By Bruce Ross, Executive Director bross@wisducks.org
This article originally appeared in Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s September, 2022 Newsletter edition.
The second annual Wisconsin Waterfowl Hunters EXPO saw significant growth at Saturday’s event in Oshkosh. Greater attendance, more activities, double the number of exhibitors, more kids – and even more of our four-legged friends! This collaboration of Wisconsin’s duck hunting groups appears to have built a solid foundation to celebrate all things Wisconsin waterfowling in the years ahead.
By the numbers:
- Attendance grew by at least 800 over last year’s inaugural event to at least 3,300 and would have been even greater had not a surprise deluge dampened afternoon entries.
- Twice as many exhibitors were involved compared to last year – 91 in total.
- Nearly 300 children – up by at least 100 from last year – under the age of 13 enjoyed a much-expanded Youth Zone with more things to experience in igniting their outdoor passions.
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Greater Scaup “Best of Show” decoy from WWA’s Decoy Carving Competition, carved by Jon Jones of Michigan. Photo: Chase Baker.
126 decoys from around the region were entered in a new EXPO feature, the Wisconsin Waterfowl Association’s decoy carving competition and exhibition that included judging a national championship (picture of best in show shown below)
- 35 of the state’s best duck and goose callers from youth to adult competed for the title of state champion and the right to compete in national championships.
- 146 volunteers supported the event in morning and afternoon shifts.
- Nine presentations and four outdoor demonstrations covered duck hunting information from current policy initiatives and wetland management techniques to dog training and preparing your harvest for the table. DNR Secretary Preston Cole toured the EXPO and made introductory remarks for the EXPO’s waterfowl policy forum.
The State habitat stamp judges anonymously picked amongst a strong field of waterfowl, pheasant, and turkey art entries – and one artist took home all three honors: Sam Timm!- Dog competitions determined the EXPO’s fastest retrievers from 65 competitors, accompanied by the cheers (barks?) of the nearly 200 dogs in attendance. Winning times ranged between nine and ten seconds over a 45-yard course.
- 13 raffles and silent auctions provided funding for academic and science-based advancement of state waterfowling interests.
- More sponsors (23) boosted financial support to allow a bigger and better event.
- Eight different organizations found common ground to volunteer hundreds of hours to plan and execute this event over the past 12 months.
Although unexpected afternoon rains dampened late attendance, the EXPO can only be considered a success. Vendors reported good sales, attendees wore smiles, and volunteers took satisfaction in hosting a well-regarded event. All proceeds of the EXPO will be used to either sustain/grow the EXPO or for initiatives important to the state waterfowling community, such as support of waterfowl science/scholarship or restoration of state wetlands open to state hunters.
Partnering organizations:
- Wisconsin Waterfowl Association
Wisconsin Wildlife Association- Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources
- Delta Waterfowl
- Swift Waters Marketing
- Bast-Durbin Advertising
- UW-Stevens Point
- Wisconsin Youth Conservation Congress