Sportsman's RecFest to feature retriever demonstrations, seminars

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Vernon County will be the site of a weekend-long celebration of the retriever, the duck hunter's best friend, during the Four Rivers Sportsmen's RecFest, Sept. 25-26.

At Four Rivers Conservation Area, a few miles north of Nevada, just of U.S. 71, retriever demonstrations are scheduled every hour throughout the event, 9 a.m. -5 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday.

Thanks to outdoor and sports-oriented television channels, many are familiar with retriever demonstrations and trials, with a variety of feats performed by dogs at all skill levels.

The September event won't be a trial, but many of the skills seen at such trials will be showcased in the hourly demonstrations.

Nevada's own Loel Wilson, along with the Southwest Missouri Retriever Club, is coordinating the event.

The club, with members throughout southwest Missouri, including Joplin, Springfield, Branson, Carthage, El Dorado Springs and other areas, generally has monthly training days at Talbot Conservation Area near Mt. Vernon.

"A lot of people (involved in retriever clubs and demonstrations like the one planned at Four Rivers) don't hunt. They just like the dogs and participate in it for the fun of it. Myself, I'm a duck hunter. I just want the dog to retrieve the ducks," Wilson said.

People can come by and see dogs exhibiting skills on three levels known as started, seasoned and finished.

Started dogs, Wilson explained, will show off basic skills such as retrieving a duck "dummy" thrown into the water while the dog is watching, known as a marked retrieve.

Seasoned dogs have more skills, and, following commands given by the owner, perform blind retrieves, finding a duck that the dog did not see fall.

Seasoned dogs "do everything except shoot the duck for you," Wilson said. In other words, they can seek out and locate the ducks, following complex whistle and hand signals.

Demonstrations like these are educational for owners and retrievers, and they're fun to observe.

"It's always enjoyable to watch a good dog work. These dogs enjoy their work, it's what they live for. It's fun for them, and the retrieve is their reward," for a job well done.

The hourly demonstrations will be conducted by Wilson, Bud McConnahey, Richard Webb, Tony Hoselton, Chris LaRoche, Ed Burr and others.

Dog owners can bring their leashed retrievers to the event, and to a retriever seminar at the fairgrounds which will also be conducted by professional dog trainer Bob Willett. Dog owners, or anyone who's interested, can get tips and information on retriever training during the seminars, which are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26.

"It's open to anyone, and new members are always welcome, (at retriever club activities.)" Wilson said.

The Southwest Missouri Retriever Club will conduct a drawing as well, with tickets sold during the retriever demonstrations at Four Rivers, for a prize of an electronic collar donated by SportDog.

A number of other events will take place during the RecFest, many of them at the fairgrounds.

Other fairgrounds events

* Archery skills

* ATV demos

* Barbecue cookoff

* Boats and blinds contests

* Casting activities

* Conservation stations

* Game calling contests

* Outdoor skills seminars

* Retriever activities

* Shooting skills

* Concessions

* Vendors

* Trout pond

Meanwhile, other events will take place nearby.

At Marmaduke Park

* Muzzleloaders Black Powder Rendezvous

At Four Rivers Conservation Area

* Retriever demonstrations

* Wetlands experience

* Self-guided driving tour

At the Nevada Elks Lodge

* Ducks Unlimited benefit dinner and auction

* Beverage garden by Missouri Eagle, LLC

* Gun show and sale

For more information, contact the RecFest coordinator at (417) 667-5300 or (800) 910-4276.

A $5 admission fee is charged at the fairgrounds.