Go To Next Year’s Pheasant Fest
[Jay was at last weekend’s Pheasant Fest – all Fest posts are by him.]
You’re a bird-hunter, right? A Serious one – Serious as you can be. So here’s the bottom line: Do not miss next year’s Pheasant Fest.
I’m typing this in the Omaha, NE airport, on my way back to scenic New Jersey from the aforementioned Fest. If you’re unfamiliar with it, Pheasant Fest is an annual event put on by Pheasants Forever (PF), and is sort of a combination trade show, pheasant-hunting (and habitat) spectacular, and local-to-the-venue wintertime event. But that description does not do the show justice…especially if you’re a Serious Bird Hunter.
Yes, “bird.” Not just pheasants – and quail, via PF’s Quail Forever organization – but the rest too: I ran into several grouse- and chukar-hunters there..because Pheasant Fest is a bird, bird-hunting and bird-dog show. And many of the folks who go – attendees and exhibitors – hunt whatever birds they can get on.
I feel like I’m getting away from the point here, so here it is again: If bird-hunting is your thing, you need to go to Pheasant Fest. Some highlights:
> Everyone there hunts birds and loves to do it.
> You can learn a ton about whatever you want (dogs, guns, ammo, gear, etc.) by walking around the show and talking to people.
> The seminars (169 total in 3 days) about different dog breeds, dog training, bird-cooking, habitat, etc. are great. (Check out the 2011 Show Program here – it’s a decent-sized PDF file.) Some are better than others, of course, but if one’s not floating your boat you can just move on to the next one.
> The show is family-friendly – I’m bringing my kids next year – and is a manageable size. You could see almost all of this year’s show in a day. But if you like to talk and learn, and want to hit some of the seminars, best to allow at least 2 days.
> PF is a solid organization and puts on a good show. It was well-run.
Three days of talking birds, dogs and hunting with likeminded folk = awesome. Nothing like this exists anywhere else. Gotta go.
This was my first Fest. I’ve been to tons of trade shows, including many in the hunt/fish market, but this just might be my favorite. I can’t see myself missing one from here on out.
Omaha: I’m Moving There
Okay, not really moving there, can’t pry my wife’s roots out of the East Coast, but Omaha’s a cool town.
Never been there before, here’s what I liked:
> The airport is 10 minutes from downtown. No traffic.
> Downtown is modern and clean, wide streets, no traffic.
> Nice folks and actually seem to enjoy their jobs – no complaining. They also like their town (I asked).
> The food is good (beef anyone?).
Omaha was never on my list of places to go. Now it’s on my list of places to return to, hopefully with a shotgun or two next time.
More: Omaha
> I showed up ready to freeze, thought I might see some musk ox on the runway, that kind of thing. It was 45 degrees when I got there on Friday. As I was leaving, the forecast was for single digits during the day, below zero at night.
> Mutual of Omaha – I’d forgotten about that company, and the Wild Kingdom TV show I watched religiously as a kid, until I saw the Mutual building there:
Pheasant Fest tidbits all this week, including: Guns/ammo, what dog(s) is Jay going to get, other gear, maybe the best dog food ever, and more.
Category: NE, Pheasant Fest, Pheasants Forever
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It was a great pleasure finally meeting you! Look forward to hanging with you at many Pheasant Fests to come.