Billy Reynolds remembers vividly his dad leading him by the hand through the doors at the Mississippi Trade Mart in Jackson. It was something they did each August of his youth, and it played a key role in opening his eyes to the world of outdoor sports.
“Dad’s way of kicking off the hunting season every year, and he knew it was the perfect way to spark a kid’s interest,” said Reynolds of Brandon, now a 28-year-old father. “Now, it’s time for me to do the same with my oldest son, Will, who is 4. I can’t wait to take him to the Extravaganza. It’s my time to pass it on.”
The annual Mississippi Wildlife Extravaganza, which will be held for the 26th time Aug. 3-5 at the Trade Mart, has become more than just a tradition with state sportsmen. It is more like a ritual, which is why it averages 30,000 in attendance over the first weekend of August each year.
It is looked upon by many as the opening of the hunting season, which, in reality, doesn’t start for another month.
“Between the time you park and walk in and the time you leave and go back to your car, it’s like it hits you right between the eyes… it’s hunting season,” Reynolds said. “You leave that place feeling better because you know hunting season is coming soon.”
The 2012 Extravaganza, maybe more than any before it, will also serve as a celebration of the past hunting season. The event’s biggest draw, the Mississippi Big Buck Contest, promises to include some monsters.
The 2011-12 deer season produced at least five Boone & Crockett qualifiers, with more expected. Rick Dillard is hoping they all show up at the Extravaganza.
“We know there are some others out there that were green-scored but never brought back for official scoring,” said Dillard, a founder of and a scorer for the Magnolia Records Program. “We are assuming that the hunters will bring them back for measuring at some point, and since we have an official scoring session at the Extravaganza, along with the state contest, I am hoping they will be brought in over the weekend.”
The buck exhibit serves two purposes, a contest limited to deer taken during the 2011-12 season,
and a Magnolia Records Program scoring session
for all bucks.
The combination insures that hundreds of antlers will hang on the display walls making it, as always, the center of attention of the three-day event.
“Dad used to take me to the deer display and tell me all about the bucks and what made each set of antlers so unique,” Reynolds said. “It’s where I learned the difference between typical and non-typical, about drop tines and sticker points. And, now, I get to pass that on to Will. I can’t tell you how much I have looked forward to this, taking my son to the Extravaganza when he’s old enough to know more about what is going on.
“He’s gone to the stand with me since he was 2, he’s been with me when I’ve taken deer, and he’s been at camp when others have killed big bucks. But, at the Trade Mart, he will get to see what I mean by monster bucks. It’s one thing to see them on TV but it’s different when he gets to stand there and look at them for real.”
The youngster will get to enjoy a lot of hands-on exhibits for children, including archery, a gun range and even hand-grabbing for catfish.
“The catfish grabbling demonstration was so much fun and so popular last year that we decided to bring it back and expand on it,” said Melanie Starnes, the event coordinator for the Mississippi Wildlife Federation. “Our plan is to set up a smaller tank where children can stand outside, reach in and try to grab smaller catfish. We’re hoping to put it together and have it.”
Seminars and demonstrations are scheduled throughout the weekend, including headliners Pat and Nicole Reeves, stars of the popular show “Driven” on the Outdoor Channel.
Local experts will also take the stage discussing falconry, retriever training, wildlife calling, photography and snake identification.
Being a consumer-type show, the Extravaganza will feature about 200 exhibitors offering just about everything you can imagine related to outdoor sports. That includes guided hunting and fishing trips, equipment and accessories, cookware, clothing…
“You name it and they got it, and they always get some of my money,” said Joe Watson of Canton. “I take the kids and my wife on Friday or Saturday morning, which is fun, but it’s also kind of like advanced scouting. Then I go back on Sunday afternoon alone and buy what I want, especially if I find vendors wanting to make a late deal.
“I’ve bought a few stands in the past at closing time on Sunday when I convinced the dealer he really didn’t want to drag them all the way to the truck in that heat, load ‘em up and carry them back to his store.”
Show hours are 3-9 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For ticket prices, seminar schedules and other information, visit mswildlife.org.
Be the first to comment