By Bruce Ross, Executive Director [email]bross@wisducks.org[/email]
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September, 2023 Newsletter edition.
What a great day we had at the Waterfowl Hunters EXPO this past Saturday in Oshkosh. These statistics may provide a sense of its scope:
-
A dog training seminar at the 2023 EXPO Our third year hosting the Expo
- 5000+ attendees (nearly 50% growth)
- 126 exhibitors filled 191 booths (up 50%)
- 15 seminars ranged from our first all-women’s waterfowling panel and decoy collecting to goose calling tips and cooking techniques
- A record 500 kids (under 13) participated in 10 different youth activities (from decoy painting to lure-making to shell reloading)
- 26 young shooters participated in our first ever youth sporting clays competition
- Over $5,000 in prizes were handed out to youth participants
- The decoy carving competition drew 127 distinct and beautiful works of art, and winners were crowned in five divisions, three classes, and seven categories.
- Our first ever “meat calling contest” attracted 14 competitive callers
A child experiences the EXPO Youth Zone - Two official state duck and goose calling champions were crowned
- Four food vendors served over 2000 tasty meals
- Four firearm manufacturers offered “try-before-you-buy” opportunities, that 185 patrons enjoyed.
- 94 dogs competed in the Fastest Retriever competition—and one competitor, a setter, bypassed the bumper he was supposed to retrieve in order to sprint into a food truck, presumably in search of a handout
- Nearly 450 dogs enjoyed wandering the EXPO and attending three dog-focused demonstrations, with zero reported incidents (325+ doggy bags were used)
This year’s EXPO was made possible through:
-
EXPO sponsor Vortex The efforts of six organizations:
- Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
- Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
- Delta Waterfowl
- Bast-Durbin Advertising
- Swift Waters marketing
- The sponsorship of 18 different groups or businesses, including presenting sponsors: The Fowl Life, Lucky Duck, onX, Midstate Marine, Wisconsin Outdoor News, and Vortex Optics.
- Day-of support by 155 dedicated volunteers from all over the state (and even out of state!). Want to play a role? Contact [email]info@wisducks.org[/email]
