The Lloydminster Gun & Outdoor Sportsman Show will be held at the Servus Sports Centre on January 21 from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., and January 22 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Lloydminster & District Fish & Game Association will feature 235 exhibitor tables including guns and ammo, fishing and archery, taxidermy, as well as clothing and supplies.
President, Dwayne Davidson, said being an outdoor sportsman creates the ideal lifestyle because it’s a great way for youth to learn the vastness and excitement you can have in the outdoors without all the electronics that keep you focused indoors these days. It’s just a great thing to be in the outdoors he said, and to learn while berry picking or hunting the outdoors is like your best television.
“Safety is so important with hunting and fishing; like with anything you do there is risk involved and regulations to keep you safe. Even when out with ATV’s there is a safety conscious you have to have in order to make it a great thing to do,” said Davidson. “Hunting actually is a management tool for the species, with the government regulating it. As a hunter you can look after the land in a good way, which preserves it for the future. Your equipment must be in good shape - you don’t want to have any failures with it walking around the bush. You should carry a compass and learn your surroundings, recognizing trails and if something happens, you should have a survival backpack in case you get lost.”
Davidson has been hunting for approximately 50 years, and fishing for over 55 years. The products he said, have absolutely evolved over the years and it is a very social event.
“There’s all kinds of good stuff; technology has gone through the roof on this. Not everyone goes to buy things, people are appreciating the older guns and may be picking up a part for an old or new one, ammunition or clothing and accessories that go along with the outdoors. It’s not all about shooting an animal - it’s about the conservation effort and being outdoors,” said Davidson. “Don’t go into an area alone. Even in farmland and pastures when there is quite a bit of bush, get in contact with the landowner. Get permission and know your whereabouts, and know your abilities. Hunt with someone of similar knowledge (or better) so that you always have something to fall back on.”
The Lloydminster & District Fish & Game Association operates under both the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation and the Alberta Fish & Game Association. The Lloydminster organization is Saskatchewan’s biggest club with over 1,600 members, and is approximately third in Alberta. With 33,000 people belonging to the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation, it is the largest per capita wildlife conservation organization in the world.
For more information about the Lloydminster Gun & Outdoor Sportsman Show you can call Janelle at 780-872-8099.