Game Fair draws about 26,000 in its opening weekend

By Tammy Sakry on August 13, 2012 at 1:56 pm

Dogs, hunters and anglers gathered in Ramsey for the first week of Game Fair last weekend.

World Shotgun Shooting Champion Loral I Delaney watches Alexis Bergstrom’s form as she shoots a clay pigeon. Photo by Tammy Sakry

Approximately 26,000 people competed in dog events, tried out new shotguns and tested their skills on the shotgun and archery fields during the event’s first weekend.

During the first weekend, dogs hunted and retrieved ducks, pheasants and antlers.

In the scurry event, a yellow lab named Ace lived up to his name by completing the course in 30:73 seconds. Ace is owned by Lars Fricke of Savage.

Gage, also a yellow lab, had the fastest time on the obstacle course with 38:09 seconds. Gage is owned by Mike Sandman of Forest Lake.

The fastest time in the Swim to Win decoy retrieval went to a chocolate lab named Scout. Scout launched himself into the water, got the duck decoy and returned it to owner Scott Hamitton of Circle Pines in 13:28 seconds.

The largest jump of day in the large dog category went to Maverick.

The black lab, owned by Daniel Strassener of West St. Paul, jumped 26.5 feet off the end of the dock to retrieve a duck dummy.

Ryza, a border collie, took the prize for the longest jump in the small dog category.

Ryza, owned by Bev Olson of Andover, cleared 19.5 feet.

The weekend’s pointer competition was won by Molly, a German shorthaired pointer, who earned three points.

Molly’s owner is Jim Schroer of Elk River.

The second and final weekend begins today (Friday) and will include a duck and goose calling championship and more dog competitions.

Game Fair’s final weekend continues through Sunday. The gates are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Tammy Sakry is at tammy.sakry@ecm-inc.com

: Coal, a 9-year-old Labrador, retrieves a duck dummy for owner Troy Callanan, a member of the Four Points Retriever Club, in the Swim to Win challenge. Photos by Tammy Sakry

: With the scent in her nose, Sassy quickly moves in on a shed antler. The shed hunting event is new to Game Fair this year. Sassy’s owner and trainer is Tina Dokken.

: Game Fair offered a chance for dogs to get wet and show off their leaping ability in the dock jump competition.

: With an unusual form, Max cleared 15 feet in the long jump competition. Max is owned by Rick Christensen of Albany. Photo by Tammy Sakry

: The Minnesota Falconers Association brought out several birds of prey and talked about training and hunting with birds, including this hawk.

: Bandit comes out of the scurry competition with the pheasant dummy in a firm grip and brings it back to owner Eric Baumgartner of Ham Lake.

: Artist Tom Moen of the Art Barbarians Wild Life Art paints a picture as Game Fair attendees wander past.

: Kate Miller (left) and sister Naydene Miller try to snag a rainbow trout in the Fishing for Life booth.

: Approximately 26,000 people came out for the first three-day weekend of Game Fair. This weekend will be Game Fair’s final weekend.

: World Shotgun Shooting Champion Loral I Delaney talks about safety during her ladies shooting seminar, which included a few men as well on Aug. 11.

: Shooters of all ages could test their shot on the laser hunting game.

: Brothers Hunter Braun (left) and Ryan Braun attempts to hit the foam aerial targets. Ryan was able to hit the flying disc.

: Seven-year-old Allie Carlson, Braham, gets a little help from Rapids Archery Club member Ken Troye at aiming at the 3-D archery targets.

: Chase, with duck dummy secured, races to the finish line. Chase is owned by Dick Ofstedat of Clearwater, Minn.

: Swim To Win volunteer Troy Callanan had to retrieve, and hide, a duck dummy from Mochie. Mochie is owned by Larry Miller of Minneapolis.

: Zeiss, a German short hair pointer owned by Pete Bell, was so eager to retrieve the duck dummy, he launched himself off the bank.

: :Exhibition Shooter Tom Knapp showed the crowd how a shotgun can simplify making a salad.

: World Shotgun Shooting Champion Loral I Delaney works with Lisa Slater of Grantsberg, Wis., and Alexis Bergstrom of Hecker during the ladies shooting seminar.