Wisconsin Seminar Speakers & Displays

The Open Season Sportsman's Expo Seminar Series features industry experts throughout the whole weekend. Find the full weekend seminar schedule here.

2:30PM - Room A

Advanced Turkey Tactics
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Turkey season changes week by week throughout the spring. Join Art Helin as he draws upon his own experience, successes and failures, and the hundreds of days per year in the field hunting, guiding, and scouting. Learn what tactics to change each week to stay at the top of your game.

2:30PM - Room B

Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28yrs experience planting Antler King food plots, His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.

2:30PM - Room C

Hunting with Ozone
Cole Tanner - Ozonics
Over the past years, the concept of using ozone to eliminate odors and fool a deer’s nose has grown exponentially. In this seminar, Big Game Guide and hunting enthusiast Cole Tanner will provide an in-depth explanation of what ozone is, how it works, what it can and cannot do, and how you can use this technology to significantly reduce human odor in the field. Oxidation Technology can help you to stop hunting the wind and start hunting the deer. Let Cole show you what this would look like and how it could be done.

3:30PM - Room A

Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson

This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.

3:30PM - Room B

Hybrid Hunting: Combining Ground Hunting and Stand Hunting
Steve Mahlberg – Apex Predator Tree Stands

This session will help you bring excitement back to your hunts. Be mobile like ground hunting and be able to get above the brush like stand hunting. Get in close to the deer without them seeing you.  This session will showcase how you can hybrid hunt for both fun and results.

3:30PM - Room C

Trapping for Beginners – Getting Started
Michelle Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Trapping can provide food and income; protects property, supports habitat and human health; and supports responsible wildlife management. Simply put there are lots of reasons trapping should be a core skill in your hunting arsenal. In this session Michelle Helin of Art Helin Outdoors will share the key elements to getting starting in trapping including; getting the right traps, trap maintenance, trap positioning and bait. Trapping doesn’t have to be a foreign language and this session can help you get on your path to trapping success.

4:30PM - Room A

Deer Hunting Through the Season
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Deer hunting has three main season. Early season, breeding season and late season. Join Art
Helin as he explains the differences including when and where to hunt during these seasons to
up your odds.

4:30PM - Room B

Women in Hunting – Growing Our Sport
Raylene Proto- Ditale Outdoors, Audrey Young – Ditale Outdoors

Women who hunt are real women, we are moms, attorneys, waitresses, first responders, nurses, and wildlife biologists. The number of female hunters has increased by 85% since 2001, now more than 20% of the industry is female. Women participate for leisure but more importantly as a means of providing food for their families. In addition, many women are also involved in conservation efforts and wildlife management. What does this mean for women in sport? What does this mean for businesses in the industry or need to shift to support the segment? How can you get involved?

4:30PM - Room C

Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors

A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.

9:30AM - Room A

Top Tactics for Trophy Whitetails
Travis Bigger - Bigger Bucks Outfitters

Trophy whitetails don’t come easy, but this session will give participants proven techniques to get results. Join Travis Bigger of Bigger Bucks Outfitters as he shares insights learned from a lifetime of hunting. Hear how Travis and his team find, track and land large bucks with proven techniques you can use on your next hunt.

9:30AM - Room B

Introduction to Muzzleloading and Muzzleloader Safety

Representatives from the Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association (WMLA)

The WMLA presents this seminar to beginning and experience shooters wishing to learn about muzzleloading. The presentation will provide information on Flintlocks, Percussion, and In-Line systems. This seminar is an important session for anyone who is planning to purchase or hunt with a muzzleloader as proper safety and technique are critical for their safe use.

9:30AM - Room C

Your Land, Your Legacy- Habitat and Hunting Improvement
Thomas Mlsna – The Untamed Ambition

Applying a logical, yet simplified-scientific approach to habitat improvement on your property that will improve your hunting situation now and long into the future, while increasing the value of your land for both the real estate market, but more importantly, what it offers your family and future generations. Thomas breaks down his wildly successful 5 step improvement process, and gives you ideas to make your property more abundant and productive, without exploiting the wildlife or compromising healthy native ecosystems.

10:30AM - Room A

Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson

This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.

10:30AM - Room B

Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28yrs experience planting Antler King food plots, His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.

10:30AM - Room C

Ultimate Whitetail Stalking and Tracking
Randy Flannery - Wilderness Escape Outfitters

Registered Master Maine Guide and renowned Tracker/Stalker, Randy Flannery, will show how to master the skills of aging, sexing, and reading deer tracks. He will also share, map and compass skills, how and where to find big bucks, how to walk up on big bucks in all conditions, how to react to big bucks when you jump them, how to shoot fast and accurate, and other big woods hunting skills.

11:30AM - Room A

Advanced Turkey Tactics
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Turkey season changes week by week throughout the spring. Join Art Helin as he draws upon his own experience, successes and failures, and the hundreds of days per year in the field hunting, guiding, and scouting. Learn what tactics to change each week to stay at the top of your game.

11:30AM - Room B

How to Make Multiple, Mature Bucks Live on YOUR Property
Tony Lapratt - Ultimate Land Management and Whitetail Boot Camp

Tony is the founder of The Ultimate Land Management & Whitetail Boot Camp. He has run over 160 classes. All classes were held at the amazing Whitetail Habitat Research Center; the most advanced hunting property ever designed. Hunters have come from 41 states and Canada.

11:30AM - Room C

A Guide to Sprayers for Premium Food Plots
Ken Rost – Frost Inc.

Many hunters utilize food sprayers to ensure their lands are ripe for hunting but proper use, maintenance and equipment all are critical to success.  Ken Rost, CEO of Frost Inc., will be presenting the benefits of using various food plot sprayers in Wisconsin and all over the US. What type of sprayer can help you improve your hunting season? What you need to know about spraying and how to properly care for your equipment all throughout the year.

12:30PM - Room A

Hunting with Ozone
Cole Tanner - Ozonics
Over the past years, the concept of using ozone to eliminate odors and fool a deer’s nose has grown exponentially. In this seminar, Big Game Guide and hunting enthusiast Cole Tanner will provide an in-depth explanation of what ozone is, how it works, what it can and cannot do, and how you can use this technology to significantly reduce human odor in the field. Oxidation Technology can help you to stop hunting the wind and start hunting the deer. Let Cole show you what this would look like and how it could be done.

12:30PM - Room B

Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28yrs experience planting Antler King food plots, His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.

12:30PM - Room C

Trapping for Beginners – Getting Started
Michelle Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Trapping can provide food and income; protects property, supports habitat and human health; and supports responsible wildlife management. Simply put there are lots of reasons trapping should be a core skill in your hunting arsenal. In this session Michelle Helin of Art Helin Outdoors will share the key elements to getting starting in trapping including; getting the right traps, trap maintenance, trap positioning and bait. Trapping doesn’t have to be a foreign language and this session can help you get on your path to trapping success.

1:30PM - Room A

Women in Hunting – Growing Our Sport
Raylene Proto- Ditale Outdoors, Audrey Young – Ditale Outdoors

Women who hunt are real women, we are moms, attorneys, waitresses, first responders, nurses, and wildlife biologists. The number of female hunters has increased by 85% since 2001, now more than 20% of the industry is female. Women participate for leisure but more importantly as a means of providing food for their families. In addition, many women are also involved in conservation efforts and wildlife management. What does this mean for women in sport? What does this mean for businesses in the industry or need to shift to support the segment? How can you get involved?

1:30PM - Room B

Ultimate Whitetail Stalking and Tracking
Randy Flannery - Wilderness Escape Outfitters

Registered Master Maine Guide and renowned Tracker/Stalker, Randy Flannery, will show how to master the skills of aging, sexing, and reading deer tracks. He will also share, map and compass skills, how and where to find big bucks, how to walk up on big bucks in all conditions, how to react to big bucks when you jump them, how to shoot fast and accurate, and other big woods hunting skills.

1:30PM - Room C

Easy Africa…Going On Safari Is Easier Than You Think
Ken Moody - Ken Moody Safaris

African Safaris can seem daunting and beyond the scope of many hunters. The truth however is that these are less complex than you may think and checking this bucket list item may be something for you. This session will share insights on what to expect, how to make it happen and what you need to know for a successful international safari hunt.

2:30PM - Room A

Deer Hunting Through the Season
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Deer hunting has three main season. Early season, breeding season and late season. Join Art
Helin as he explains the differences including when and where to hunt during these seasons to
up your odds.

2:30PM - Room B

How to Make Multiple, Mature Bucks Live on YOUR Property
Tony Lapratt - Ultimate Land Management and Whitetail Boot Camp

Tony is the founder of The Ultimate Land Management & Whitetail Boot Camp. He has run over 160 classes. All classes were held at the amazing Whitetail Habitat Research Center; the most advanced hunting property ever designed. Hunters have come from 41 states and Canada.

2:30PM - Room C

Introduction to Muzzleloading and Muzzleloader Safety

Representatives from the Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association (WMLA)

The WMLA presents this seminar to beginning and experience shooters wishing to learn about muzzleloading. The presentation will provide information on Flintlocks, Percussion, and In-Line systems. This seminar is an important session for anyone who is planning to purchase or hunt with a muzzleloader as proper safety and technique are critical for their safe use.

3:30PM - Room A

Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson

This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.

3:30PM - Room B

Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors

A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.

4:30PM - Room A

Pursuing the Wild Turkey World Slam
Darrell Toliver

This seminar will put you on a path to achieving a Wild Turkey Slam. Featuring discussion on turkey biology, hunting locations, techniques and equipment such as calls, firearms and ammo. Hunt planning and slam submission procedures will also be discussed.

4:30PM - Room B

Hybrid Hunting: Combining Ground Hunting and Stand Hunting
Steve Mahlberg – Apex Predator Tree Stands

This session will help you bring excitement back to your hunts. Be mobile like ground hunting and be able to get above the brush like stand hunting. Get in close to the deer without them seeing you.  This session will showcase how you can hybrid hunt for both fun and results.

9:30AM - Room A

Top Tactics for Trophy Whitetails
Travis Bigger - Bigger Bucks Outfitters

Trophy whitetails don’t come easy, but this session will give participants proven techniques to get results. Join Travis Bigger of Bigger Bucks Outfitters as he shares insights learned from a lifetime of hunting. Hear how Travis and his team find, track and land large bucks with proven techniques you can use on your next hunt.

9:30AM - Room B

Introduction to Muzzleloading and Muzzleloader Safety

Representatives from the Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association (WMLA)

The WMLA presents this seminar to beginning and experience shooters wishing to learn about muzzleloading. The presentation will provide information on Flintlocks, Percussion, and In-Line systems. This seminar is an important session for anyone who is planning to purchase or hunt with a muzzleloader as proper safety and technique are critical for their safe use.

9:30AM - Room C

Trapping for Beginners – Getting Started
Michelle Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Trapping can provide food and income; protects property, supports habitat and human health; and supports responsible wildlife management. Simply put there are lots of reasons trapping should be a core skill in your hunting arsenal. In this session Michelle Helin of Art Helin Outdoors will share the key elements to getting starting in trapping including; getting the right traps, trap maintenance, trap positioning and bait. Trapping doesn’t have to be a foreign language and this session can help you get on your path to trapping success.

10:30AM - Room A

Advanced Turkey Tactics
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Turkey season changes week by week throughout the spring. Join Art Helin as he draws upon his own experience, successes and failures, and the hundreds of days per year in the field hunting, guiding, and scouting. Learn what tactics to change each week to stay at the top of your game.

10:30AM - Room B

Hybrid Hunting: Combining Ground Hunting and Stand Hunting
Steve Mahlberg – Apex Predator Tree Stands

This session will help you bring excitement back to your hunts. Be mobile like ground hunting and be able to get above the brush like stand hunting. Get in close to the deer without them seeing you.  This session will showcase how you can hybrid hunt for both fun and results.

10:30AM - Room C

Nutrient Dense Highly Attractive Food Plots Connecting Soil Health and Bigger Deer
Aaron Bigalke – Grandpa Ray Outdoors

A comprehensive dive into soil and soil health that outlines what you can do to advocate for yourself, your land, and your wildlife. The key to growing, attracting, and keeping big deer on your property starts and ends with your soil. Attendees will learn how to improve their land while also learning to understand seed, seed labels, and genetics. Learn how to produce nutrient dense, highly palatable food plots in half the time that you are spending now and finally close that gap that has been holding you back on your property.

11:30AM - Room A

Women in Hunting – Growing Our Sport
Raylene Proto- Ditale Outdoors, Audrey Young – Ditale Outdoors

Women who hunt are real women, we are moms, attorneys, waitresses, first responders, nurses, and wildlife biologists. The number of female hunters has increased by 85% since 2001, now more than 20% of the industry is female. Women participate for leisure but more importantly as a means of providing food for their families. In addition, many women are also involved in conservation efforts and wildlife management. What does this mean for women in sport? What does this mean for businesses in the industry or need to shift to support the segment? How can you get involved?

11:30AM - Room B

Food Plots that Yield Optimal Antler Growth In 7 Easy Steps
Robie Pruitt - Antler King
Robie Pruitt, a.k.a The Clover King, has 28yrs experience planting Antler King food plots, His passion for deer nutrition has led him to a new passion of helping others. These easy steps will show you the proper way to obtain optimal growth from your food plots.

11:30AM - Room C

Hunting with Ozone
Cole Tanner - Ozonics
Over the past years, the concept of using ozone to eliminate odors and fool a deer’s nose has grown exponentially. In this seminar, Big Game Guide and hunting enthusiast Cole Tanner will provide an in-depth explanation of what ozone is, how it works, what it can and cannot do, and how you can use this technology to significantly reduce human odor in the field. Oxidation Technology can help you to stop hunting the wind and start hunting the deer. Let Cole show you what this would look like and how it could be done.

12:30PM - Room A

Trick Shot Archery Show
Byron Ferguson

This energetic performance by world renowned Archery Trick Shooter, Byron Ferguson, will leave you wondering how these shots are even possible. Byron uses a traditional bow and his instinctive reactions to pull off shots like hitting a flying target blindfolded. and shooting a Lifesaver candy. Along with his Trick Shot shooting, Byron shares entertaining stories from his many years of hunting.

12:30PM - Room B

Introduction to Muzzleloading and Muzzleloader Safety

Representatives from the Wisconsin Muzzle Loading Association (WMLA)

The WMLA presents this seminar to beginning and experience shooters wishing to learn about muzzleloading. The presentation will provide information on Flintlocks, Percussion, and In-Line systems. This seminar is an important session for anyone who is planning to purchase or hunt with a muzzleloader as proper safety and technique are critical for their safe use.

12:30PM - Room C

Your Land, Your Legacy- Habitat and Hunting Improvement
Thomas Mlsna – The Untamed Ambition

Applying a logical, yet simplified-scientific approach to habitat improvement on your property that will improve your hunting situation now and long into the future, while increasing the value of your land for both the real estate market, but more importantly, what it offers your family and future generations. Thomas breaks down his wildly successful 5 step improvement process, and gives you ideas to make your property more abundant and productive, without exploiting the wildlife or compromising healthy native ecosystems.

1:30PM - Room A

Deer Hunting Through the Season
Art Helin – Art Helin Outdoors

Deer hunting has three main season. Early season, breeding season and late season. Join Art
Helin as he explains the differences including when and where to hunt during these seasons to
up your odds.

1:30PM - Room B

A Guide to Sprayers for Premium Food Plots
Ken Rost – Frost Inc.

Many hunters utilize food sprayers to ensure their lands are ripe for hunting but proper use, maintenance and equipment all are critical to success.  Ken Rost, CEO of Frost Inc., will be presenting the benefits of using various food plot sprayers in Wisconsin and all over the US. What type of sprayer can help you improve your hunting season? What you need to know about spraying and how to properly care for your equipment all throughout the year.

1:30PM - Room C

Easy Africa…Going On Safari Is Easier Than You Think
Ken Moody - Ken Moody Safaris

African Safaris can seem daunting and beyond the scope of many hunters. The truth however is that these are less complex than you may think and checking this bucket list item may be something for you. This session will share insights on what to expect, how to make it happen and what you need to know for a successful international safari hunt.