2010 Virginia Deer Classic

2010 Virginia Deer Classic, August 13 through 15.  Richmond, Virginia. 

I attended the Classic on Saturday, August 14^th, held at the “Showplace” in Richmond, Virginia.  MAN, were there a lot of people in attendance!  I have been attending this outdoor show for many years and this is the most people that I have ever seen there on a Saturday afternoon. 

Record attendance was not the only numbers that were up.  There were 406 (the most ever) deer head mounts from the 2009 season on hand to be scored by the folks from Boone and Crockett, of those entries over one-third had been entered by youth or ladies (go girls!!).

There were 291 booths rented by exhibitors from all over the US and the world.  If you wanted to travel to Africa, it was there. If you wanted to book a hunt in the US, you could. If you wanted to join a new hunting club, why not. If you just wanted to look at, try out and dream about a new game call, bow, ATV, or trophy mount, all were there.

 A few of the more popular Outdoor TV personalities were on hand too, Roger Ragland host of Roger Ragland Outdoors, Lee & Tiffany Lakosky hosts of The Crush & Whitetail Freaks and Lee Johnson host of Predator Quest.  All gave seminars to standing room only crowds and stayed around to talk to folks afterwards.  All of the celebrities were popular and had folks standing in line to meet them.  The Lakosky’s were the most popular with lines leading out of the building. Anyone wanting the chance to get their autograph was standing in that line for over three hours.  Not being an autograph hound I watched from a distance.  It surprised me that they were not allowing photos to be taken of them.  Lee Johnson sat at his booth all day when not speaking at his seminar and I understand he was there all three days.  He was very approachable and giving autographs but was not set up to have photos taken by Classic goers.  Roger Ragland was at a booth but he was also wondering around the show talking to folks, shaking hands, signing autographs and taking time with everyone who came to his booth or stopped him at the show.  Of all the “celebrities” there, I would like to Hunt with Mr. Ragland….

 On display was the mount of the new Virginia Record Non-Typical Deer.  It was taken by compound bow the second week of archery season in the western part of the state.  They have not released much more information regarding this deer due to the rights of a couple of magazines to do articles on the hunter and the deer.  This brute scored 221 2/8 and his picture does not do the mass on this deer justice.

 I hope we get as many new TH members as folks I talked to and a couple of new sponsors to boot.

 If you have an outdoor show in your area don’t miss it!