PORTLAND — The 44th annual Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show kicked off on Wednesday at the Portland Expo Center. The show is one of the largest along the west coast and draws thousands of visitors every year.
This year there are several new features that attendees will probably take a shine to, and they offer something for both kids and adults.
Companies that produce boats, ATV’s, RV’s, camping equipment, fishing and hunting gear, and anything related to outdoor recreation can be found here.
Some of the newest additions include the Garmin Technology Center, which offers seminars intended to demystify and educate anglers on the use of GPS and sonar so they can get the most out of their electronics.
Bi-Mart Walleye Alley
Another new feature is Bi-Mart’s Walleye Alley, which offers everything walleye, including a tank of live walleye and other fish.
There will be seminars held everyday on all aspects of fishing for walleye, presented by expert walleye anglers including tournament angler Johnnie Candle from North Dakota, and Shelby Ross, a guide from the Potholes Lake area in Washington.
Both were on hand for the opening day of the show.
“I’ve been speaking here for 7 years now,” Candle said. “I’m here showing people the different techniques that I use all across the country.”
As for the walleyes in the tank, Candle said he would like to actually hook one, but prospects were poor.
“Walleye don’t eat well in captivity,” he said. “But this is the first time I’ve ever spoke over a tank of live walleye, so that’s pretty unique.”
Ross said that because of the downturn in salmon fishing, walleye fishing is becoming popular.
“We are trying to get more people interested in it,” Ross said. “Many people are novices at it, and we are trying to educate them. It’s a great time to be walleye fishing in the Northwest.”
Daisy Outdoor Products youth BB-gun shoot
Another new feature should please the kids attending the show. BB-gun manufacturer Daisy Outdoor Products is sponsoring a children’s BB-gun shoot. For a few dollars kids can shoot a BB gun rifle at targets within a safe booth, accompanied by an adult.
Volunteer Howard Baker of the Oregon Timber Beasts Shooting Club said they have had the idea of offering the shoot for a long time.
“We’ve had the idea for years,” said Baker. “We do a lot of events around Forest Grove, but this is our first year here.”
He said families have received them warmly.
“The kids get a big kick out of it,” said Baker, “and even the parents have fun.”
If the children score high enough they will win a prize. Rifles of different sizes are available at the booth.
The youngsters are given a short intro to the rifles and how to shoot them, and are then allowed to shoot at paper targets with volunteer guidance.
The shooting booth is located near the Kids Fishing Pond.
Backyard BBQ
Cooking demonstrations this year will focus on backyard barbeque recipes and equipment. The cooking complex has been revamped with a state-of-the-art cooking area complete with stoves, smokers and grills.
There will be seminars held daily, centered on backyard cooking for a variety of dishes.
Backcountry Hunting Pavilion
The Backcountry Hunting Pavilion promises to be special with the hunting teams from Born & Raised Outdoors and HUSH sharing the space with companies they work with. Their passionate, enthusiastic brand of public lands hunting is catching on, and their seminars will undoubtedly be popular.
Popular features return
Returning features include popular attractions such as the Kids Fishing Pond, where kids can catch a couple of live trout, the Heads and Horns exhibit, with mounted big game trophies of every kind, and over 50 free seminars each day.
There are boat exhibits for every kind of watercraft available, including drift boats, sleds, cruisers, and jet skis. There are also a number of kayaks offered, reflecting the increasing popularity of these minimalist fishing platforms.
The booths are not just filled with products and guide services. The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife are on hand to offer assistance and answer questions.
There are plenty of advocacy groups holding forth, too. The Fallen Outdoors is a veteran’s advocacy group that helps retiring and active service members re-engage with civilian life, and they have set up a booth this year. They facilitate hunting and fishing trips for service members.
Brandon Traeger of Fallen Outdoors said the work they do is important, and appreciated by the vets.
“Our basic job is when people come back from their service, we help them to readjust,” he said. “Whether that be job placement, a reserve assignment, or an outdoors trip.”
If you go
The show will run through Sunday. Doors open at 11 a.m. on Thursday and Friday, and the show runs until 8 p.m. Saturday’s hours are from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m., and Sunday’s hours are from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m.
Tickets are $15 a day, and half-price tickets are available after 4 p.m. For juniors, age 6 to 16, tickets are $5. The half-day ticket for juniors is $2.50. Children 5 and younger are free.
Military members can purchase a 2 for 1 ticket for $15.
Parking near the Expo Center costs $10. There is also extra parking with a shuttle service.
