ESCANABA — The National Trappers Association Convention and Sport Show gets underway today at the U.P. State Fairgrounds in Escanaba.

Organizer Roy Dahlgren with the U.P. Trappers Association said vendors are setup all over the fairgrounds.

“There are more vendors than we ever thought there would be,” he said. “normally, a good convention they’d have 400 tables. We have over 660 tables inside and we have over 200 outside vendors already.”

Many of the vendors are offering more than trapping gear. Booths include fishing lures, hunting knives, clothing, baked goods, maple syrup and artwork.

Dahlgren said over the next three days they are expecting 10,000 people to attend the event. He said that is a big deal for the community.
“To have a show of this quality and quantity come to a small town. You figure that Escanaba has 14,000 people. We’re expecting 10,000 at this show. That’s pretty incredible for a town this size,” Dahlgren said.

Craig Schaffer, his wife Jennifer and two boys came in from downstate Ionia. Schaffer is a trapper. He hopes to learn more about trapping and meet up with friends.

“We have friends from Indiana, from southern Michigan. It’s like a trapper’s family and we all come together several times a year at these shows,” Schaffer said. “And Escanaba is a great town anyways. It has a lot to offer.”

The fairgrounds are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. all three days. A BBQ Social and auction will be held Friday beginning at 6 p.m.