Deer and Turkey Expo

[sugarcreekbrass]

Anyone going to the show this weekend? I'm not a big fan of the show. Years ago I was set up with Girt's Archery representing Grim Reaper Broadheads. Jammed packed aisles, people getting drunker as the day went on, and listening to everyone's deer stories. Actually some of them were very comical. I am going tomorrow to help in the Hunter Education booth. It should be a good time.

 

[trimman83]

I went yesterday. Made a point to get there early so I didn't have to fight crowds. No worries, because no crowds. No one is bringing anything new to the market. Some guys selling a 39lb packable/folding ladder stand was a new one on me, but given so many other options today, I couldn't buy into the idea. One vender was selling safety lines, tethers, and lineman's ropes at fair pricing, and quality construction.

Some guys selling what looked like a two-sided (as opposed to 4) pyramid shaped camo blind that deployed in a few seconds and packed like a fishing pole sack. It was $100, but "show special" of 2/$188. The concept could be duplicated, and doubled in size, with 30sf of camo netting draped over or strung between two bushes. Packed in a large pocket.

A Woman Owned Business, in one corner selling thermal imaging optics. It showed well, but I couldn't buy into the quality of the equipment. I'd have to get way more user feedback before dropping the $2,000. I still have my mind on the Super Hogster.

I never knew what those folding, mirror reflective blinds sold for. I always liked the concept of reflecting your natural environment. I think they were around $260. I sat for quite some time at the cafe and tried to gauge the excitement of the people filing by the display. I saw some interest, but not one package left the pile.

The vendor selling the ratchetting limb cutters was there with his snake-oil show. he does demonstrate well. the tools show well. They might even come with a lifetime guarantee. I should have brought mine for exchange. Mine had failed to work fairly quickly after buying a pair at a previous show. But.......who remembers to bring something for return, to a vendor that may or may not be there to honor a lifetime warrantee.

Saw some people ooooooooh! and aaaaaaah! over the wall of bucks. I've seen em before, I'll see em again. I've had more excitement sitting in my stand and hearing a fat squirrel run up behind me. It is good deer porn for those interested, and I'm sure the guys that brought them to hang all have very lively and interesting stories of how they ended up on the wall. I think I'd rather hear the stories.

What is missing from these shows are the manufacturers of the equipment we all use in the field. It's more a traveling store where the vendors have to do the load in/load out. Amazon has, or will, kill those sales.

I had my wife drop me at the door and pick me up. I saved my $10 parking so I could get my $8 beer, $5 popcorn, $5 hotdog, and $5 Pepsi. No Diet Dew..........it must take too much room on the shelf. First thing I told my wife is: Remind me not to go next year. We'll both forget, like every year before.

 

[two70]

I went yesterday. Made a point to get there early so I didn't have to fight crowds. No worries, because no crowds. No one is bringing anything new to the market. Some guys selling a 39lb packable/folding ladder stand was a new one on me, but given so many other options today, I couldn't buy into the idea. One vender was selling safety lines, tethers, and lineman's ropes at fair pricing, and quality construction.

Some guys selling what looked like a two-sided (as opposed to 4) pyramid shaped camo blind that deployed in a few seconds and packed like a fishing pole sack. It was $100, but "show special" of 2/$188. The concept could be duplicated, and doubled in size, with 30sf of camo netting draped over or strung between two bushes. Packed in a large pocket.

A Woman Owned Business, in one corner selling thermal imaging optics. It showed well, but I couldn't buy into the quality of the equipment. I'd have to get way more user feedback before dropping the $2,000. I still have my mind on the Super Hogster.

I never knew what those folding, mirror reflective blinds sold for. I always liked the concept of reflecting your natural environment. I think they were around $260. I sat for quite some time at the cafe and tried to gauge the excitement of the people filing by the display. I saw some interest, but not one package left the pile.

The vendor selling the ratchetting limb cutters was there with his snake-oil show. he does demonstrate well. the tools show well. They might even come with a lifetime guarantee. I should have brought mine for exchange. Mine had failed to work fairly quickly after buying a pair at a previous show. But.......who remembers to bring something for return, to a vendor that may or may not be there to honor a lifetime warrantee.

Saw some people ooooooooh! and aaaaaaah! over the wall of bucks. I've seen em before, I'll see em again. I've had more excitement sitting in my stand and hearing a fat squirrel run up behind me. It is good deer porn for those interested, and I'm sure the guys that brought them to hang all have very lively and interesting stories of how they ended up on the wall. I think I'd rather hear the stories.

What is missing from these shows are the manufacturers of the equipment we all use in the field. It's more a traveling store where the vendors have to do the load in/load out. Amazon has, or will, kill those sales.

I had my wife drop me at the door and pick me up. I saved my $10 parking so I could get my $8 beer, $5 popcorn, $5 hotdog, and $5 Pepsi. No Diet Dew..........it must take too much room on the shelf. First thing I told my wife is: Remind me not to go next year. We'll both forget, like every year before.

I don't think the timing of the Deer and Turkey Expo has never made a lot of sense for more serious/larger vendors. Most of the big names/innovators were just in Indy a month and a half ago for the ATA show, why would they come back for this? Especially when a lot of hunters wait until late summer early fall to make their major hunting purchases for the year.

 

[sugarcreekbrass]

It's not just Indiana. Most state shows like this are late winter/early spring. This is show season for manufacturers/vendors. Yes, they would probably do better late summer, but that is also when most or the busiest too.