Pheasant Fest 2017

daryl1801

New member
Has anybody ever been to a Pheasant Fest ? This year it is in Minneapolis! Is it worth going? Or is it a boring sport show?
 
Been to two in the past and they are very much worth attending. Lots of booths and a lot of good seminars from dog training to cooking. Go and have some fun. Besides, what else is there to do in February? :)
 
Lots of good seminars from training your dog to improving your habitat. Well worth a person's time.
 
Been to everyone since 2003. They have come a long way. I would also say the MN show gets a lot of energy behind it. There is something for everyone and I have a hard time getting through it all in 3 days.

Habitat, gear, dogs, training, youth, cooking, etc.:10sign::cheers:
 
I have plans to go for the first time. As a newbie pheasant hunter (well, bird hunting in general), I'm interested to see how this is different from the rest of the sportsman's shows that get put on.
 
I have plans to go for the first time. As a newbie pheasant hunter (well, bird hunting in general), I'm interested to see how this is different from the rest of the sportsman's shows that get put on.

Very similar to other sports shows in my opinion but what makes it different is its about pheasant quail gun dogs & hunting VS boats RVs petting zoo bs & fish tanks .. Its 3 spotlight on our favorite fall activity hard to beat that....

Not sure I'll go not into huge crowds herd u can score some good deals on vest hats clothes etc so bring a pocket full of cash...
 
Jon,

I plan to be there on the 17th as well! Maybe we will run into each other.

I like the idea of the show because it is designed specifically for pheasant and now quail hunters. I went to the very first one held at a hotel in Minnesota, excited to see what this year brings!
A friend of mine and I attended a few years ago and enjoyed the experience. We'll be there on the 17th...
 
Jon,

I plan to be there on the 17th as well! Maybe we will run into each other.

I like the idea of the show because it is designed specifically for pheasant and now quail hunters. I went to the very first one held at a hotel in Minnesota, excited to see what this year brings!

Joel: Will look for you. We'll be there about 4 P.M.

Jon
 
A buddy and I are headed that way too...be our first one, really looking forward to it. Great to see all the positive confirmation.
 
I haven't seen any posts from those that have attended or are attending Pheasant Fest. Let's hear some reports!

Attended Friday with a friend.

Looked at a new Suburban and wanted to buy, until I heard the$75K price tag!

Several dog food mfg. and dog breeders were among the exhibitors. We didn't attend and of the seminars; observed from the back of the room a dog trainer putting his dog through his paces.

Was surprised there weren't more gun mfg. attending, but perhaps I missed their booths.

There were ample exhibitors that were selling hunting opportunities; game farms and other hunt sites. $3700 package at Thunderstik Lodge for 3 days. What a great deal!

The SD Dept.Game and Fish were there and I offered my opinion on their licensing - fees and dates et al. They just smiled...

Cabala's and Gander Mt. had merchandise for sale as did others. Didn't see any real bargains in upland attire.

I felt the show was a bit scaled back from the last time it was in Minneapolis; just a feeling/perception...
 
First time so don't have previous events to compare but had a great time. I wondered why I had waited so long to attend.

Lots of dog food companies, was surprised actually. Purina (a big event sponsor) major presence and lots of free samples but many others too.

Browning/Winchester, Benelli, Beretta, CZ, Ceaser/Fabarm, Remington, Savage, and probably a couple I'm missing were there with various guns/pistols to handle.

A lot of kennels with dogs to meet and pet, a lot of breeds all over that I've read about or researched over the years. I really enjoyed actually seeing and interacting with numerous breeds.

Seemed like a lot of hunting ranches/guide/etc type booths which I didn't engage due to my lack of interest/need but there if desired.

Various upland gear but nothing really new or noteworthy. Some discounts in the Runners area, up to 50% off some stuff which I thought was decent. Gunner and Rough Tough Kennels had good showing along with a few other transportation options. It was nice to touch / feel in person and see how accessories worked in real life.

I was only reall disappointed in the footwear category with only really Russell Moccasins having a booth. While they seem like really nice boots, it would have been nice to see and talk to other companies???

Weather was ridiculous nice in the 60's so probably got lucky there.
 
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I went on Friday with my son.

Pheasant Fest was what I expected ... it is a trade show / sportsman show with an emphasis on pheasants.

Negatives
As expected .. it was filled with commercial hunting outfitters and high end SD preserves. These booths were not very busy. I did not take much time to talk with any of them.

The guys in the Garmin booth on Friday were about as bland, unfriendly, unknowledgeable as you could be. They had the new model GPS tracker there and could not talk about it.

Not much in the way of merchandise be Gander, Cabelas, or Pheasants Forever (PF). PF merchandise was especially sparse compared to their website sales. PF should have had much more shirts, products, and gear with their labeling. There were several other clothing booths that seem to have more products - just did not see a thing I needed so did not spend much time there.


Pluses
Guns, dog crate, dog food, dog breeds, and dog clubs were well represented. It would have been a good place to visit if you were looking at trying a new breed of bird dog.

The DNR booth had their WIA and WMA land managers working there. They were asking visitors to sign cards asking for CRP extensions. I thanked both of them for their hard work and positive acquisitions and leases. I did challenge the WMA manager to improve their property management outside the main pheasant range. I politely told him that there were many properties that could use burning, cutting, etc... He agreed.

I also asked him why so many new properties take years to show up on the on-line mapping programs. He explained the process of acquisition, signing, and mapping ... but I think he was surprised (if not unaware) at how many properties are still not on the mapping program. I told him that the DNR did great in sending me emails of property descriptions and aerial maps ... then kidded him that maybe they should not put them on the on-line mapping program ;)

I listen to the Smith's (Rick and Ronnie are cousins) one hour seminars. Both did a nice job talking about the basics of their training strategies. They promote positive training and patience. They both also said you need to be careful in over training a dog early and killing is prey drive (intensity).
 
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My 1st pheashant fest was worth it. as a newbie I wanted to explore Kansas,sodak and nodak options and was pleased that there were a lot of outfitters there. plus got to see and feel guns . some great ones even LC Smiths. I almost didn't go because also same day was the Minneapolis supercross which I wouldn't miss so I knew it was going to be a long day. But iam glad I stuck to it and had one of my best days in a long time. I'll be back. your glass is either half empty or full your choice
 
I attended yesterday (Sunday) for the first time and while I expected the familiar trade show "feel", it was different as well. Part of it was that the crowd was the right size: busy, but definitely not over-crowded. I was able to look at shotguns and get questions answered without a salesman's pressure to buy it; that was nice. Every booth I stopped to look and talk, the people in the booth didn't seem to have a "buy now!" mentality, which was refreshing compared to other trade shows. The fact it was Sunday might have something to do with it too. ;) I don't know if I'll make the trek to Sioux Falls for next year's show, but when it's in Minneapolis again, I'll be back.
 
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