Here's my view from the ....
2009 IL Deer and Turkey Expo
The Deer and Turkey Expo was held in Bloomington at the Interstate Center. It was well attended, ... and plenty of good stuff was on display.
I certainly go to see the many, ... and I mean many fine deer mounts on display. I like seeing not only the antlers, ... but I like to see other taxidermists work. To see how I stack up, ... or maybe to see if a new idea can be stolen ? Yeah, ... we all check out each other's work and take ideas too.
Okay, ... maybe I was searching for Outdoor Girls too ?
These two caught my eye. Those were two of the biggest freaks there !
Now, ... Becky, ... the lady in the above photo, ... she was the security for the Boone and Crocket, Pope and Young scorers ... held away from the public's reach. Well, ... once I told her TheLodgeman.com was here to do a story, ... the flood gates were opened. Yeah, ... I told her I was with the "media" and not only that, .... but TEAM LODGE was working hard in the scoring area.
Team LODGE at WORK
This slide show .... shows Team Lodge's Ed Hendricks hard at work along with fellow BC buddies Tom Grover and Alan Lashbrook. I guess it can be said that thanks to TheLodgeman.com .... the 2009 Illinois Deer and Turkey Expo was a success. Way to go Ed, .... Tom , ... and Alan. Could it be, without TheLodgeman.com's contribrution ... the event wouldn't have happened ? Dunno .... what I do know ... Team LODGE was there to help.
These next photos .... are random from some the booths and people all about .... and some fine people were here too.
We fought the crowd all afternoon. The show was well attended.
The gentleman in the above two photos, ... is Mike Brown. Mike and I will be in Iowa the weekend of March 20 - 22. Mike's a Deer Antler Carver and the man who helped me learn how. He does great work and he's the nicest guy you'll ever meet.
Here, ... the lady in the booth is waving DVDs around, ... I thought, ... that's an interesting photo. But the crowd just kept going by ....
But, ... I leaned in and took another. Okay, ... I might again be searching for Outdoor Girls ??? She did catch my eye.
I round the corner and what do I see .... ???? If you can read the back of the "white" shirt ... it says ... " I support the Double D's".
Whoa ..... this booth ROCKS !!!
So, ... I come on around and it's .... the Droptine Divas. Remember Katie Pipp, ... she was the Outdoor Girl of the Week the second week of February. She's part of this group .... www.droptinedivas.com . Smiling for me is Tara ... and she says that they are doing a new photo shoot this summer and the entire group are willing to be "The Outdoor Girls of the Week". I can't wait. And Tara, ... you have a open invitation to be a Outdoor Girl of the Week .... ANYTIME. And, ... as I look through the booth who do I see .... KATIE PIPP !!!! WOW a real live Outdoor Girl of the Week. If you remember, ... she is a Outdoor as it gets .... she has experience way .... WAY past her years. And, ... she's as cute in person too !
Here she is with some .... nice Deer hunting photos. Yeah, ... that Katie Pipp is a real outdoor gal.
Okay, ... my son and I was on the way home ... so we stopped for a mid-afternoon meal.
I told our waitress it was close to my birthday, ... but I won't be able to be here on my actual birthday. She was happy to still take a couple photos with the "almost" birthday boy ! ( I was happy too ) And for those who may not know when my birthday is .... it's in August !
At any rate, ... if you didn't attend the Illinois Deer and Turkey Expo .... maybe with my help, you'll feel like you did. Thanks for looking.