The Waterfowl Expo you've been waiting for is here!

Going on it's 37th year, the Illinois Deer Classic stands as one of the longest-running and most respected hunting shows in the Midwest. This past year, we were proud to debut the Illinois Fishing Expo alongside the Deer Classic—significantly increasing overall attendance while maintaining a highly targeted, outdoor-focused audience. For 2027 we're debuting the Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Expo to compliment the variety of outdoorsmen and exhibitors we are targeting for our ONE BIG EXPO!

New Ownership. Bigger Audience. One Legendary Show.
Yes—we are young new owners of the Illinois Deer Classic, and that should excite you. Under new ownership, we’re making substantial investments to modernize, elevate, and aggressively grow the show—exactly what exhibitors have been asking for, and what we’re committed to delivering.

By introducing the Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Expo alongside the Illinois Deer Classic and Illinois Fishing Expo, we’re not only expanding into a new segment of attendees—we’re enhancing the overall experience through strategic cross-marketing and increased variety.

This approach also allows us to be more selective with our exhibitor lineup, intentionally limiting non-industry or “generic festival-style” vendors. As a result, we’re able to elevate the show’s reputation and create a distinct marketing advantage by showcasing high-quality, industry-relevant exhibitors that truly resonate with our audience.

Most shows still rely heavily on flyers, radio, local TV spots, and passive social media posts. While those tactics have their place, they are no longer enough to drive meaningful growth or maximize exhibitor ROI. That’s why our marketing strategy is different.

Our focus is intent-based digital marketing designed to reach active buyers, including:

• YouTube and streaming TV ads targeting verified outdoorsmen!
• Facebook and Instagram campaigns focused on proven hunting interests!
• Google Search and Display ads reaching consumers actively shopping for gear!
• Retargeting campaigns that repeatedly bring engaged attendees back!
• Bringing in the right influencers and their platforms to be strong partners!

This is not just about foot traffic—it’s about motivated buyers who are ready to spend money.

We’ve spent a combined 40+ years on the exhibitor side of sportsmen’s expos, 20+ years in marketing outdoor products & services, and lifetimes in the outdoor industry! We understand what actually drives value when choosing a show.

• Qualified buyers, not foot traffic fluff.
• ROI (sales + leads)
• Brand exposure before, during, and after the show
• Show credibility & longevity
• Momentum (is this show growing or shrinking?)

By debuting the Mississippi Flyway Waterfowl Expo alongside the Deer Classic and Fishing Expo, we’re introducing thousands of new outdoor consumers—many of whom Hunt AND Fish—into the same building! This show is GROWING!