Wisconsin deer hunting expos and trade shows for lodge owners, gear, products and services relating to whitetail deer and wild turkey hunts at Target Communications for Wisconsin Deer Hunting, WI Deer Hunting, Wisconsin Deer Hunts, WI Deer Hunts, Wisconsin Whitetail Deer Hunting, WI Whitetail Deer Hunting, Wisconsin Turkey Hunting, WI Turkey Hunting

April 3-4-5, 2009
 
   
Alliant Energy Center
1919
Alliant Energy Center Way
Madison, WI 53713
2007 Photo
Highlights
 
WISCONSIN DEER & TURKEY EXPO

Alliant Energy Center
1919 Alliant Energy Center Way
Madison, WI 53713
 

 

This page will be updated late summer


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

NEW in 2008!

  • Locked Antlers Display -- Wisconsin Bucks
    Locked antlers are tragic reminders of the harshness of Mother Nature and her operating rules, because the usual result is the death of two magnificent animals. Antlers must be large to lock together when two bucks collide, and that almost always takes some of the best bucks from the breeding base.
        If you have a set of locked antlers from Wisconsin or neighboring states, or know of locked sets from Wisconsin or neighboring states, call us (1-800-324-3337) or e-mail (mac@deerinfo.com) to arrange to display them. We will give you all details when you contact us.
  • Trail Camera Photo Contest
    Trail cameras see some strange things ... and some big antlers ... when no humans are around. See the Contest Page for details.
  • Food Plot & Habitat Improvement Super-Seminars
    Continuation and expansion of the program/seminars begun in 2007. Gordon Whittington (food plots - basic and advanced) and Tony LaPratt (deer habitat creation and improvement) return, each with longer seminars.
        Check the seminar schedule to see seminar topic, seminar description and times.
  • Food Plot Demonstration Area
    At the introductory demo areas in 2007, you told us you would like to see what the individual forage crop and other nutrition source plants look like. So that's what you will see in 2008 -- nursery flats of various grain crops, grasses and other deer (and turkey and non-game species) feed sources, one species per flat.
  • Forage Crop Pocket Guide
    This 52-page, info-packet 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. If you want a copy immediately for use this year, go to the Book Store Page of this web-site.
    FOOD PLOT SOURCES OF INFORMATION
  • World's Almost-Largest Treestand
    Climb the big stairway to a bigger platform for a bird's-eye view of the exhibit floor, then get some good info on treestand safety.
  • Trail Camera Photo Contest
    Trail cameras see some strange things ... and some great big antlers ... when no humans are around. See the Contests Page for details.

RETURNING ITEMS

  • New Products Special Display Area
    New products from exhibiting manufacturers and company 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 you want. 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 display will be in the West Concourse.
  • 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.
        * 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.

550+ EXHIBIT BOOTHS

  • The place to see NEW PRODUCTS and talk face-to-face with factory reps. Get your equipment and accessories questions answered here.
    (An alphabetical list of exhibitors will be published 45 days before the Classic 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 and Canada (and sometimes Africa) for all types of big game.
  • Wildlife art, book and magazine publishers, video producers.
  • Wild game cooking and seasonings, cooking equipment and supplies, jerky and sausage.

New exhibit space created by the addition of the third building resulted in more exhibitors, more products to see and touch and evaluate ... and, maybe, to buy. Many companies exhibit on alternating years so they can exhibit at more expos over a two-year or three-year period. Those you missed last year may be back this year. The 2008 exhibitor list will be posted approximately 45 days in advance of the Expo.

WHITETAIL DEER TROPHY CONTEST AND DISPLAY
More than 375 Wisconsin whitetail deer and black bear entries are expected. Entry is at the WEST ENTRANCE to the Exhibition Hall. Measuring/scoring by members of the Wisconsin Buck & Bear Club. Details are on the Contests page.
    The contest is sponsored by Miller Lite.


OTHER EVENTS & ACTIVITIES

  • Optics Hands-On Information Center
    Binoculars and firearms scopes to try out and learn to adjust better for maximum value, maximum use and satisfaction.
  • Cooking Demos -- Venison & Other Wild Foods
    A cooking demo will follow each venison butchering & processing demonstration, in the same seminar room. The cooking demo also includes meat packaging, freezing, thawing, seasoning, and serving tips. Come prepared to make notes, and be ready to sample some great flavors.
  • Shooting Ranges for Kids of All Ages
    Shooters of all ages enjoy these ranges: Airgun (operated by members of WHEIA, the Wisconsin Hunter Education Instructors Association); laser firearms and laser archery games that are a ton of fun for everyone; the regular instructional archery range (operated by members of NASP, and the National Archery in the Schools Program in conjunction with WI DNR education specialists). All ranges are safe, secure and supervised. Equipment is provided at all ranges.
  • Live Animals
    Cougar, wolf, black bear, grizzly bear, bobcat, coyote -- all a part of the fascinating North American wildlife scene.
  • 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, April 5, and two performances Sunday, April 6.
        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.
        Ferguson is a veteran bowhunter and has taken more than 180 whitetails, plus black bear, a record-book mule deer, moose and game birds.
        Your entire family will enjoy his archery performance.
  • Special Educational Displays
        * Complete deer skeleton in a glass case and nearly life-size artwork of the whitetail deer skeleton identifying every bone. See how deer are put together. Figure out best aiming point-of-impact for quickest results, where to shoot and where not to shoot.
        * Wisconsin fur-bearing animal hides/pelts/furs.
        Provided by Gen Ebert and Wisconsin Outdoor Sports Women
        * 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 Art Boehm, Conrath, Wisconsin.
 
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