Midwest Hunt Fest returns to Century II next week

Jennifer Nielsen and her husband, Shawn, were attending an hunting show in Oklahoma about six years ago and wondered why there wasn’t one closer to home.

Next weekend, the fifth Midwest Hunt Fest will take place at Century II.

“We figured Wichita is the state’s largest city, and it’s in the center of the state, so it should have a show,” said Nielsen, who partners with her husband to own Midwest Hunt Fest. “At least that’s how this fairy tale got started.”

Nielsen said this year’s Friday-Sunday event is more of what’s worked the past four years, and what vendors and guests have asked for along the way. One of the common requests was to stick to the outdoors.

“This year more than 90 percent of our (about 150) booths are hunting and fishing,” she said. “We’re really trying to build up our fishing presence at the show.”

In the past, the show include merchants selling things like jewelery, health supplies and furniture.

Some of the booths will host retail business and some destinations. A gun show will again be part of the three-day event. Nielsen estimated more than 50 gun vendors will attend.

Diamond Archery will again host a 3-D competition through the show, and let the public try Archery Combat. It’s a game where competitors use safety-equipped bows and arrows against each other.

Nielsen said this year about $30,000 in door prizes will be awarded. There will also be a shed deer-antler contest held on Saturday. Each antler will be scored and prizes awarded. Antlers need not be found this year, and can have been entered before.

“If you have doozy, absolutely bring it again,” she said, “because everybody would love to see it.”

Seminars on dog training, fly tying and quality deer management are some that are scheduled. Fishing’s Future, an organization dedicated to getting more families angling, will be there to work with children.

Costs are $10 for adults and $5 for youth 8-12 years old. Military and seniors get a $1 discount. This year pass can be purchased for $16 that allows entrance all three days. Hours are 1-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

This story was originally published July 23, 2016 at 2:59 PM with the headline "Midwest Hunt Fest returns to Century II next week."