Hunters and anglers from across Southwestern Ontario are expected to flock to Tilbury this month for the biggest hunting and fishing show this side of Toronto.Now in its 12th year, the Southwest Outdoors Club’s Big Buck Sportsmen’s Show is expected to draw close to 1,500 hunting and fishing enthusiasts on Saturday,
April 16th. Sponsored this year by Buck Fever Synthetic Scents, and held in the Tilbury Arena, hunters can bring deer and moose racks, bear skulls and turkey beards to be measured and scored by F.R.O.W. the Foundation for the Recognition of Ontario Wildlife. Scoring is overseen by the Beasley Brothers of “Canada In The Rough”, a popular and award-winning hunting show carried on seven Canadian and one US Network, and other official scorers from F.R.O.W.
As well, more than 50 vendors fill the arena floor selling hunting and fishing equipment and apparel. There is also an indoor archery shoot for kids, and the ever-popular trout fishing pond set up just outside Ryder Hall, which is sponsored by Liquiforce No-Dig Pipelines. New this year, thanks to sponsorship from Canadian Tire in Tilbury, is a series of five 30-minute seminars held throughout the day. Topics include Bass Fishing in Lake Erie, the return of the Spring Bear Hunt, Muskie Fishing Techniques, and two seminars on Deer Hunting.
“We try to bring something new and interesting to the show each year,” said SWOC president Dan Reive. “This year it’s the seminars, and we’re really excited about this addition. We also have several new vendors, raffles, and loads of great door prizes to give away.”
Hunters who want to take their Turkey Hunting License test can do that at the show too. Three sessions will be held throughout the day, and with the opening of that season the following Saturday, spaces are expected to fill fast.
Admission to the show is $5, and kids 12 years old get in free. More than $2,500 worth of door prizes will be given away at hourly draws held throughout the day, which runs from 10 am until 5 pm. There is also a $1,000 cash raffle drawn at 4 pm, as well as a draw for an Excalibur Crossbow package valued at over $1,300.
Trophies are presented at day’s end to those with the largest entries in each of the categories measured by FROW. Anyone who wants to have their racks, skulls or beards scored needs to have them at the arena and registered before 1 pm.
There is also live music throughout the event, and a cash bar. Food is also available throughout the day at the arena canteen.
“The feedback from those who attend the show is very positive, and those who’ve attended in the past always seem quite excited to return,” Reive added. “The club puts a lot of work into organizing this event, and it pays off. People have a good time and we raise the funds needed to support some of the many projects we do.”
With more than 130 members from across Chatham-Kent and Essex County, the SWOC is a group of like-minded individuals who share an interest in the environment, conservation, and outdoor heritage, which includes hunting and fishing. As well as hosting the annual Big Buck Sportsmen’s show, the club supports a wide array of projects and events such as Youth Outdoor and Safety Education, an annual Kids Fishing Derby and the Big Boyz Fishing
Tournament. They also do tree planting, fish stocking, habitat creation as well as supervised youth hunts and a variety of other outdoor-related activities. Meetings are held every second Tuesday at the Wheatley Legion at 7 pm.
“We have a diverse membership, including several women and families,” Reive said. “Our show reflects that. There’s something there for everyone, and the kids always seem to have a really great time.”
For more information and updates on the April 16th the show, you can follow SWOC Big Buck Sportsmen’s Show on Facebook.