Monroe: Gear galore at sportsmen’s show
Published 11:11 pm Thursday, February 21, 2008
MONROE — Jeff Fernandes had never bagged a bigger animal.
The black-tailed deer weighed around 300 pounds and needed to be butchered in the wilderness and carried out piece by piece. Fernandes, 50, of Conway and two friends spent four days finishing the job.
On Friday, he carried the deer’s antlers to be measured and rated at the Evergreen Sportsmen’s Show &Sport Fishing Boat Show.
“I’m just doing it to honor the deer,” said Fernandes, a longtime hunter. “It was an incredible animal.”
Thousands of hunters and fishermen from around the region gathered at Thursday’s opening day of the show, which runs through Sunday at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds in Monroe.
The show features booths from vendors, equipment companies and outfitters, as well as activities such as Dutch oven cooking demonstrations and a 3-D archery show using pop-up targets. Hunters brought in their antler trophies to be scored in the show’s head-and-horns competition.
At one exhibit, people can get close to Pacific Northwest predators such as wolves, cougars and coyotes. Animal trainer Jean Simpson said he runs the live-animal exhibit so people can see the animals affected by urban sprawl.
“Most people here are outdoorsmen, and they love the outdoors,” said Simpson, who lives in Idaho. “They’re not all hunters, they’re not all fishermen, but most of them want others to be able to see what they saw.”
Mike Fusaro, 34, of Marysville came to the show Thursday with his family. He was on the lookout for binoculars, range finders and something to help carry his guns while hunting.
“This allows me to know what I need to get before the season starts,” said Fusaro, who hunts deer and elk.
Gunnar Fjelstul, 7, and his sister, Bailey, 10, both of Kenmore, painted wooden mallard decoys for their family to use on hunting trips.
Their father, Jeff Fjelstul, 46, said he often learns about new places to take his family while touring the booths at sportsmen shows.
“I’ve always enjoyed hunting since I was a kid, it’s always been my passion,” Fjelstul said.
Bailey spent her 10th birthday hunting deer with her father, and Gunnar, who helps his dad spot birds in the woods, is already studying to take his hunter safety course.
Dan Lester, 74, of Marysville browsed the booths of fishing poles, camouflage clothing and other goods at the expo. He said he still hunts about once a year, just to relax.
“It’s vacation,” Lester said. “If you get something, it’s a bonus.”
Reporter Scott Pesznecker: 425-339-3436 or spesznecker@heraldnet.com.
