Big show in Jackson helps set the tone for coming hunting season
Hunters still have over a month to wait — two for deer hunting — before they can start hunting, but in less than a week they can start celebrating the coming season.
The 28th annual Wildlife Extravaganza, sponsored by the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, will be held Aug. 1-3 at the Trade Mart in Jackson.
Over its history, which has seen the consumer-type show grow to attract about 30,000 visitors each year, the “Ganza” has become the traditional kickoff of the hunting season. How does it set the tone?
* With nearly 200 exhibitors, most selling outdoor equipment, accessories and even guided trips, it gives sportsmen a central location to view all the latest gear.
* Many hands-on kids events make it a family attraction.
* And, of course, there is the annual Mississippi Big Buck Contest, where many of the best mounts from the previous deer season can be viewed. It is where hundreds of people can be found gawking at any given minute during the three-day event.
“I don’t know what I like most, looking at the big bucks, looking for the big deals or looking at people,” said Troy Thomas of Madison. “People watching is always fun, and I always find a friend or two I haven’t seen in years and we catch up on life.
“Last year, for example, I ran into a childhood friend I hadn’t seen in 15 or 20 years, who had just moved back to Jackson from up north. I met his wife and found out, like me, he had a young son who was just starting to hunt. To top it off, I found out he was in a club about 10 miles from mine. We ended up hunting together and our families have become close.”
Those stories are rare. More common are the ones involving families who just enjoy the show and the shopping.
“I take the whole family every year and we spend at least half a day going up and down the many aisles,” said Roger Lewis of Jackson. “We usually find a few good deals and see the new stuff that hits the market each year. The biggest majority of time is spent at the big buck display. My two boys, who are both teenagers, have been going for 10 years since they were little.
“Years ago, they just walked around using their fingers to shoot at the bucks. Now, they’re like me. They just stand there and stare, appreciating the quality deer that Mississippi produces, and dreaming of what it would be like to get a shot at big ones. It has helped all of us get a better appreciation of deer management, and we are working to produce that quality at our camp.”
Like thousands of others, the Lewises leave the Extravaganza ready for the hunting season.
“It definitely puts you in the mood,” he said. “We’re always thinking and talking hunting, but the Ganza just gets us ready to go.”
For more information on the 28th annual Wildlife Extravaganza, including show hours, exhibitors and Big Buck Contest rules, visit the Mississippi Wildlife Federation online at mswildlife.org.
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