We thought two stages would be enough for the Big Horn Show Pro Seminar Series.
We were wrong.
The response from industry pros has been overwhelming, so we expanded to four stages total; four places where experience meets strategy, and stories turn into real-world skill. This isn’t surface-level talk. It’s hard-earned insight from people who’ve spent years in the field refining what works and ditching what doesn’t.
You’ll find backcountry tactics, gear breakdowns, and practical instruction you can actually apply next season. And at Fish Theater, our giant demonstration tank, you’ll see techniques come to life in real time, movement, presentation, and adjustments happening right in front of you.
The full seminar schedule is below, and we’re continuing to add speakers as they’re confirmed. Scroll down, find your favorites, and plan your time, these sessions fill up fast.
Troy Pottenger, born, raised and resides in Northern Idaho. He is a man of faith and master whitetail bowhunter. Specializing in pursuing mature bucks with archery tackle in the rugged public lands of The Great PNW. Troy has gained national recognition for applying high level DIY archery methods, tactics and strategies to vast big woods, consistently achieving success on mature mountain whitetail bucks. Troy is well known for his ability to breakdown big woods terrain, pinpointing favorable habitat, deciphering wind and thermals and scrape hunting which is all tied to his whitetail biology-based hunting philosophy. Troy engages in regional and national whitetail speaking events along with hosting his own annual whitetail bootcamp. He is a member of the well-known Whitetail Addictions team, that self-films all of their hunts for Lone Wolf Custom Gear. He can be found on all major hunting podcast platforms like Meat Eater’s Wired to Hunt, Dan Staton’s Elk Shape, East Meets West, The Fall and Method Podcasts to name a few. You can contact Troy on IG@mtn_man33 and @whitetail_addictons_offical.
Ryan “Cal” Callaghan is the President and CEO of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. Born and raised in Montana, Ryan has built his life and career around a deep commitment to public lands, wildlife, and access. Before joining BHA, he spent many years as a hunting, fishing, and whitewater guide, developing a firsthand understanding of the landscapes, waters, and communities that depend on responsible stewardship. “Cal” was able to build his stewardship ethos into the then start up outdoor clothing brand First Lite, where he was the first employee. Brand building aligned with conservation eventually led to his career as VP of conservation at MeatEater.
Today, Ryan leads BHA’s mission to defend North America’s wild public lands and waters, bringing a balanced, collaborative approach rooted in his Montana upbringing and decades of experience in the field. His work focuses on ensuring that future generations inherit the same opportunities for adventure, connection, and conservation that shaped his own life.
Glen Berry’s name is synonymous with elk hunting – he is the founder of Berry Game Calls, established in 1983, and is at the Big Horn Show to share his knowledge on bowhunting. Glenn has a long history of seminar speaking throughout the Northwest and Canada, teaching his techniques on calling elk and bowhunting. Booth #312
Whether you’re preparing for the unexpected while planning a trip into the great outdoors, or you’re concerned about the uncertainty of our grid, food supply chain, and civil unrest, join this class in order to gain insight on how to bolster your outdoor skills and survivability in our local wilds. This quick class will touch on meeting the five basic needs of sustaining your life outdoors, and in all the challenging weather conditions that our unique environment may present you with. Charlie Bouck has 20 years of experience as a US Air Force Survival Instructor and offers personalized survival classes for all ages and experience levels. Booth #107
Brianna Bruce is the owner, operator, and lead guide of Livin’ Life Adventures, and one of only a small number of licensed female fishing guides in Washington State. A Washington native who has fished her entire life, Brianna brings deep knowledge of the diverse fishing opportunities the state has to offer, from saltwater to rivers and lakes. She’s passionate about chasing anything with fins and turning a lifelong love of fishing into a profession. Brianna is equally at home on the water or in front of a crowd, and she loves sharing her passion for fishing and the outdoors with others. She will be joining the Big Horn Seminar Series to discuss trout fishing.
Dave Calhoun, owner of NW Fly and NW Rods, will be presenting his seasoned fly-fishing tips specific to the Northwest. His fishing experience combined with his rod-building career qualifies him as not only an expert angler, but a fishing gear guru. Dave will be outlining what gear you need to be successful in your NW fly-fishing endeavours. Booth #54
Black bear hunting is a timeless tradition that dates back to the earliest of settlers. Generations of hunters have grown up being a part of conservation, predator control, and feeding their families through this experience. Whether you’re new to bear hunting or a seasoned veteran, Nicole and Jeffrey Davis of Big Boar Baits are here to talk the good, bad, and the ugly of Idaho bear hunting. They will have products on-hand and displays to help show the bear baiting process, and will discuss the rules and regulations to keep you out of trouble and hunting safely. Booth #137
Jim Davis is a passionate and accomplished kayak angler from Washington State, with a lifelong love for fishing that began at the age of three. His expertise spans both freshwater and saltwater species across the Pacific Northwest, and the world as a member of the USA Kayak fishing team. Known most for his versatility, Jim excels as a multi-species angler, consistently adapting to new challenges. He is excited to share his gear tips during this vertical jigging seminar.
Kaery Dudenhofer is a full-time firearm, self-protection, and use-of-force trainer from the Pacific Northwest. She will be presenting on firearm safety and importance. She has trained under some of the most respected instructors in the self-defense/use-of-force space to guide responsible citizens through the complex legal, moral, and social issues concerning the use of force in self-protection. In addition to teaching firearm courses in the PNW and across the USA, Kaery also works as a consulting specialist and expert witness for civilian defensive use-of-force cases. Visit her website for information about Kaery’s classes and training opportunities.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has recently launched a new mobile licensing tool that allows hunters and anglers to store licenses, catch records, and do electronic tagging right on their phones, among other activities. You can still choose between a paper or an electronic license for the 2026 hunting and fishing year, but if you want to try out the new electronic method, WDFW invites you to come learn the basics of using the app and what functions it provides. The MyWDFW mobile app is now available for free download in Google Play and Apple application stores. Booth #334-#343
Fire-making is often made to feel complex or intimidating, but at its core it’s a simple, learnable skill anyone can practice. In this session, Überleben founder Tim Garcia will be demystifying fire-making by breaking it down to the few fundamentals that actually matter. He will share why fire has long been a point of human connection, confidence, and presence outdoors. Included will be a brief demonstration, followed by optional hands-on time for attendees who want to try fire-making techniques themselves in a relaxed, supportive setting. Booth #21
Northwest Fishing’s own Rob Holman joins the Seminar series to showcase the five-star fishing destinations that Northwest Fishing truly loves. From trusted local waters to standout non-local locations, Rob will share insights, tips, and stories. Booth #31-33
The Kalispel Tribe has used their heritage and culture combined with modern understanding and technology to form their philosophy for managing and conserving natural resources. Mike Lithgow and Alec Bluff of the tribe’s Natural Resources Department will give a tribal perspective on the management of natural resources in the adjudicated lands of the Kalispel Tribe. Booth #82
Eric Magnuson was born and raised in Northeast Washington where he spent the majority of his life on the water and in the woods. He spent the last decade or better promoting and educating on fishing in too many places to mention. He took his passion for fishing, and turned it into traveling and teaching what he has learned about fishing. A part of numerous TV productions, and magazine publications, he feels blessed to have shared his passion with so many. Eric will be detailing his ice fishing tips and tricks to the Big Horn Show community.
R.J. Marquart, professional trainer at the Quicksilver Kennels bird dog training facility, is here to talk all things bird dog. He will be discussing bird dog hunting and the process of professional bird dog training, elaborating on correcting common canine behavioral problems and how to encourage continued excellence in your animal. Booth #143
Two-way radio communication plays a vital role in keeping people connected when it matters most. The Inland Empire GMRS radio operator cooperation will be sharing how radio is used during disasters when other systems fail, supports safety and coordination during outdoor activities such as camping and hiking, and enhances communication while traveling in remote or rural areas. Attendees will learn practical applications, benefits, and real-world scenarios where reliable radio communication makes a critical difference. Booth #202
Jacob Munden is the owner and guide at Munden’s Rising Son Adventures. With over 30 years of fishing experience in the Pacific Northwest, Jacob has a vast knowledge of the fisheries in the region and specializes in salmon, steelhead, sturgeon, and walleye fishing on the Columbia and Snake River systems. Jacob serves on the executive board of the Washington State Guides Association and actively advocates for guides and sportsmen and women across the Pacific Northwest. Jacob’s attention to detail and analytical approach to fishing allows his clients to not only put fish in the cooler, but learn the many techniques used by him to create a memorable and successful day on the water. He will be sharing his early season fishing secrets in his seminar.
In this seminar, WDFW Private Lands biologists Dean Nizer and Todd Baarstad will discuss the background and goals of the Private Lands Program that works to increase public access to public land. It will include information on huntable private properties in WDFW’s eastern region and statewide, as well as hunter’s education, free hunting clinics, opportunities to be mentioned by an experienced hunter, and how to use the variety of WDFW’s Private Lands Programs for hunting. Booth #334-#343
Guide Jaime Rodriguez is a walleye angling enthusiast with a passion for the sport and the outdoors. He is a licensed guide and owner of J Rod Angling Guide Service. He is known for his dedication to the sport and for sharing his knowledge and expertise with anglers of all skill levels. J Rod’s main focus throughout his series of discussions will be to teach walleye anglers valuable skills, and discussing gear such as smile blades, wally pops, super slow death rigs, and more. He has helped catch walleye for the walleye tanks at other sportshows, and values these events as a great opportunity for public interaction and a platform to put a face on fishing in the J Rod Angling area.
Castaway Fly Shop founder Joe Roope will be giving a presentation on fly-tying for the best possible outcomes when fly-fishing the Coeur d’Alene River. Joe has been helping fishermen equip themselves with the optimal gear for over 40 years, and is a true Idaho native sportsman eager to share his tips and tricks. Booth #1
A guide for nearly 30 years, Shelby has been blessed to be able to chase walleye on an average of 150 days per year guiding, including near his home on beautiful Potholes Reservoir. He enjoys sharing his passion for walleye fishing and effective techniques for catching them at seminars and shows throughout the Northwest. His seminars at the Big Horn Show this year will revolve around walleye fishing and how to effectively target spring walleye.
Montana Dan will describe various methods of harvesting black bears including spot and stalk, calling and baiting. He will also demonstrate his new device to facilitate baiting wary nocturnal bears.
Jerry Struhs of Crayster will be performing a live demonstration of the taxidermy process on a crawfish while answering questions from observers. A unique, engaging, and entertaining presentation – one that has been a crowd favorite at many of Crayster’s community boils. Booth #3
Come and learn the differences between the leading fishfinder displays and the available sonar and transducer options. Find out what the right “tools” are for deep water, shallow water, slow trolling, fast trolling, and stationary fishing. Ensure that you’ve got the right tools in your tool box!
Travis Wendt is a seasoned fishing guide with Reel Time fishing, and grew up on the water chasing everything from stocked trout in local lakes to salmon and steelhead in the rivers of the Pacific Northwest. Fishing isn’t just something he does – it’s been a lifelong passion shaped by the waters he grew up around. A professional guide for over 20 years, he takes pride in helping anglers of all skill levels experience some of the best fisheries in the region. His series of seminars will be about kokanee fishing and how to perfect your technique. Booth #138
Have you ever wanted to try falconry? Come to this program to see what it takes! View live trained birds, learn about the required equipment, and visit with Brad Wood – a falconer with over 50 years of experience.
