The Open Season Sportsman's Expo Seminar Series features industry experts throughout the whole weekend. Find the full weekend seminar schedule here.
Friday, March 8th, 2024
2:30PM - Room A
Consistently Landing Smallmouths
Tommy Bench – Gasconade River Guide Service
Tommy Bench is the owner/operator of Gasconade River Guide Service. Born and raised on the Gasconade River, he has been guiding and specializing in Smallmouth habits and tendencies since 2007. Bench has found great success in tournament fishing and also hosts the outdoor radio show “Outdoor America” on 610 sports radio. While he prides himself on being a multi-species angler, his passion is catching and guiding people for Smallies.
2:30PM - Room B
Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28 years of experience planting Antler King food plots. His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.
3:30PM - Room A
Whitetail Property Design - Mobile Hunting Strategies and Post Season Scouting
Austin Stone - Tactical Approach Outdoors
When I started Tactical Approach Outdoors I had this vision of helping fellow deer hunters achieve consistent success on mature whitetail bucks and helping them better understand these amazing animals! There is so much information out there available to us and yet I continued to see that most of the information never dove deep into "why" it worked and how to implement it as a "real world" hunter. That gap was exactly what I wanted to help fill! I have been deer hunting for over 20 years now and the biggest majority of that has been bowhunting and all of it has been on highly pressured public land.
3:30PM - Room B
Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson
This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.
4:30PM - Room B
Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors
A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.
Saturday, March 9th, 2024
10:00AM - Room B
Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors
A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.
11:00AM - Room A
African Safaris Are More Accessible Than You Think
Sakkie Botha
African Safaris can seem daunting and beyond the scope of many hunters. The truth however is that these are less complex than you may think and checking this bucket list item may be something for you. This session will share insights on what to expect, how to make it happen and what you need to know for a successful international safari hunt.
11:00AM - Room B
Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson
This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.
12:00PM - Room A
Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28 years of experience planting Antler King food plots. His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.
12:00PM - Room B
1:00PM - Room A
Whitetail Property Design - Mobile Hunting Strategies and Post Season Scouting
Austin Stone - Tactical Approach Outdoors
When I started Tactical Approach Outdoors I had this vision of helping fellow deer hunters achieve consistent success on mature whitetail bucks and helping them better understand these amazing animals! There is so much information out there available to us and yet I continued to see that most of the information never dove deep into "why" it worked and how to implement it as a "real world" hunter. That gap was exactly what I wanted to help fill! I have been deer hunting for over 20 years now and the biggest majority of that has been bowhunting and all of it has been on highly pressured public land.
1:00PM - Room B
Reptile Showcase
Chris Ballinger – EpicStyle / WhyNotReptiles
Chris Ballinger and his family have a passion for reptiles. Join this session to as they shed a positive light about reptiles & offer a fun, interactive learning experience to people of all ages.
2:00PM - Room A
Women in Hunting – Growing Our Sport
Raylene Proto- Ditale Outdoors, Audrey Young – Ditale Outdoors
Women who hunt are real women, we are moms, attorneys, waitresses, first responders, nurses, and wildlife biologists. The number of female hunters has increased by 85% since 2001, now more than 20% of the industry is female. Women participate for leisure but more importantly, as a means of providing food for their families. In addition, many women are also involved in conservation efforts and wildlife management. What does this mean for women in sport? What does this mean for businesses in the industry or need to shift to support the segment? How can you get involved?
2:00PM - Room B
3:00PM - Room A
3:00PM - Room B
Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28 years of experience planting Antler King food plots. His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.
4:00PM - Room B
Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson
This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.
Sunday, March 10th, 2024
10:00AM - Room B
Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors
A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.
11:00AM - Room A
African Safaris Are More Accessible Than You Think
Sakkie Botha
African Safaris can seem daunting and beyond the scope of many hunters. The truth however is that these are less complex than you may think and checking this bucket list item may be something for you. This session will share insights on what to expect, how to make it happen and what you need to know for a successful international safari hunt.
11:00AM - Room B
12:00PM - Room A
Women in Hunting – Growing Our Sport
Raylene Proto- Ditale Outdoors, Audrey Young – Ditale Outdoors
Women who hunt are real women, we are moms, attorneys, waitresses, first responders, nurses, and wildlife biologists. The number of female hunters has increased by 85% since 2001, now more than 20% of the industry is female. Women participate for leisure but more importantly, as a means of providing food for their families. In addition, many women are also involved in conservation efforts and wildlife management. What does this mean for women in sport? What does this mean for businesses in the industry or need to shift to support the segment? How can you get involved?
12:00PM - Room B
Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28 years of experience planting Antler King food plots. His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.
1:00PM - Room A
Whitetail Property Design - Mobile Hunting Strategies and Post Season Scouting
Austin Stone - Tactical Approach Outdoors
When I started Tactical Approach Outdoors I had this vision of helping fellow deer hunters achieve consistent success on mature whitetail bucks and helping them better understand these amazing animals! There is so much information out there available to us and yet I continued to see that most of the information never dove deep into "why" it worked and how to implement it as a "real world" hunter. That gap was exactly what I wanted to help fill! I have been deer hunting for over 20 years now and the biggest majority of that has been bowhunting and all of it has been on highly pressured public land.
1:00PM - Room B
Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson
This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.
