Impressions From The Wild TV Huntfest In Chilliwack, BC

© By Othmar Vohringer

 

On Saturday, June 23rd, Heidi and I drove to Chilliwack to visit the Wild TV Huntfest. It was the first time that this event was held in British Columbia. The first time I heard about the Huntfest was last year when they had a series of events in Alberta and Ontario. Naturally I was very curious to visit this new kid on the block as far as hunting trade shows go when I learned that they would come to my home province.

From what I had heard so far about Huntfest I had quite high expectations. There were not as many exhibitors in attendance as I had hoped for but I had expected that given that this was their first event in British Columbia. The atmosphere was friendly throughout and it started right at the entrance to the building: a polite event staff attended to the visitors and everybody we talked to- both visitors and exhibitors alike- seemed to be having a good time.

I was not able to check out all the seminars but the list of speakers was impressive. Among many others the seminar stage featured my good friend and moose-hunting expert John McDowell (Johnny Mac). Linda Cline from Someday Retrievers was there with her excellent gun dog demonstration and lots of good tips on training our four legged hunting partners. Cody Robbins from the Canadian hunting TV show “Live 2 Hunt” talked about his show and, of course, the world record mule deer buck that he shot last year. Then there was Eva Shockey, daughter of hunting celebrity and outfitter Jim Shockey, talking about her own hunting show and the experiences she has made as an accomplished hunter.

Visiting hunting trade shows is for me always a bit like a class reunion of sorts; seeing friends that I rarely see at other times. Ray from Ray Wiens Taxidermy had an impressive booth with his first class trophy mounts. Glenn Fallis, President of Grouse River Outfitters, Ken Sward, proprietor of Sasquatch Fabrications and professional game caller champion Jim Walker rounded out the group of people I always look forward to meet at these events.

All in all Huntfest had a lot to offer for everyone and was a highly appreciated venue for hunters. The common consensus from everybody I talked to can be summed up as “Great show, hopefully Huntfest will become a annual event in British Columbia” That is my hope too.

For more Huntfest information and dates across Canada visit there website. 

Heidi admiring a beautiful full body black bear mount. Only one of many excellent taxidermy exeamples at the Huntfest. 

 There were many new products hunters could test at the Huntfest, like this Summit Treestand.

 Me standing under a huge polar bear for size comparison of this enormous critter.

 Meeting up with old friends like here with fellow seminar speaker and expert moose hunter John McDowel from the Shake Rattle and Paddle company. 

 There was some of the best taxidermy work I've ever seen on display at the Huntfest.

 Talking to Cody Robbins, owner and presenter of the TV show "Live 2 Hunt" about his World Record mule deer buck he tagged last year.

 No hunting show would be complete without several displays of firearms. Savage Arms - my favorite gun maker - was at the Huntfest with a great selection of their hunting and target rifles.

Images curtsey of Heidi Koehler Photography