We work hard every year to put together a range of seminars attractive to new hunters and experienced hunters. There's always something to learn. The seminar schedule is one of the strong points of the Expo."
For a seminar schedule and other details of the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo, go to the show's website -- www.deerinfo.com. The seminar rooms are sponsored by Toyota.

• Trail Cameras: Use The Right or Pay the Patterning Price (Les Davenport)
• The How & Where of Mini-Ponds -- Deer Magnets (Art Helin)
• A Lifetime of Bowhunting Lessons Big Game Have Taught Me (M. R. James)
• Good Food Plots -- Plan, Design, Development & Plant Basics, and common errors (Gordon Whittington)
• Six Steps to Beating the Cold & Bagging Late Season Bucks (Mark Kayser)
• Time Management (Yours & Theirs) for Whitetails (Tony LaPratt)
• Put Emotion in Your Turkey Calls for Better Results (Matt Morrett)
• The Incredible Shrinking Bear -- Field Judging Live Black Bears (Richard P Smith)
• Venison Butchering and Processing (Bill Hesselgrave)
• Venison and Other Wild Foods Cooking (Judy Helgeland)