DU Outdoor Festival

[Haymaker]

I was wondering what those who attended the DU outdoor festival this past weekend thought about it?

I went there Saturday and thought that there would have been more people there. The weather was perfect in my opinion, no rain, wasn't too hot, nice breeze, just a great day to be outdoors. I hadn't been to the festival in several years, but one of the guys I went up there with was surprised to see how much they had raised the price of addmition. He told me last year it cost $9 for adults to get in the gate and this year they had up it to $15 for adults, kids under 12 years old were $8 I think. This seems mighty high to me. I feel that the cost of addmition probably kept several folks away.

There were some nice displays there and I did enjoy seeing one of the retriever demonstrations. Only time will tell on whether or not I go back next year.

Haymaker

[CBU93]

I've been every year but the first one. I was sorely disappointed...again. It seems to get worse and worse every year. I don't think they had as many BIG name manufacturering reps or well known personalities each year. I would imagine that they are probably going to the newer shows in OshKosh and Virginia this year as opposed to Memphis.

I doubt if I ever go back again. Admission was too high, but I don't think that was what kept folks away. I think there is getting to be less and less hunting/fishing merchandise and more junk every year. Just my $.02.

[MemphisStockBroker]

Admission $$ was way too high...

Booth space cost was way too high. Talked with one vendor who paid $1600 for an outside booth. You have to sell a bunch of duck calls to break even. ( The cost was more for the inside ones.)
Last year, two tents packed wall to wall with vendors. This year, one tent and PLENTY of extra space inside.

It was not advertised here locally (in memphis) like years past. Probably due to less vendor booth sales.

The hunt dog area was way cool. Some excellent performances by the dogs -- and some that were just downright funny. Dogs being dawgs... and getting excited. We spent allot of time there, and had a blast.

there were very few food vendors. if you got hungry, your choices were limited - and things were high.

Very few people shooting skeet. not sure why.... maybe because very few people were there.

my feeling walking through the place was that DU has gotten $$$ greedy and they tried to make too much money off of it, instead of it being a fun family time -- and a time to introduce DU to the general population.

[bwm]

Two years now I haven't gone. Same ol' - Same 'ol every year. Price of addmission way too high also. Had some friend who went. They said if you went the year before, you saw it this year. Nothing changed except the higher prices. They said never again. Kinda glad I didn't go again....

[webfoot]

GulfCoast and I were there when the gates opened on Friday; the people waiting in line were less than one hundred at noon. Here is my perception on the event.

1.) A June date in the Mid-South, in today’s business world is terrible timing.

2.) Prudent dates would be late September or October, vendors would be able to sell merchandise and recover their booth cost. Who wants a waterfowl jacket in June?

3.) Elevated entrance fee’s and food and drink prices were way out of line.

4.) With a smaller amount of vendors, we spent less time.

5.) We did make the best of our trip and did see a few items, but walked away dismayed.

The time of year & lower entry fee’s are the key to the future of the DU event accomplishing a future in Memphis?

[SCOOTER]

i went and ran in to goose, getting to watch the dogs was the best thing there. my last year to pay $15.00, my wife was like, whats the high price to get in for, then she saw all the free du shirts they had to give to ever kid and adult that helped put it on. way to many, less people and vendors ever year.

[bear]

I got the discounted ticket at Scunks which reduced the price to $13, but that was still too high for less of a show. It seems that everything DU is doing these days is becoming too commercialized. No one is raising prices on anything these days and DU should be no exception.

I went of Friday and there was not many people in attendance and fewer vendors as well. I was surprised that even Polaris was not in attendance.

I wonder if I will attend again unless something changes. DU is losing touch with their membership base in my opinion.

[DuckyDan]

This year was actually my first time to go. I thought it was pretty neat. I do have to admit that admission and food were way overpriced though! I was a little disappointed in that regard. I was glad that I got to meet Barney Calef. I tell ya what, that is one cool guy. He talked with us for about 30 minutes at least while we were trying out calls. He was extremely helpful giving pointers and everything. I'm sold on Hunter Specialties now!

Did anyone happen to see the Rack's girls? They got me all shook up! WHEW!!!!!!!

I'm counting down the days til season now! I've got the fever!!!!!

[chance]

What did you guys think of the foille boat blind? It was on a War Eagle sitting in the middle of the lot in front of the foille booth. Little pricey but it sure looked solid and easy to put up. Thought the Rack girls were the hit of the show, except for me and travis putting of doggie demos.

[Anatidae]

Yeah, I drove all the way up there just to see you and 'goose'......weren't nowhere to be found. Saw a dude on the way out that kinda looked like Travis.....'couldn't really tell........'dude looked at me like, "what, are you 'gay' or somethin'?"

As disappointing as the 'Shelby County Fair' was, I figured "what the hell.......they DID raise some money".......and nobody 'forced' ME to pay the admission fee. All I bought this year was a bottle of water.

[goosebruce]

Whut can ya say man... at least the pepsi's are still only $4.
Personally, I like the 10,000 volunteers and nobody knows anything when asked. Everytime I saw a tent I thought sumthing good must be there, look at all the folks, it was a volunteer hospitality tent. SHeez.
Seen scooter for a minute, thought he was coming to talk later... never seen him again. Seen superx magnum & duckydawgen, but I see them all the time wifout having to pay $6 for a sammich. Way down on vendors and attendence, I only made it on sunday (have missed too much work for stones and family stuff lately to take anytime off for it), but would have liked to hit the airshow too.. hate they overlapped, poor planning on everyones part.
If I'd paid $15 for 2 adults, 1 kid, half price for one, and free for the other (my crew) and then fed them their, Id been pissed and broke.
I did have a good time in the doggie village, and somewhere their is some good pics of my rowdy dog and chance's younger dog fluffy. travis

[dukdawgn]

The one and only UH HRCH Online's Cheap Thrills....aka "Rowdy"

[peewee]

Did they have any artwork, paintings the decoys etc. The first year I went it was either 3 or 4 years ago they had tons of it. Almost the whole inside was filled up. I love that stuff, didn't have much money so I told my wife next year I'm bringing some cash and getting me some prints and another decoy or two. The next year they didn't have hardly anything in the form of artwork there. Most of the lobby was being used for I believe a private sponsors place or something. I was pretty ticked off to see the booted all the artwork that year. Needles to say the next year I went on the Merango 4 wheeler ride instead. So how was it, did they have any artwork.

[HARLEY]

My opinion is pretty much the same as everybody elses, had I paid for tickets I would have been sorely disappointed! My pop worked in the dog village so I got tix that way, but $15 is way to high! I only saw it mentioned once above but I feel it is true, that way to much money was spent on the "volunteer" golf shirts and comped meals for the same people that the common man coming in the gate took it in the rear for all of this! However, I did feel like I got a little justice out of the deal by joining Delta Waterfowl @ the DU festival, and making the decision not to renew my DU membership! I have given DU the benefit of the doubt for the last couple of years but this was the last straw. I'll take the money I usually spend on DU and give a little extra to Delta Waterfowl!!!!!

[ducks&bucks]

Went Sunday afternoon and it was slow. I got tickets for $5 from a guy who wasn't going back on Sunday. It was worth $5 but I wasn't going for $15. I got to talk to Buck Gardner. That was great. I bought one of his duck calls for $20 and I love it! And yes, the Rack girls were something!!!