Huntstock, August 11th – 13th: A NEW Take on Hunting Expos
Megan Plete Postol 07.31.23
Huntstock event organizers are gearing up for year two of bringing hunting enthusiasts and industry experts all together for one jam-packed weekend. The event features a full lineup of expert seminars, live demonstrations, podcasters, Youtubers, top industry brands, over $30,000 in door prize giveaways, after-parties at the Wildwood Farm Patio Bar, and a 3D archery course. Huntstock will be held at Wildwood Farm in Westminster, MA, August 11th -13th. “America’s re-invented hunting expo” is the creation of Hunt Suburbia podcast host Patrick Guyette and Patrick Burns, who created it with one goal in mind, “to be the best hunting show in the country.”
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“The two cofounders were noticing that the hunting shows had started to die,” Huntstock Festival Manager Porter Dickinson said. “It seemed like the same presentation year after year and many shows have vendors that aren’t part of the industry. People are not as adamant about going to the show year after year like they used to be. They noticed the lost art of the hunting show and they wanted to bring it back to the glory days.”
Guyette posted a call out last spring about potentially doing a show and one of the podcast listeners reached out to offer his farm in Massachusetts.
“He planned it pretty masterfully last year in less than six months for our first event,” Dickinson said. “He wanted the comradery, the campfire stories, and for people to be able to talk openly about hunting and their passion for the outdoors. He also worked really hard and brought in some of the biggest names in the industry.
Guyette secured some big names for the show’s inaugural year, including the legendary Lanny Benoit and Hal Blood of Big Woods Bucks. This year the lineup is even more robust, including Rodney Elmer of Mountain Deer, Joe DiNitto and Jim Massett of the ADK Trackers, John Altman, Brett Joy, Jake Bennett, Neil Pendleton, Timmy Bolduc, and many more, covering a variety of hunting topics, including tracking in the big woods, still-hunting, bowhunting, urban hunting, calling techniques and more.
“There will be over fifty hours of seminars going on over the three days,” Dickinson said. “On top of the seminars there will be plenty of live demonstrations happening. We have twice the amount of Youtubers and podcasters as last year.”
Huntstock flips the script on traditional hunting shows. Instead of a winter date, it is held in the midst of the pre-season anticipation of summertime. The event is designed to foster interaction, held outside and on a farm instead of in an exhibit hall. The lineup is carefully curated to include not only some of the biggest names in hunting (especially in the Northeast), but also includes a younger generation of hunting content creators. This mix of established and emerging hunting influencers creates a unique and vibrant festival atmosphere.
Buck scoring will be going on all weekend so hunters can bring their mounted bucks, skull mounts, or even sheds to be scored. Food trucks will be on site as well as a beer truck. Huntstock is a rain-or-shine event so dress according to the weather.
Sponsors this year include KUIU, Vortex, SIG Sauer, QuietKat, The Outdoor Gazette, OnX Hunt, Mossberg, Ruger, Marlin, Woodman Arms, TrophyLine, Easton, Delta McKenzie targets, Darn Tough Vermont, Utica Cutlery, Redline, and White Duck Outdoors. Beyond the seminar speakers, there is a robust list of exhibitors this year, including Just Hunt Club, Stagr Gear, Hunting ME, Outdoor Drive, Safari Club International, Artemis Sportswomen, Featherart Studio, ADK Bucks & Beyond, Northeast Traditions, Baystate Waterfowl Outfitters, New England Buck Reapers, and many more.
Tickets are available now. Attendees can choose from a variety of options, including a one-day admission pass, a three-day pass, or a three-day Superpass, which includes unlimited 3D archery and the VIP party. Attendees can also purchase archery course draw times and Huntstock t-shirts on the website. In addition, every $30 spent on Huntstock merchandise gives attendees an extra chance at a door prize.
