Game Fair Still Going Strong After 35 Years

I figure it has been about 20 years since I last attended Game Fair in Anoka, Minnesota, so when the invite reached my desk to come back I was certainly anxious to check it out once again.

For those who are not familiar, Game Fair is the annual event held over two weekends each August to prime everyone’s pump, so to speak, for the fast-approaching hunting seasons.   It’s an event celebrating guns, shooting, dogs and just about everything related to the shooting sports we all enjoy each fall.   Situated on 80–acres of land containing woods and waters, the location provides all the sights, sounds and tactile pleasures that sportsmen associate with the best season of the year—fall.

I was amazed at all the changes that had occurred over the past 20 years.   Now, with over 300 outdoor exhibitors from 28 states and provinces, this has easily tripled in size from what I last remember back from the mid ’90s.   Duck and goose calls, decoys, dog equipment, home decor, you name it…if it appeals to the outdoors person it will likely be found at Game Fair.

I think the biggest purpose Game Fair serves annually is to scratch the itch many outdoors oriented people get about this time of the year.   With big game seasons now happening in the western states in a matter of days, and seasons in many Midwestern states only weeks away, there’s nothing better than to rub elbows with like-minded folks who share the same passions of life.

Now, because Game Fair is rather visual, I think the best way to further explain the unique experience is with pictures(and captions).

When most people think of Game Fair they think of dogs--you'll see just about all of the sporting breeds.

When most people think of Game Fair they think of dogs–you’ll see just about all of the popular sporting breeds on display.

Indeed, dogs receive lots of attention at Game Fair.

Indeed, dogs receive lots of attention at Game Fair.

Some dogs even put up with more attention than they care to receive. Ha!

Some dogs even put up with more attention than they care to receive. Ha!

But for sure, Game Fair is about enjoying the companionship sportsman have with their canine partners.

But for sure, Game Fair is about enjoying the companionship sportsmen have with their canine partners.

Game Fair is one of the few events where bringing your dogs (on leash) is encouraged.

Game Fair is one of the few events where bringing your dogs (on leash) is highly encouraged.

No dog? No problem. At Game Fair you can come without a dog and go home with a energetic puppy willing to provide years of love in your home.

No dog? No problem. At Game Fair you can come without a dog and go home with a energetic puppy willing to provide years of love in your home.

Then again, some folks come just for the FREE dog training lessons taught by world renowned experts like Tom Dokken.

Then again, some folks come just for the FREE dog training lessons taught by world renowned experts, like Tom Dokken.

Tom Dokken is truly one of the most generous guys sharing his time and experience to turn your pet into an obedient partner.

Tom Dokken is truly one of the most generous guys sharing his time and experience to turn your pet into an obedient, capable partner.

So, you think your dog is already well trained? Prove it! Game Fair offers several events where your partner can prove he's Top Dog in the field.

So, you think your dog is already well trained? Prove it! Game Fair offers several events where your canine partner can prove they’re “Top Dog” in their field.

Some of these timed events give dog owners an opportunity to showcase just how good their canine partners will be performing this fall.

Some of these timed events give dog owners an opportunity to showcase just how good their canine partners will be performing this fall.

But events aside, Game Fair is also a chance for dogs and their owners a chance to socialize and enjoy a late summer day.

But sanctioned events aside, Game Fair is also an opportunity for dogs and their owners to socialize and just enjoy a late summer day.

Most folks, however, are content to walk the grounds and enjoy Game Fair without dogs.

Most folks, however, are content to walk the grounds and enjoy Game Fair without dogs.

They walk around enjoying all the exhibits and the food.

They walk around enjoying all the exhibits and the great food.

You never know just what you might find checking out the exhibits.

A person just never knows what they might find checking out the exhibits.

It can range from someone hand lathing a new duck call from a chunk of wood....

It can range from someone hand lathing a new duck call from a chunk of wood….

To vendors selling 100s of different wild game calls where there is one to suit your needs.

To vendors selling 100s of different wild game calls where there is surely one to suit your needs.

All the way to vendors who want to ensure your home decor reminds you about your passion in the outdoors.

All the way to vendors who want to ensure your home decor reminds you about your passion in the outdoors.

Quite honestly, Game Fair will find a way to put a smile on your face. Guaranteed!

Quite honestly, Game Fair will somehow find a way to put a smile on your face. Guaranteed!

The event covers two weekends (Friday-Sunday) each August to allow 6 full days for fun.

The event covers two weekends (Friday-Sunday) each August to allow 6 full days for fun.

Wildlife art has long been a part of Game Fair with some of the best artists in the world on display.

Wildlife art has long been a part of Game Fair with some of the best artists in the world on display.

Best of all, Game Fair is an OUTDOOR event unlike many other shows held in stuffy convention centers.

Best of all, Game Fair is an OUTDOOR event unlike many other shows held in stuffy convention centers surrounded by bricks and cement.

...So bring your sunscreen and rain gear, depending on what the weather forecast promises for the day.

…So, bring your sunscreen or rain gear, depending on what the weather forecast promises for the day.

Game Fair also caters to kids as they are the future. Supervised games that allow kids to put down their iPhones and pick up a slingshot, shotgun or bow are highly encouraged.

Game Fair also caters to kids as they are the future of our outdoors heritage. Supervised games that allow kids to put down their iPhones and pick up a slingshot, shotgun or bow are highly encouraged.

Indeed, Game Fair is often the place where kids discover shooting a slingshot is more fun than a smartphone app.

Indeed, Game Fair is often the place where kids discover shooting a slingshot is actually more fun than most smartphone apps.

Game Fair is also learning about the natural environment. You can talk to expert hunters, trappers, and conservation officers to get all of your questions answered.

Game Fair is also learning about the natural environment. You can talk to expert hunters, trappers, and conservation officers to get all of your outdoors questions answered.

It's also a place to meet Master Falconers like Frank Taylor who has spent a lifetime working with these special birds of prey.

It’s also a place to meet Master Falconers, like Frank Taylor, who has spent a lifetime working with these special birds of prey.

Game Fair's new Birds of Prey display allows attendees an up close look at these marvelous birds.

Game Fair’s new Birds of Prey display allows attendees to get an up close look at these marvelous birds.

Folks from the Minnesota Falconers Association share their love for these creatures and explain how this form of hunting has evolved over time.

Folks from the Minnesota Falconers Association share their love for these creatures and explain how this form of hunting has evolved over time.

Let's not forget Game Fair is also about shooting.

Let’s not forget, Game Fair is also about hands-on shooting.

Game Fair allows hunters to touch and feel (and yes, shoot) some of the newest guns, bows and similar equipment on the market.

Game Fair allows hunters to touch and feel (and yes, shoot) some of the newest guns, bows and similar equipment currently on the market.

Game Fair also gives attendees an opportunity to view the masters who are at the top of the shooting world.

Game Fair also gives attendees an opportunity to visit with the masters who have skills that are at the top of the shooting world.

But let's face it...people also like to come to Game Fair to eat.

But let’s face it…people also like to come to Game Fair to eat.

And unlike most events, the one comment I heard folks saying is how reasonably priced the food here is.

And unlike most public events these days, the one comment I heard folks say is how fairly priced the food is at Game Fair.

After all, who likes to be price gouged when you're trying to enjoy some cotton candy?

After all, who likes to be price gouged when you’re trying to enjoy some cotton candy?

If you haven't made plans yet to attend...it's time to make tracks this coming weekend before it is all over again for another year.

If you haven’t made plans yet to attend…it’s time to make tracks this coming weekend before it is all over again for another year.

For more information about Game Fair click HERE.   This coming Friday, Saturday and Sunday (August 19-21) is the final weekend in 2016.

A Coyote Is On The Loose…Police Warns Public

This was on my Facebook feed this morning and it really made me chuckle.

Now, if you want to read the entire news story you can read it HERE.   Yet, reading the entire story is not necessary.   The point is the police are warning people that a coyote is on the loose and that people are urged to stay away from it.

Really??!!

Yes, I understand that Richfield, Minnesota is a suburb of Minneapolis so there are some not-so-nature-savvy folks who live in the area, but seriously a public warning like this is necessary in our current world?

Moreover, why are three Minnesota Conservation Officers wasting their time trying to catch it?   Do these wildlife professionals not know that removing a coyote from one area only means that in due time another coyote will likely move back in to replace it.   That’s sort of how it works in nature…so, to catch the coyote is really an exercise in futility as most outdoorsmen commonly understand.

Oh, I get it that some pets are missing and that the coyote has been in the proximal area of these dead dogs.   I also get it how these animals are “cute” until they start to do what nature does, which includes the killing of pets.   Welcome to the real world, metro Minneapolis.

Seems to me if I was 30 years younger the business to be in would likely be the animal removal business located in the suburbs.   People will pay ridiculous amounts of money to have wildlife removed from their little paradise.   After all, wild animals are always cute until they start doing property damage.

Ironically, today’s little news bit reminds me of a the Onion piece posted not long ago.   Check out Mom Keeping Tabs On Coyote Situation which posted five weeks earlier about a suburb very near Richfield.   Now, if you’re not familiar with the Onion it’s a news satire organization which attempts to poke fun at various aspects of our world.

Sadly enough, even though the Onion seeks chuckles from its off-the-wall fabricated content, often times the real news–today’s example in particular–even trumps that which is made up.    Do you agree?

Change In The Outdoors Amazes Me

Did some thinking last night.   Thinking that spans nearly 50 years of life spent in the outdoors.

One of the biggest lessons I’ve garnered is how the outdoors is in a constant state of flux.   What I mean by that is nothing stays the same…just give it a decade or two and the outdoors can take on a whole new appearance.   Different sights.   Different sounds.   In general, a different vibe.

Case in point.   Last night I heard from a neighbor how a bear has been marauding bee hives less than a mile from my house.   In fact, bear sightings over the past few years in my area has gone from highly unlikely back 40 years ago to now almost a common occurrence.   New local sightings are being heard weekly in a somewhat diverse area leading one to believe we are not dealing with just one or two wandering bears.   The likelihood of many bears certainly exists.

Now, you might think this should not be odd…after all, I live in Minnesota.   True enough, but I live in the heart of the ag zone where bears have not traditionally hung out.   No more.   In my lifetime I have gone from no bears to bears now in my back yard apparently quite regularly.

And don’t think these changes are limited to just bears.   When I was a mere 6 years old I had my first encounter with a red fox.   Back in the 1960s, 70s and early 80s fox were big in these parts.   Red fox were most predominant with an occasional gray fox thrown in just for good measure.   Not so today.   Oh, sure, you still see an occasional fox dashing along some fenceline…but the sightings are rare.   You know why?

There was a time a sight like this would not have been witnessed on my farm, however, that is no longer true today.

There was a time when a sight like this would not have been witnessed on my farm, however, that is no longer true today.

Because now we have coyotes.   Yup, the dreaded coyotes.   When I was a young trapper starting out the only coyotes I had seen were in magazines showing trappers from out in the Western states.   Then about 30 years ago they started showing up and BOOM!   It’s to the point their population is out of control!   Hardly a night goes by I don’t hear coyotes howling within earshot of my house.   The packs sound large and sometimes real close.   And guess what.   As a teenager I would have never hear those song dogs anywhere close to my property.

Oh, I could go on and on.   Growing up pheasants were so abundant that aside from shooting barn pigeons I honed my wingshooting skills by walking the sloughs each October.   No more.   Pheasants have all but disappeared.   To see a pheasant sighting is rare indeed.   These days even though it is legal to hunt them I wouldn’t even think of shooting one.   In fact, I derive more pleasure out of just watching them try to scratch a life during these difficult times for their species.

Indeed, growing up pheasants were abundant and wild turkeys were…she we say, not even on the radar!   Then a few birds were transplanted about 40 years ago and BOOM!   Today, the wild turkey population is everything the pheasant population used to be.   As a teenager it would have been a dream to think I could ever turkey hunt ON MY OWN LAND.   In fact, today there are so many turkeys around these parts I would not think of hunting anywhere else.

Change happens in the outdoors in other ways, too.   As a trapper, I am amazed how the river that runs through my farm changes so much from year to year.   Sure, if you look at a map its not that the river is moving…but the character of the river.   A location where I might have placed a mink trap last year might be totally unappealing to mink this year.

The river changes.   The woods changes.   The critters that run around…at least in time…tends to change.   Makes me wonder…as an outdoorsmen who also feels like he is part of the outdoors am I changing, too?   I suspect I am.

Change.   One of the many reasons the outdoors stays exciting and challenging to those who enjoy it.