An Illinois deer show returns and shifts come for show season around Chicago outdoors

Illinois has a deer show again and there are some other shifts/tweaks as show season begins in early January.

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The hope is scenes like this from the 2011 Illinois Deer & Turkey Classic in Peoria will come back with the rebirth of an Illinois deer show, the Illinois Deer Classic March 27-29 at the Peoria Civic Center.

Dale Bowman

The 2020 show season around Chicago outdoors comes with tweaks, subtractions and one notable addition/revival.

I am so happy Illinois has a deer show again. John Bunge of the Iowa Deer Classic will restart that with the Illinois Deer Classic March 27-29 at the Peoria Civic Center. It will be similar to the Iowa Deer Classic, including a big buck contest and bucks being officially measured. Illinois deserves a sprawling celebration for deer.

The big show, the Chicagoland Fishing, Travel & Outdoor Expo, is Jan. 23-26 at the Schaumburg Convention Center.

Show manager Tod Alberto is doing something innovative. On the final day, there will be a women in fishing meet and greet before show opening at 9 a.m., followed by a woman’s seminar emceed by Jen Ripple at 10 a.m.

So far the panel is expected to include Cheryl Smith, one of the top multi-species woman anglers around Chicago, Linda Leary, of Fishe Wear, and Geri Meyer, owner of Athena & Artemis Women’s Fly Shop and co-owner of the Driftless Angler Fly Shop & Guide Service.

Headliners are Jordan Lee, two-time Bassmaster Classic champion (2017 and ‘18), Oliver Ngy, the BigBassDream YouTuber who catches big bass all over, and Brandon Palaniuk, who is becoming a Schaumburg Show favorite and fixture.

Jim Saric will headline Musky Madness on Friday again, which should include Steve Herbeck, Capt. Matt Firestein and Capt. Chris Taurisano.

The most venerable of Chicago shows, the Chicago Boat, RV and Sail Show, kicks off show season on Jan. 8 at McCormick Place South. It will be the 90th Boat Show.

Lake County has a new show, the Northern Illinois Sports Show, on Jan. 16-19 at the Lake County Fairground & Event Center in Grayslake. This is a show that started at Stephens Convention Center, was at Arlington International Racecourse once and now sets up in Grayslake. As usual, Spence Petros is one of the headliners.

January has a significant show nearly every weekend beginning with the Boat Show and All-Canada Show (Jan. 9-12 at Pheasant Run in St. Charles), then the Northern Illinois Show and Muskie Expo Chicago (Pheasant Run Jan. 17-19, then the Schaumburg Show.

Another venerable show, the North American Vintage Decoy and Sporting Collectibles Show, has moved dates and site to May 5-9 at the Westin Chicago Lombard. The Fish & Feather Expo in Bloomington is a no go, according to its Facebook page.

The Tinley Park Fishing Show enters its 28th year on Feb. 8-9 and is the must-go show for Everyman, Everywoman and Everykid.

The master list of shows, seminars, swap meets and flea markets, which will update with new information, may be reached by clicking here.

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