ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The annual U.P. Trappers Association Convention and Outdoor Expo returns to the U.P. State Fairgrounds this weekend.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, July 11, and Saturday, July 12. The expo will feature fur and gear vendors, activities for kids and families, and a Friday evening fish fry.
Both days also feature a full schedule of demonstrations on topics like coyote calling and tips for trapping various animals. Guest presenters include nationally-known trappers like Paul Antczak, one of the stars of the History Channel’s Mountain Men, which is set to begin a new season this fall.
“I always like coming back to the Midwest because I was born and raised over here in Wisconsin,” Antczak said. “Trapping’s been good to me all my life. I grew up 10 years old, started trapping. I’ve got to give back to the trapping community because it gives me so much.”
Antczak will also have his Montana Wolf Trapper booth set up alongside the other vendors in the Ruth Butler Building.
“I trap out in Montana and all of my fur gets made into garments, so I have mittens and hats and slippers made out of my fur,” he said. “I sell Tom Oar Coffee for a friend of mine. I also sell bait and lure, and apparel for my YouTube.”
Admission is $10 for guests 13 and older. For more details on this year’s U.P. Trappers Convention and Outdoor Expo, visit uptrappers.com.
Mountain Men fans can keep up with Antczak on Facebook, Instagram, and his Montana Wolf Trapper YouTube channel.
