Image Credit: West Monroe Sports & Events
By Ali Yenchick
What began as a small boat and outdoor show in 2025 returned to West Monroe Sports & Events (WMSE) this year with a new name, a broader vision and a dramatically larger audience.
The North Louisiana Sportsman’s Expo welcomed more than 10,000 attendees from Aug. 28–30, bringing together more than 100 vendors, exhibitors and outdoor brands for a three-day celebration of hunting, fishing, recreation and family fun. The event generated an estimated $836,465 in economic impact for the area and produced more than $100,000 in net profit after expenses, advertising, labor and promoter costs.
For West Monroe Sports & Events, the results marked the biggest event in the facility’s history—and a clear sign that the rebrand delivered on its promise. “I’ve never seen our facility that packed before,” said Reece Aultman, marketing manager for WMSE. “Every corner was full.”
From boats to the great outdoors
The event’s first year, known as the Boat & Outdoor Show, featured approximately 30 booths and primarily focused on boats. This year, the event was reimagined as the North Louisiana Sportsman’s Expo, a name chosen to reflect a larger regional draw and a more inclusive outdoor focus.
Logan Bourgeois, director of the North Louisiana Sportsman’s Expo, said the change was driven by a desire to create something broader and more ambitious than a traditional boat show.
“I didn’t want it to be a boat show. I wanted it to be a sports show,” Bourgeois said. “I wanted to build something elite in West Monroe, an event that would attract regional attendees and vendors.”
That regional strategy quickly gained traction. Of the more than 100 vendors participating this year, 41 came from outside Louisiana—nearly half of the total vendor base. Exhibitors traveled from approximately six to eight states, including a representative from New Zealand promoting international hunting opportunities.
Bourgeois spent months researching potential exhibitors, contacting vendors and building relationships from the ground up. He sent 675 emails and ultimately secured 105 vendors, creating a foundation for the expo’s future growth.
“I worked to built my foundation this year, but this whole time getting to 10,000 consumers was just a stepping stone of what I want to get to,” Bourgeois said.
An outdoor experience for the entire family
The expo’s expanded lineup made it more than a traditional hunting or boat show. Attendees could browse duck calls, knives, firearms, fishing equipment, hunting land and leases, apparel, outdoor gear, tractors, lawn equipment, boats, ATVs and side-by-sides.
“Anything outdoors you can think of, we had it here with our booths,” Aultman said.
The event also featured live demonstrations, including fishing demonstrations and interactive activities for children. Families could visit a free kid’s zone, enjoy jumpers, try a rock-climbing wall provided by the Boy Scouts of America, see a bucking bull and explore outdoor equipment up close. Children could climb into ATVs, tractors and other vehicles, while families enjoyed food trucks, face painting and opportunities to meet hunting dogs brought by vendors.
Inside the facility, the layout helped create a full-scale marketplace. Boats, ATVs and a stage filled one side of the building, while pipe-and-drape booths occupied the other. Exhibitors showcased everything from hunting accessories and deer stands to speakers, specialty fishing poles, scopes, clothing and food products.
The family-friendly atmosphere was intentional. Bourgeois said his vision is to create an event where every member of the family can find something engaging—from hunting and fishing products to children’s activities and shopping opportunities for women.
Reece Aultman, marketing manager for West Monroe Sports & Events, said that broader appeal helped make the expo enjoyable even for people who do not consider themselves hunters.
“I’m not really a hunter, so I thought this kind of expo wasn’t for me, but I really enjoyed it,” Aultman said. “It was a really cool, inclusive atmosphere.”
Southern hospitality, outdoor style
In addition to the expo floor, the weekend included special experiences for participating vendors. On Saturday evening, vendors were invited to an appreciation dinner at the Duck Commander warehouse, located near the facility. Guests enjoyed Southern hospitality and Cajun-inspired food, including pasta-laya and white beans.
On Sunday morning, Duck Commander and Buck Commander hosted a worship service for vendors before the expo opened. The general manager of Buck Commander led worship, followed by a message from Jeffrey Kent, CEO of Duck Commander.
Duck Commander and Buck Commander also served as the event’s title sponsors, bringing a strong local connection and additional visibility to the rebranded expo. Their involvement helped reinforce the event’s identity as a major gathering for outdoor enthusiasts in the region.
A new West Monroe tradition takes root
The expo’s attendance exceeded the organizers’ goal of 8,000 to 10,000 people, with a line approximately 100 people deep for the first two hours of Saturday’s opening. The parking lot filled to capacity, and vendors began committing to return before the weekend was over.
The response also provided valuable direction for next year. Organizers plan to retain returning vendors, add more nationally recognized hunting brands, expand women’s and children’s offerings and move more boats outdoors to create additional indoor space for exhibitors and shopping.
For Bourgeois, the expo’s success is only an early milestone. He hopes to establish West Monroe as the final major waterfowl hunting show of the season and grow the event into an elite regional attraction.
“I believe that if you build it, they will come,” Bourgeois said. “But you also have to have your ducks in a row.”
The North Louisiana Sportsman’s Expo’s first year under its new identity demonstrated the power of a clear vision, strong partnerships and a facility capable of bringing that vision to life. With more vendors, more activities and an audience that grew by thousands in a single year, the expo is positioned to become a signature annual event for West Monroe and the broader outdoor community.
“We have something elite in West Monroe,” Bourgeois said. “What I’m trying to do is show the people of this community that this area is capable of something elite. We’re going to blow the doors off this place next year, and you won’t want to miss it.”
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