Outdoor enthusiasts unite for Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Feb. 12-16

Published 5:00 am Monday, February 3, 2025

For the hunting, fishing, kayaking, camping and outdoors enthusiasts out there, it’s the place to be.

And, it’s a good thing the Portland Expo Center can accommodate the tens of thousands of people expecting to attend the Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show, Feb. 12-16. The show uses about 325,000 square feet of space at the Expo Center.

“I’ve been doing shows since the early ‘80s, I used to work as many as 15 a year when I was an exhibitor and on the marketing side,” said Trey Carskadon, publicist with O’Loughlin Trade Shows, which runs Pacific Northwest Sportsmen’s Show. “The Portland show is special, nothing like it in the country.

“It’s been sold out (for vendors) for a month and a half, and there’s a waiting list of probably at least 200 (exhibitors). It’s the No. 1 retail show in North America; people come prepared to buy. Every category of fishing and hunting is covered in the show. It’s an opportunity to see what’s new and different and connect with literally hundreds of experts. It’s THE best seminar series in fishing and hunting. … There’s so much new stuff, it’s better than it’s ever been.”

Show times are 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, Feb. 12-14, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16.

The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife has played a role in the show for years, and it’ll increase its presence by holding several seminars and raffles (including via the show website).

In the “Trip of a Lifetime” raffle promotion, a winner and a guest will join ODFW staff on a research project at one of the Oregon Marine Reserves near Cape Falcon and Manzanita. It’s off limits to fishing, but it’s an opportunity to go in and see what’s there. “I can assure you, having fished outside of it, it’s going to be amazing,” Carskadon said.

A second “Trip of a Lifetime” raffle winner and a guest will get helicoptered in to Northeast Oregon to participate in a ODFW live capture of a bighorn sheep for a health check.

The second ODFW promotion, the Passport Promotion, involves visitors going around to show stations to get stamps; you fill out a stamp card and get an opportunity to win a fishing rod or reel or outdoors gear.

Another highlight of the show is an appearance by famous guide and international celebrity Jim Shockey, who lives in the Yukon Territory, on Saturday, Feb. 15. “We’ve been trying to get him for 15 years. He’s billed as the greatest hunter ever. He’s an outdoor writer, TV guy, major influencer on the hunting side,” Carskadon said. It’s billed as “Jim Shockey’s Stories from the Field”; Carskadon said Beaverton-based sponsor Leupold helped lure Shockey to Portland.

The show’s Next Adventure Kayak Sale, the largest in North America, Carskadon said, will emphasize fishing kayaks.

The Fistful of Cheaters promotions is a popular one. Hundreds of prizes are given away for free, including as many salmon and steelhead lures as you can grab.

Other highlights of the show: Randy Newberg, hunting expert, each day; Les Schwab Free Kid’s Trout Pond; Addicted Fishing Bash, “Adventure to Unknown Seas” movie, 6 p.m. Feb. 13; Born & Raised Outdoors, movies, 6 p.m. Feb. 14

About 60,000 people annually attend the show.

More: thesportshows.com.