53rd Eugene Sportsmen's and Outdoor Recreation Show Jan. 30 to Feb. 1

Hundreds of exhibitors filled the Lane Events Center for the 53rd annual KVAL Eugene Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Recreation Show, drawing families, anglers, hunters and outdoor businesses to a three-day showcase of gear, education and contests. The event, presented by Bi-Mart with KVAL as media sponsor, ran January 30 through February 1 at 796 W. 13th Ave in Eugene.

Admission was $9 for adults, $1 for children ages 6-11 and free for children 5 and under. Seven Feathers Casino Resort sponsored a free senior window, admitting guests 65 and up free from 3-7 p.m. Friday. Bi-Mart offered a $2-off coupon valid Friday and Sunday; organizers noted online presale tickets and coupons were available through the show and sponsor channels. Lane Events Center contact is (541) 682-4292 for venue information.

Organizers ExpoSure Shows listed a broad program of exhibits and demonstrations covering fishing, hunting, camping, boating, RV’ing, ATV’ing, cycling, kayaking, hiking, climbing, scuba diving and supporting advocacy groups and governmental agencies. “Feathers, foragers, photography and fantastic adventures await visitors of all ages at the 53rd annual KVAL Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Recreation Show, January 30-February 1, at the Lane Events Center in Eugene,” read promotional copy distributed ahead of the event.

Featured attractions included the live bird presentations billed as “Eagles Have Landed” or the “Wild Eagle Encounter,” presented by Birdman Joe Krathwahl. Krathwahl brought Nadua, a white-tailed eagle, and Sheeba, a bateleur eagle, and said, “We want people to see the eagles in action, up close, and to increase their understanding of the birds.” Donations collected at the presentations support Nevada Eagle Rescue. Wild Eagle Encounter times were scheduled Friday at 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; Saturday at 11:30 a.m., 1:30, 3:30 and 5:30 p.m.; and Sunday at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m.

Green Valley Hunting & Retrieving demonstrations and Hunting Dog Basics ran on a set schedule: Friday at 2:15 and 6:15 p.m.; Saturday at 12:15, 2:15 and 4:15 p.m.; and Sunday at 12:15 and 2:15 p.m. The show also promoted the Northwest Big Game Tour with life-sized taxidermied animals, a taxidermy tour, a new Forager’s Bounty area for locally produced provisions and an all-expense-paid bear hunt sweepstakes in Maine.

The photography program appeared under two names in promotional material - the Capture the Wild Photo Contest and the Agent of the Wild Photography Contests - and offered nearly $10,000 in cash and prizes with a new game-camera category. Curator Dan Amos described the contest this way: “It’s a chance for enthusiasts, weekend adventurers, and seasoned photographers to show what the wild means to them.” Entries were displayed throughout the show for public viewing.

Represented agencies and groups included State Police, the Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife, Delta Waterfowl, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Oregon Hunters Association. On-site amenities listed by organizers included ATMs and an all-service-dogs-welcome policy.

For Lane County, the show fused commerce, recreation and outreach, bringing advocacy groups, public agencies and prize-driven contests under one roof. Expect follow-up reporting on contest winners, attendance figures and any returning attractions that were in prior years’ lineups.