by Rob Holman - Press Release, February 04, 2018

29th ANNUAL CENTRAL WASHINGTON SPORTSMEN SHOW
AT THE SUNDOME IN YAKIMA

The 29th annual Central Washington Sportsmen Show is set to open the doors Friday, February 16th at the Yakima Valley SunDome and it runs through Sunday, February 18th. This always popular event brings area outdoor enthusiasts together, all under one roof, to see the latest in hunting and fishing gear, outdoor displays and exhibits, fishing boats, camper and camp trailers, and much, much more. It’s easy to see that this is a must-attend event for area hunters, anglers, and others who plan to make this show part of their weekend plans.

“This is the 29th year of this three-day event and it has grown into one of the most popular events in the SunDome each year,” according to show producer, Merle Shuyler. “Each year we fill up the Dome with quality exhibits, displays, and presentations, with lots of things to see and do for the entire family.”

This year’s event will feature the return of the awesome animal display, A Walk on the Wild Side. This animal rescue and preservation establishment is from Canby, Oregon. Depending on what’s available at show time, you can expect to see a full grown cougar, bobcat, and a Canadian lynx along with some other animals or reptiles in this amazing animal display. Plus, you may be able to take pictures with a live cub if one is available at show time. These animals will be on display all three days of the show with handlers present to explain more about the animals and this traveling wildlife exhibit.

The NW Big Game Display returns and will be set up again in the west side concourse of the SunDome. This year’s display will include some of the largest deer and elk taken in the State of Washington. The fourth edition of the Record Book for Washington Big Game Animals will be on sale at a reduced rate and can be purchased at the display. Also, anyone getting their big trophy scored at this year’s show can have it entered into the state record book at the big game display if it qualifies.

The popular Horn and Antler Competition will once again fill the east side concourse of the Dome. Always a big part of the show, it is the only competition in central Washington where hunting trophies are scored, then put up and displayed for all to see. The highest scoring trophies entered in the competition taken by archery, muzzleloader, and modern rifle during the 2017 season, will have a chance to win a gift certificate.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Poaching Trailer will also return this year with several new trophies that were harvested illegally. The WDFW travels the state each year with this trailer to bring awareness to the poaching problem that might surprise most hunters.

There’s always lots of activities planned for the kids all weekend long. Kids can test their shooting skills at the Mt. Clemans Archers Archery Range and the On Target Air Rifle Range, fish for hungry trout at Lunker Lake, learn to tie a fly at the Fly Tying Theater, or cast a fly at the Kids’ Fly Casting Clinic. On Sunday, “Kids’ Day” every kid will be admitted to the show at a reduced rate and they can fish all day long at Lunker Lake free of charge courtesy of the Les Schwab Tire Stores in the Yakima Valley. Add to that the Young Sportsman’s Journal, several drawings just for kids and all the activities at Valley Marine’s Kids’ Korner, and it will be easy for the kids to find something to do at this year’s show.

This year’s sportsmen show will also be a good place to learn and the 2018 Central Washington Sportsmen Show has a full slate of hunting and fishing experts willing to share their knowledge each show day. Speakers at this year’s show include: Matt Guiguet on fishing the west side of Vancouver Island and guide Shane Magnuson covering salmon fishing from spring Chinook to fall upriver bright Chinook.

Fishing expert, Rob Phillips with the latest on fishing Lake Roosevelt for giant Kokanee and rainbows; Klickitat River guide Tracy Zoller offering tips on fishing the popular Klickitat River; and fishing guide Jacob Munden covering different fishing techniques to help you catch more walleye. For the hunters in the crowd, one of the most successful turkey hunting guides in south central Washington, Tracy Zoller will be conducting how-to turkey hunting seminars each day of the show. Outdoor writer, Rob Phillips will cover the current status of mule deer in central Washington; and WDFW’s staff member Aaron Garcia will present the latest Hunter Access Program that is available to area hunters furnished by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

The 10th Annual TownSquare Media Trout Races will take place again at the show’s Casting Pool in the middle of the Dome. This entertaining race will have several contestants teamed with a trout in the qualifying races, with the winners of each heat moving on to the finals. The participating fish are released in a specially built trout track with a starting gate and a lane for each trout. The first fish past the finish line is the winner. TownSquare Media, sponsor of the competition, will present a special prize to the winner of the finals. The qualifying races will be held Saturday only at 3:00 at the Casting Pool.

Also returning to the show is the KXDD Casting Contest. This open competition will test the skills of all the contestants while using a push button spin cast rod and reel. A target will be set up at the dry end of the Casting Pool and each participant will be given three casts with the highest score winning. If there is a tie, a cast off will be done to determine the winner in the kids and adult categories. KXDD will pre-qualify the contestants and will furnish prizes to the winners.

Outside the SunDome on Saturday and Sunday only, the Central Washington Weight Pullers will once again host a dog weight pull sanctioned by the International Weight Pullers Association. The dogs are split up into six different weight classes and are judged on their performance and ability to pull a weighted wheeled cart a distance of 16 feet within a 60 second time limit. The Central Washington Weight Pullers have been a part of the Central Washington Sportsmen Show for over 20 years and continues to attract quality competitors at each event. Since the pull is held outside at the south side of the SunDome, anyone can come and watch this event free of charge.

For the fly fishing enthusiasts attending the show, there will be plenty to see and do during the three-day event. Paul Anderson of Fly Fishing Strategies Fly Shop in The Dalles, Oregon will be doing several fly casting demonstrations each day at the Casting Pool. Anderson will cover beginning as well as advanced casting techniques each day of the show. Experts will also be teaching how to tie their favorite flies at the Fly Tying Theater. Anyone can sit down at the Fly Tying Clinic and, with expert instruction, learn how to tie their own fly from start to finish. Members of the Yakima Flyfishers Association will be tying different types of flies during hourly presentations and they will also host the Fly Tying Clinic each day of the show.

As always, sportsmen show attendees will be able to save money on general admissions as well as have a chance to sign up for one of the many door prizes given away hourly all three days of the show. The special return policy of pay the admission price once, get your hand stamped, then get back into the show the rest of the weekend is very popular for those wanting to spend more than one day at the show.

General admission is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for children 6-12. Children under 6 are admitted free all three days of the show. Friday is Seniors’ Day with everyone 60 or older getting into the show for $5.00 and Sunday is still Kids’ Day, where all kids ages 6-12 are admitted for $1.00 off the normal $5.00 admission price. There is also a discount for all members of the military, which is $1.00 off any admission all weekend with their military ID.

For those willing to come early, a special prize awaits them on all three days of the show. On Friday and Saturday, the first 150 adults through the door will receive a bag of stuff from Oak Creek ACE Hardware. And on Sunday, Kids’ Day the first 100 kids will receive a goody bag courtesy of the Central Washington Sportsmen Show.

Show hours are Friday 1:00 to 7:00; Saturday 10:00 to 6:00; and Sunday 10:00 to 5:00. And remember, parking is at a reduced rate of only $4.00 per day all three days of the 2018 Central Washington Sportsmen Show courtesy of Shuyler Productions.

January 2018 For more information contact:
For Immediate Release Merle or Bev Shuyler @ 509-952-1014
ShuylerProductions.com