For immediate release
January 5, 2005
Contact: John Laberge, 802.877.0033
e-mail:
yankeeclas@aol.com
Hunting and Fishing Show Opens in Essex Junction, VT: January 14,
2005
Deer and Deer Hunting Field Editor, The Benoits, VT Governor and other
VIPs in attendance
Vergennes, VT– The 13th Annual Yankee Sportsman’s Classic returns to the
Robert E. Miller Expo Center in Essex Junction, VT, and this year’s show
is 30% larger with the addition of a new 26,000 square-foot building.
A three-day event, the Yankee brings together thousands of hunters,
anglers, trappers and their families. During this long weekend, they can
attend seminars, check out the latest gear, talk with wildlife and
fisheries experts, and even book an elk hunt “Out West” or a fishing
trip in Canada. The kids can catch a fish in the free trout pond hosted
by the professionals and volunteers with the LCI Derbies.
Also new this year is the large selection of bass boats, campers, RV’s,
ATV’s, pop up campers, house boats and many of the bass boat reps on
site from companies such as Skeeter and Triton.
Special features include Pope and Young record-holder Mike Weaver. The
Northeast Big Buck Club will have a trophy wall of amazing bucks. Get
your own deer head scored (fee involved) or listen to one of their
seminars on scoring a trophy buck. Visit the 2004 NRA Big Buck
Collection or go fly-casting on the indoor “pond” staffed by Maine
Master Guide Carroll Ware. Don’t miss the cast-off on Friday and
Saturday with the finals on Sunday. There will be appearances by the
nationally acclaimed gundog trainer Alec Sparks, and, of course, the
Benoit deer hunting family eager to swap this past season’s hunting
stories and show their newest video. Author of The Deer Trackers and On
The Track, famed Maine deer hunter and Deer & Deer Hunting Field Editor
Dick Bernier will also be presenting seminars—five unique sessions. The
‘Duke’ of the deer woods, Randy Flannery, will be on hand to share tips
on hunting Maine’s public lands. Expert game callers Bradley Carleton,
Dick Greene and Al Morelli will present several seminars on duck and
turkey calling, respectively. With nearly 140 exhibitors, there is
something for everyone and their family.
A portion of the proceeds is donated to Camp Ta-Kum-ta in Colchester, VT
to benefit children terminally ill with cancer.
Fishing and hunting are very important to both the culture and the
economy of Vermont where 30 percent of Vermonters fish and hunt—not even
this many Vermonters ski (19 percent). 53 percent of Vermonters
participate in wildlife-related recreation placing Vermont fourth in the
nation with higher participation only in Alaska, Idaho and Montana. The
national average is 38 percent. For the year 2001, nearly $300 million
was spent on fishing and hunting in Vermont. When all is said and done,
five percent of Vermont's Gross State Product is attributable to
fishing, hunting and wildlife-related recreation; this ranks Vermont 1st
in the East and 4th nationally behind Alaska, Wyoming and Montana.
The Robert E. Miller Expo Center is located just east of 1nterstate 89
Exit 15 on Route 15 at the Champlain Valley Fairgrounds. The show hours
are Friday, noon-8pm; Saturday, 9am-7pm; and Sunday, 9am-5pm. Tickets
prices are $9 for adults and $3 for children. A three-day pass is
available for $15. For more information, photos and/or a schedule of
events, call 802.877.0033, visit
www.yankeeclassic.net or pick up the January issue of Outdoors
Magazine.
#30
Statistics cited above are from the following sources: Izaak Walton
League of America, Wildlife Conservation Fund of America, US Department
of the Interior, National Wildlife Federation and VT Ski Areas
Association
Photos available on request |
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