WILTON – More than 200 people had passed through the door Friday during the first hour of the Pine Tree State Sportsman Show.
Keri Magoon, operations director of the show, said she expects more than 5,000 people will have visited by the time the show ends Sunday.
Ron Voisine of Fairfield was looking over some of the hunting wares offered.
“This is impressive already, and it’s the first booth,” he said. “It’s educational at the same time.”
“We’re pleased,” said Gil Reed, an owner of the Bob Nichols Expo Center on Weld Street as he stood with members of his crew.
There is something for everyone, Reed said. The show continues from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Rows of booths presenting hunting and fishing gear, guns, trip outfitters, guide services, deer and moose heads, antlers, all-terrain vehicles with wheels or tracks, boats, snowmobiles, recreational vehicles, cookware, doll clothes, beef jerky, fudge, flip-top baskets, wooden furniture and other goods filled the center.
Country music played in the background as people perused the booths.
Several items were being made on site to customers’ liking.
Ethan Starbird of Farmington was sitting at a chair as Ken “Bear” Iddins, of Buffalo Hats, made him a hat. Iddins talked to Starbird as he steamed the beaver fur felt and shaped it.
Starbird said he came to browse but couldn’t pass up the chance to get the Western-style hat. He didn’t mind that he had to plunk down $150 for it.
“I like Western wear,” he said.
Iddins’ son, Micah Durgin, held his father’s Super Bowl championship cap as he and his father watched Iddins work his craft.
It was definitely a spur-of-the-moment thing, Durgin said.
It wasn’t long before Starbird had the saddle-colored drover-style hat on his head.
“I think he looks good,” Durgin said.
“I like it,” Starbird said. “Its comfortable; I hardly know it’s on.”
In a corner of the center, 4-year-old Ryan Smith of Wilton had just finished trout fishing in a makeshift pond and caught a rainbow trout with the help of his grandfather, Michael Bell.
“We got one,” Smith said as held his hands out wide. “One big, huge one.”
He wanted to catch two, he said.
Comments are no longer available on this story