Cape Fear Wildlife Expo General Information

Welcome!  The 2011 Cape Fear Wildlife Expo is a family fun-filled event to be held on Friday, March 18th from 9am until 6pm, Saturday, March 19th from 9am until 6pm and Sunday, March 20th from 10am until 5pm.  Click here for Photos from the Expo!

As a family event, the expo will feature wildlife art and decoy displays; book signings by regional outdoor writers; hunting and fishing products; boats and accessories; truck and ATV displays; fly-fishing and decoy-carving demonstrations; conservation exhibits; outdoor sports guides and outfitters. 

Exciting new activities are also planned for this year’s Cape Fear Wildlife Expo. The Core Sound Decoy Guild will demonstrate the art of decoy carving. There will also be a Junior Duck, Swan & Goose-Calling Contest on Sunday at 10am for ages 17 years and younger (registration begins Sunday at 9am). Kids will also have the opportunity to participate in fun and educational scavenger hunts with the chance to bag some prizes. By solving wildlife riddles, children will learn about conserving natural resources. They’ll also learn why deer shed their antlers every year; how many white spots are on a whitetail fawn; how much a 9-foot long Atlantic sturgeon weighs; why fire can actually help wildlife; and much more. Two hunts will be offered: one for kids under age 10 and another for ‘tweens and teens. Scavenger hunt gear will be available at the information desk at the entrance. All this and more awaits visitors who attend the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo.

Over 100 exhibitors are expected to showcase their hunting and fishing products and/or services during the two day Expo.  Following are just some of the highlights from the 2010 Expo:

Virtually Hooked Sportfishing Simulator

The Virtually Hooked Sportfishing Simulator brings the fishing experience from sea to shore.  This amazing simulator features "two at a time" fishing, dual wide-screen monitors, top-of-the-line fishing gear, fresh and saltwater fishing options and a simulated charter boat afterdeck.  Virtually Hooked fishing accurately simulates the feel and excitement of catching that big trophy fish.  Unmatched in sportfishing simulation, it is the most realistic fishing experience you can get, without getting your line wet.

With the Virtually Hooked Sportfishing Simulator, anglers see rare fishing footage on the dual wide-screen monitors.  As the fish takes the bait, they feel the strike and hear the line whiz as the virtual fish runs with the hook.  The rod bends in dramatic fashion as they feel the citation-size fish pulling at their line.  Their grip tightens, knuckles turn white, and their faces shine with exhilaration as they reel in their catch!

Calling Contests

Plaques will be awarded for 1st-3rd place. Contests will be held at Cape Fear Wildlife Expo, March 20, 2010 at the Wilmington Convention Center, Wilmington, NC 28401. Contests will start at 10:00 AM. 

Junior Duck - OPEN to all callers ages 16 and under. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $15 entry fee.

Junior Goose - OPEN to all callers ages 16 and under. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $15 entry fee.

Junior Swan - OPEN to all callers ages 16 and under. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $15 entry fee.

Open Duck - OPEN to all callers. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $20.00 entry fee.

Open Goose - OPEN to all callers. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $20.00 entry fee.

Open Swan - OPEN to all callers. Registration will open Sunday at 9:00 AM, with a $20.00 entry fee.

George “Chappie” Chapman

I have been an avid fisherman for most of my 89 years with my earliest memories of fishing at about age 5 with a pork rind and string for catching crawfish.  I graduated to a willow sprout with worms dapping for blue gills – advanced to small balsa wood poppers and rubber spiders.  At age 11, lacked funds to purchase the spiders to which I was addicted so I cut up my sister’s sponge rubber ball and made my first flies.  I have been experimenting and tying with out-of-the-box materials ever since. 

I am generally credited with being the first fly designer to use pearlescent mylar tubing on a redhead balsa popper creating the world’s most beautiful (to a fish) and efficient fly rod poppers.  From my experience with underwater photography in the U.S. Navy, I observed the importance of the fish eyes size and location and incorporated that into my designs as well.

My fly patterns have been published in Lefty Kreh’s Saltwater Pattern Book, Dick Talleur’s book on Modern Materials, Trey Comb’s “Blue Water Magic, Deke Meyer’s Bass Flies, and the Fly-Fishing International Fly Pattern Book.

I am currently experimenting with craft foam, designing terestrials such as beetles, grasshoppers, damsel flies, dragon flies, and floating minnows in what I call the “Big Black Eye Bubbler Series.”

"One Man's Close Calls"

Ron Clough is a 58 year old High End custom call maker from Maryland.  He has been making fine game calls under his Close Calls logo for over 20 years.  Known for his beautiful hand painted Limited Editions as well as killer calls for the hunter of the wild turkey.  

Meet Ron Clough at the Expo and have him personally sign "One Man's Close Calls" just for you or for a gift!  It is a 208 page fully illustrated hardback Limited Edition of just 1,500 copies with over half sold already.  The book is funny yet informative, easy reading and a must have.  He is now at work on the sequel "More Close Calls".   www.close-calls.com

Meet the "Caines Boys"

"A Native Son's Story of Fishing, Hunting and Duck Decoys in the Lowcountry" covers the history of our grandfather and his brothers, known as the Caines brothers and their famous decoys. One of Hucks Caines (our grandfather) decoys set a world record for $189,500.00 at auction, in the state of Maine at Oliver’s, an auction house.

The book also covers our father and his fishing and hunting adventures.  Plus, our days of growing up here in Georgetown, SC. Also, our days as commercial fishermen and how we got stated carving our duck decoys.

Meet Mike Marsh

“From the first time I fired a .22 to the first time I held a cane pole, all I’ve ever wanted to do is hunt and fish. The urge to be outdoors has not diminished over the last 50 years. It has only grown stronger. Writing about hunting and fishing adds fuel to the fire of my desire to get out there, into the hinterlands, to bring back for my readers absolutely the best outdoor stories.”

Mike Marsh is one of the most prolific, widely read and highly respected outdoor writers in the nation. Most of his stories and photography are based on his adventures in the Southeast, especially North Carolina, South Carolina and Louisiana.  He has written thousands of magazine and newspaper articles and sold thousands of photographs to “hook and bullet” print and online media.  In a typical year, Mike produces 400 to 500 published articles and 600 to 850 published images.

He is author of three books, “Quest for the Limit – Carolina Hunting Adventures;”  “Inshore Angler – Coastal Carolina’s Small Boat Fishing Guide;”  and “Offshore Angler – Carolina’s Mackerel Boat Fishing Guide.”  

Sensory Safari Mobile Exhibit

This mobile, kid-friendly exhibit encourages conservation of our native wildlife, promotes hunter education and enables sportsmen to see and touch some of the game and nongame species that are found in North Carolina. The SENSORY SAFARI encourages visitors to learn about their local environments by listening to the sounds of birds, viewing deer and bear mounts and handling pelts of some common mammals.

Aquatic Trailer

The mobile aquarium features two 300-gallon tanks, each with its own separate aeration, filtration, and cooling systems. These separate life-support systems enable the NC Wildlife Commission to display coldwater fish such as trout in one tank and warmwater fish such as bluegill in the other tank. The twin tanks are permanently mounted inside the trailer and four different artificial habitats have been made to provide a variety of natural-looking settings for different fish assemblages.

Admission

The cost to attend the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo is $6 for one day or $10 for both days.  Children 10 years old and younger get in free when accompanied by an adult.  Free parking is available in the downtown parking decks.

Location

The Expo will be held in historic downtown Wilmington's Coastline Convention Center along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina.  The Coastline Convention Center is located at 501 Nutt Street in Wilmington, NC.  There will be ample parking available in the downtown parking decks.

Accommodations

Please consider staying with one of our sponsors; Courtyard Marriott, Main Stay Suites or Sleep Inn.  Also see our Area Resources web page for local area hotels that are also offering discounted rates for Cape Fear Wildlife Expo attendees.

Hunter Safety Certification Classes

The Basic Hunter Education courses provide training in firearms safety, wildlife conservation, as well as, respect for natural resources, landowners, and other hunters. Graduates receive lifetime certification recognized by all states, Canadian provinces and Mexico. Since originating in about 1950, nearly 30 million students have completed the Basic Hunter Education training in the United States. Conclusive evidence shows that the Hunter Education course has dramatically reduced hunting related firearms accidents — up to 75% in some states — and has brought about positive change in hunter skills, attitudes and behavior.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Cape Fear Wildlife Expo is to encourage youth to enjoy the great outdoors through hunting, fishing and other outdoor sports and to heighten public awareness of our natural resources and to encourage conservation of these natural resources.

Photos compliments of Harry Hampton Hunting & Fishing Expo, Spartanburg, SC
www.harryhamptonfund.org and www.hamptonwildlifefund.org August 21-23, 2009