Kentucky Sportsmens Expo!! This Weekend!!

[Matt Orr]

Just a reminder to everyone something I've been working my butt off on for the past 6 months is coming up this weekend, The Kentucky Sportsmens Expo. Here are a few of the highlights:

*The RMEF's "Great Elk Tour"
*Northwest Giants Whitetail Collection
*The World Record Milo Hansen Buck
*Steve Stoltz
*Frank Addington Jr.
*Boone and Crockett Scoring Booth
*Big Buck and Big Shed Contest
*FLW Outdoors Trout Pond
*FLW Outdoors Simulator
*Redhead 3-D Popup Tournament
*Kids Korner Fun Area w/ Inflatables and 3-D Range
*Dozens of Vendors
*Live Radio Remotes and Giveaways
*Live Bluegrass Music

This will all take place in London, Ky at the London/Laurel Optimist Complex.

Friday 12-9PM
Saturday 9AM-9PM
Sunday 10AM-6PM

For more info go to www.KentuckySportsmensExpo.com (http://www.KentuckySportsmensExpo.com) or call 606-231-0730.

Hope to see you there!

[grouser68]

Thanks for all your hard work Matt! I may just try and make it down.I am sure it will be a kick butt event, goiod luck!

[Matt Orr]

Thanks, I definitely think it is going to be a good one!

Matt

[JPARKER]

I'll be there for sure Matt. Can't wait.

[elksterturds]

No butts better then to much. Or is it the other way around.

[corydongal]

Okay, I am an idiot, post a question in the community section, before looking here. Need info on admission cost and seminar costs. Also need info on any good places to eat. Thanks. :)

[timbob]

can i bring my bow and just shoot at the 3-d target or do i have to compete

[SmokeyBear]

Okay, I am an idiot, post a question in the community section, before looking here. Need info on admission cost and seminar costs. Also need info on any good places to eat. Thanks. :)



I have no clue as to the cost of admission/seminars (I was actually going to ask that myself) but there are plenty of good choices on food. I live here in London and we have a couple of great mexican restaurants, Fiesta Mexicana (located on the 192 Bypass, which is exit 38 off of I-75, behind the Advanced Auto store that you can see from the Bypass) and Eldorados (also located on the bypass just before you get to WalMart from the I-75 and on the same side of the road as Walmart). There is also a Chinatown on main street (US 25) on the north end of London that is pretty good and a King's Buffet (on the 192 Bypass) that also serves Chinese food. Also on the 192 bypass there is a Golden Coral right beside of Walmart. There is a Ruby Tuesdays (also located on the 192 bypass). On Hwy 80 (exit 41, the same exit that the expo is off of) there is a Shiloh's Roadhouse, a Cracker Barrel and a few fast food joints. There is also of course all of the fast food you can think of, McDonalds, Burger King, Sonics, Taco Bell, Subway, White Castle, KFC, Lees Famous Recipe, Wendys, etc....

There is just about any kind of restaurant you would like here. The larger dine in restaurants such as the Mexican places and Shiloh's also serve alcoholic beverages if that is your thing.

[corydongal]

Thanks for the info. If you are there on Saturday, please stop by the Outdoor View booth and say hello. Corydonboy (Cliff) and I (Susie) should be there about 10:30 or so. Our friend Paul Moore is the editor and publisher of the new magazine. :)

[SmokeyBear]

Thanks for the info. If you are there on Saturday, please stop by the Outdoor View booth and say hello. Corydonboy (Cliff) and I (Susie) should be there about 10:30 or so. Our friend Paul Moore is the editor and publisher of the new magazine. :)

Sadly as of right now I don't think I'll get to be there at all any of the days.:( I have to work the entire dadgum weekend!!!:mad:

[Matt Orr]

The cost of admission is $8 for adults, $5 for 12 and under and 3 and under free. You can bring your bow and just shoot for fun or compete.

Hope to see you there!

[timbob]

The cost of admission is $8 for adults, $5 for 12 and under and 3 and under free. You can bring your bow and just shoot for fun or compete.

Hope to see you there!



i will see you there
i will be the ugly one you can't miss me

[weedwalker]

The cost of admission is $8 for adults, $5 for 12 and under and 3 and under free. You can bring your bow and just shoot for fun or compete.

Hope to see you there!

A lot of people made a U-turn when they saw the $8 a head sign at the gate. Out of 6 or 7 in line when I got there, only 2 stayed.

[kytrapper]

I've never seen an area anywhere as bad as this one for so many wanting something for nothing. I bet a lot of them that turned would not hesitate to spend eight bucks on cigarettes or lottery tickets.

[Elk Hunter]

I am heading , along with my son , to London for the Expo and also the RMEF banquet

[CanisMajor]

Does anybody know what day the shed contest is and what the prize(s) are?

[Matt Orr]

The sheds or mounts can be brought in any time up until Sunday at 2:00, the winners will be announced at 3 PM. Actually the people at the ticket gate only said 1 person left and grouched about the $8. I guess some people think you should lose money for them??? The big buck and shed contest has been a surprise to me. The scorers said we have already had more unscored booners brought in than the Strader show they worked earlier in the year. He also said that it is unreal the big bucks that are showing up out of Knox County. It was a great first day though.

[naturalelite]

I've never seen an area anywhere as bad as this one for so many wanting something for nothing. I bet a lot of them that turned would not hesitate to spend eight bucks on cigarettes or lottery tickets.
I went paid my 8 bucks and pretty much paid the 8 bucks to see the milo hanson buck and the elk tour. I was very disappointed. It felt like I paid 8 bucks to walk around a car show. I hope today and tomorrow were better than Friday was. I know someone here is going to say well you couldn't please natural with anything. Well We got there at 4:45 and left at 5:10 and we did everything that was there at the time. Except the water slide. The elk tour was the best part of it.

[droopy]

i agree natural,i was a bit dissapointed also,the elk tour and bucks were all it had going for it,but it was like about everything else in these parts,if you get bored you could go out to the tent and tour the flea mkt.maybe next time will be better.i did talk to one of the taxidermists set up there and got some real good info on what to do with my elk hide{if i'm lucky enough to get one}.but overall it was not what i expected.

[droopy]

You can bring your bow and just shoot for fun or compete.
for 5 dollars a round. 5 shots:o

[naturalelite]

I know there was a lot of hard work and effort put into this but it just wasn't productive. I would love to be able to tell you what you could do to fix it but I don't have those answers.I would suggest going around the country seeing what other people are doing to draw the crowds. Elk and deer are a good draw but having 20 racks isn't going to get it done. I didn't see any of the seminars so maybe they were great I don't know. Now there were other vendors coming in as I was leaving so maybe Saturday and Sunday were the days to be there but I know at 5 Friday wasn't the time to be there.


Guys the bow shoot was a great idea but with an 8 dollar cover for what was there. Do you really think additional charge was necessary?

[weedwalker]

I didn't see any of the seminars so maybe they were great I don't know. Now there were other vendors coming in as I was leaving so maybe Saturday and Sunday were the days to be there but I know at 5 Friday wasn't the time to be there.

Yeah, it was a dissapointment to pay $8 to watch them set up.:mad:

[gds]

Great Job Matt, For A First Show. Plenty Of Room To Expand. See Ya Next Year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

[ky_bull]

I have to say I was somewhat dissapointed as well. But the last couple of these things I have been to in which I was expecting more, and left with dissapointment. But the kids seemed to be having fun, we enjoyed watching them shoot the bows at the Full Draw Archery booth and the fishing tank was entertaining. I was hoping to try out some of them ATV's. I didnt mind paying the 16 dollars for us to get in, but we were only there for 30 mins and we went to everything twice making sure we didnt miss anyhting. Hope it gets better.

[Matt Orr]

Sorry if you left disappointed. You have to understand this was a first year show, alot of vendors wouldn't even talk about coming when we talked to them because of that. I am totally open to any suggestions that anyone would have about it since I plan on doing it again next year. I don't think that people realize how expensive it is to even try to put on something like this. I'm not even planning on making money on this show, just trying to get one under my belt and try to make it into something. But I do feel that we had some pretty nice attractions, definitely some like you've never seen anywhere around here before. Most of the vendors that are regulars on the show circuit were really impressed with what we had compared to most first year shows and said they could easily get us double the amount of vendors we had there this year. Everybody has got to start somewhere you know. Please though, feel free to give me all the constructive criticism you like. I'll do the best I can next time, just like I did this time.

[Matt Orr]

Also, about the bow shoot. I kind of made a spur of the moment decision to bring the 3-D popup in and at the time didn't realize that they also charged too. Which I wasn't really too crazy about since I paid them pretty good to begin with to come. But I wasn't making a dime off of them, that was all them. But oh well, you live and learn. And I've definitely learned some good lessons this weekend.

[kyfowlplay]

Matt... Think you are off to a good start with the show. I'm sure you have learned a lot this weekend.If you have one in the spring around turkey season I will be there with some of my turkey mounts. Hope the person that got the gift certificate will use it:D

[deadaim]

I went friday around 1:00 pm I too was dissapointed to pay 16 bucks to get in. Only to see most vendors still setting up. I didnt see the popup targets?
I went to get my buck scored and I did by our very own CSS / Joe Lacefield.
It was nice to meet you Joe. The guys at the scoring booth were working there tails off. I spent 30 bucks total and left with only my buc scored. I went looking for some camo and some Muzzys but there were none to be found........Ive been to alot of shows but I must admitt I felt like I spent 16 bucks to go to a boat/car dealer. More HUNTING related vendors and a 5 buck admission price and you might have something. And kids should be free.
Make your money of the vendors they are there to sell me something why should I pay thru the nose for them to do that? A family of 4 would pay alot of money to attend the show and be leaving in 20-30 minutes because they cant afford a new car or boat. I had lots of cash with me I just could find anywere to spend it :0 Good luck next year Ill give it a try again.

[moreammoplz]

I wasn't able to attend, but I wanted to THANK YOU any ways for trying to put on a show like this. I am sure with the lesson learned next year will be better. I be in five years the show will be booming and everyone will forget about the issues in year one.

Even the "Mighty" Jim Shrader has issues with his show, but keep trying to make it better. In a few years you may have a radio show also. :)


As for more vendors, you might want to reach out to Sportsman's Warehouse, Dicks, Bass Pro Shops and Buds Gun Shop. They could probably get you in touch with a few more "Hunting Vendors" You could try the DPMS guys to have them bring out the big truck with the varmint rifles. Contact someone from Realtree or Mossy Oak etc. Maybe even a few bow manufactures to have them show off the new models.

[corydongal]

The show was good for being a first time. Matt has lots of great ideas. Please dont think that it will be the same thing next year. Corydonboy and I are planning to going back in the spring if Matt has another show. We met lots of good people and hopefully made some friends along the way. Keep going Matt, you are on to a good thing. ;)
P.S. Shiloh's was great!!!! :D

[rick243]

I agree, not bad for a first show. I have been to worse shows in Lexington. I was there Sat. afternoon for a while, saw some old friends I hadn't seen in a long time, and didn't feel like I was cheated or anything. Lots of people in SEKY would have never been able to see all those world-class racks up close had it not been for a local show like this. Fine tune it a bit and it will grow.

[Kentuck]

$8 dollars to get in. Out here in CA we pay $10 to $20 to park and $10-$12 per person to get into most outdoor shows. Of course out here they just about make you pay to breathe. A good show is worth $8. Being the first year maybe this wasn't worth it but hopefully it will get better. The major shows we have out here are the International Sportsman's Expo and I also go to the RMEF Expo on Reno. Great show.

One thing I look for when I go to these shows are vendors of the products I use, seminars and maybe demos of the new equipment that has come out. Having some of the local sporting goods store's with a booth helps for those looking to get some new camo or other equipment helps. Sounds like having some ATV folks there would be good. I think when a person goes to something like this they want to walk away with something, whether it is some product or just information. Looking at the mounts is nice but a person can go to Bass Pro of some other shop and see comparable mounts.