Open Season Sportsmen’s Expo comes to Columbus
After banishment to the COVID-19 hinterlands the last two years, the Open Season Sportsmen’s Expo returns for a three-day run in Columbus starting Friday.
The show at the Ohio Expo Center is a successor to the long-running and well-attended Deer and Turkey Expo, last held in March 2018.
Rebranded as the Ohio Outdoor Life/Field & Stream Expo in 2019, pandemic closures forced the cancellation of the 2020 event. Rebranded yet again as the Open Season expo last year, attempts were made to stage the event in 2021, before the lack of a venue eventually canceled the event again.
Despite the hiatus, some of this year’s attractions will feel familiar. Among them:
— Archery showman Byron Ferguson, using a traditional bow, promises to hit a flying target while blindfolded. He will shoot with his feet. He will also snuff out a candle flame.
— There will be antler scoring under Pope & Young rules for archery-taken deer and Boone & Crockett guidelines for firearms-downed bucks by members of the Buckeye Big Buck Club.
— A wall of world-class trophy bucks will be on display.
— Photos captured by trail cameras can be submitted for a contest, and some of the interesting, surprising and entertaining shots entered will win prizes.
— Attendees will be able to test some of the latest bows in a try-before-you-buy area. A supervised youth archery range will also be in operation.
— There will be scores of exhibitor booths and tables representing a gamut of products and services related to hunting, traveling and other outdoors pursuits
— At the Hawg Tank, a 5,000-gallon aquarium, local and national fishing experts will demonstrate some of their techniques.
Of course, a staple of all such shows is a lineup of speakers sharing their know-how. This year’s roster includes:
— Dustin Huff will discuss the famous Huff buck, which weighed an estimated 300 pounds on the hoof and was taken in November with a crossbow in southeast Indiana’s Decatur County.
— Professional photographer Art Helin will teach how to pattern mature bucks.
— TV show host Alan Probs will give trapping tips.
— Eddie Salter, a multi-champion turkey caller will provide what one might call sound advice.
— Reptile handler and naturalist Jason Clark will show off venomous and non-venomous snakes of Georgia during his Southeastern Snake Encounter.
The expo runs 2-7 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Sunday. One-day tickets purchased in advance cost $10 for adults, $4 for ages 13-17. Weekend passes are $18 for adults, $8 for youths. Kids 12 and under will be admitted free.
Ticket prices run slightly higher if purchased at the expo.
Complete details about exhibitors, speakers and contests are available at the website openseasonsportsmansexpo.com.