Pheasantfest 2020

[Richard Dow]

Gentlemen: As you know Pheasantfest is approaching fast. The dates again are the 14th, 15th, and 16th of February. The location is Minneapolis.
As always at this event many of us promote the Parker gun and the PGCA by setting up three or so tables with our Parkers on racks and our banners behind.
We could use some more guns and help this year. Yes we take turns enjoying all the great things demonstrated at this BIG show but at the same time each man should spend time talking to the 100's of interested people dropping by to talk Parkers. If I can't answer a question I just pass it on to Bruce Day or Charles Herzog or others. You don't have to be the most knowledgeable guy at the show to be of help. Ed will be selling tickets for the raffle gun. We always have a good time. Set up is Friday morning.
If you have questions please go to the Pheasantfest website or you can call me at 714-441-1127 and leave a call back number. We'd enjoy seeing you and would appreciate your help. Best, Dick Dow

[Mills Morrison]

My son Harry and I will be there. We are flying in Thursday. Hope to see a bunch of PGCA folks there

[Richard Dow]

Great Mills. We all look forward to both the show hours and the camaraderie afterwards.

[Jeff Kuss]

I'm not going to make it this year. The powder at Alta and Snowbird will have me
busy .

[Matthew Hanson]

Dean Hanson and Matt Hanson will be there to buy and sell a bunch of tickets for the 20ga. give away gun!!

[Randy G Roberts]

Did anyone secure a block of rooms by chance?

[Mike Kobos]

After seeing the great photos of this meeting by Charlie and Bruce over the past few years, I will be there this year. Flying in on Thursday and I will bring several catalogs to put out on the display tables. If there are any planned evening dinners then please let me know. Does anyone of the PGCA group go to the Pheasantfest big banquet on Saturday?

[Richard Dow]

Mike: Last year we were invited to set down at the banquet at the last minute as we walked into the restaurant and they recognizes us as the PGCA group. Usually we play it by ear and go somewhere as a group.

[Richard Dow]

Randy: The Hyatt Regency has a PF group rate of $119. That is where some of us are staying. I'm flying in from Caifornia on Thursday and will be at the Hyatt.

[Bruce Day]

Charlie has another back doc appt then and will not be there. But we will be there at booths 555, 557, 559. We will bring a bunch of guns , the Parker Damascus manufacture specimen that we posted photos of and I’ll bring a high condition Parker Hawes 6 wt rod.

We will be staying at the MSP Hyatt Regency next door via enclosed walkways . PF discount rooms are still available.

[Bruce Day]

I'm not going to make it this year. The powder at Alta and Snowbird will have me
busy .

I suggested that Jeff not go to Alta or Snowbird but just go to the icy ski hill with rope tow on the south side of MSP but he disregarded my suggestion.

[Randy G Roberts]

Randy: The Hyatt Regency has a PF group rate of $119. That is where some of us are staying. I'm flying in from Caifornia on Thursday and will be at the Hyatt.

Thanks Dick. I'm still in Argentina at the moment but in the process of getting home now, process is a kind word, root canal would seem more appropriate. Still on the fence with PF, will know more next week. Take care....

[Bruce Day]

Big crowds here in Minneapolis. Lots of people come through the PGCA booth. We have several new members and much interest in Parkers. We are on track to sell out of raffle gun tickets and to bring in record sales.

Some photos follow . Much thanks to Dick Dow , Mike Kobos, Matt and Dean Hansen , Pete Kappes and Mills Morrison for staffing the booth.

We had a new member come by with his 36” VH 12 ga.

[Chuck Bishop]

First class display. On my bucket list next year!

[Paul Ehlers]

Thanks to everyone involved! Awesome set-up, especially that rack full of beautiful Parkers.

[Mills Morrison]

This has been on our list for several years. Harry and I had a great time and hope to come back next year

[Matt Buckley]

I had a great time visiting with the guys at the Parker Booth. Minnesota Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer, for those of you that follow football, stopped by to check out the Parkers as well and visited with Jim Beilke and Pete Kappes. I want to thank especially Bruce and Dean for taking the time to show me there various Parkers and give me an education on some nice pieces. Nicely done gentlemen.

[charlie cleveland]

a coupla of those parkers had some long barrels...nice display for sure...charlie

[Craig Larter]

You are all to be congratulated for the fine display and getting the word out about the joys of owning and using Parkers. Manning a booth display for three days is rewarding but exhausting. I tip my hat to you gentleman well done!!!

[Bruce Day]

The Vikings coach followed a tradition. Years ago Randy Havel brought in Bud Grant and coach Grant stood in the aisle and started calling on anybody who was a Vikings fan. He told them to buy a raffle ticket and he would sign the ticket stub. We did well.

Great people and great times. We went to a performance of Garrison Keillor Prairie Home Companion and ate afterward at the diner with the performers.

And we had a member stop by to talk about his AAHE 28ga. He is supposed to post photos.

[Mike Kobos]

A big thank you is also in order to Bruce Day who brought many of the 25 plus great examples of Parker craftsmanship. His contacts within the Pheasant Fest organization helped get us a location where we were at times overwhelmed with visitors. This was my first time at Pheasant Fest and it was a great show. I highly recommend it

[Reggie Bishop]

Yes, year after year Bruce represents the Parker gun and the PGCA at the Pheasant Fest! Thank you Bruce and the others who worked this event!

[Mills Morrison]

I second Mike on that. You don't realize how much Bruce does until you go and see him in action

[Bruce Day]

We try, Mike. We could not do this event without good PGCA people who fly in from both coasts or drive long distances to help. They engage with people curious about Parkers , share the knowledge , inform and educate. They sell raffle tickets for the financial well being of our organization. Some 33,000 people were exposed to Parkers, we sold about $3,500 of raffle tickets, almost sold out with very few left.


Next year it’s back in Sioux Falls, a wonderful city , easy to get around and the Stanford Center is a great venue. But beyond that , a friend is with Delta Waterfowl Association , a member and chapter led organization . Delta Waterfowl is planning its first convention in 2021 in the mid-south and wants us to be a part . We will need waterfowlers and big guns who want to step up.

Speaking of big guns, here is member Jeff Sweeten and his 36” VH, the gun being held by our Dean Hansen.

[Mills Morrison]

Delta Waterfowl is a cause my family has long supported. That would be a lot of fun.

[Dean H Hanson]

Pheasant Fest this year was incredible. Meeting fellow members Matt, Mike, Peter...et al, amazing. The knowledge Bruce shares The enthusiasm Doc has. Watching Ed work his magic with raffle ticket sales. My throat hurt Saturday night from talking Parkers, but sooo worth it. Special thank you to my Brother Matthew, he drives my passion and puts me in a position to succeed. Please try to come to Sioux Falls, Matt and I are planning to get there by hook or crook. On a personal note.... Bass Pro Shops was touring a semi trailer full of monster whitetail bucks, and for the first time in my life I saw the Pearson buck. My grandfather Homer Pearson shot this monster in 1937 in Lorraine Wisconsin. Scored 233 7/8 Nontypical. I have seen replicas, but it was incredible to see thee actual rack... thru tears. My lifter 20 gauge will be at every PF I can attend...… as well as my lifter 11 gauge. Wanna hear the story of the deer sights mounted on the family 10 gauge? Hope to see old and new members next year!!!!

[Bruce Day]

Dean , I think people would be interested in seeing the deer rack. It is huge.

[Randy G Roberts]

Dean , I think people would be interested in seeing the deer rack. It is huge.

Absolutely, please show us. What a neat story. Dean did you know this deer was going to be there or was it a surprise.

[Bruce Day]

Delta Waterfowl is a cause my family has long supported. That would be a lot of fun.

Can you lead the effort ?

[Dean H Hanson]

Randy, had no idea it was there. Matt saw the promotion banner and recognized the rack. The whole group in the trailer stopped to listen to us tell the story. Surreal. Will post photo soon. 33" spread. And my grandmother was the best hunter in the family. Winchester presented her a custom fit rifle at some point. Still trying to find it. It was amazing to see it!!!

[Mills Morrison]

Can you lead the effort ?

Send me information and I will if I can

[ED J, MORGAN]

My special thanks to all who attended for helping sell raffle tickets. Matt and young Harry Morrison were especially aggressive ticket sellers.

[Randy G Roberts]

My special thanks to all who attended for helping sell raffle tickets. Matt and young Harry Morrison were especially aggressive ticket sellers.

I wasn't there but past experience tells me that one Ed J Morgan was a relentless ticket selling machine as well :) And yes thanks to all who pitched in. :bowdown:

[Mills Morrison]

Harry bought a Savage single shot 410 Turkey hunting special with his earnings. Meanwhile, I won a Parker GHE in the Rock Island auction. Both guns will be Turkey hunting as soon as the season opens

[charlie cleveland]

tell us something about these 2 new turkey guns especially the 410...i bet some of that newtungston 410 loads is in the works...charlie

[Mills Morrison]

A friend of mine who also uses a 410 single shot for turkey hunting is loading some tungsten loads for Harry. The Parker is a GHE from the 20's. Fluid steel barrels.

More to come . . .

[Bruce Day]

Mills told his Harry that if he sold $300 in tickets his dad would buy him a gun. So of course young Harry sits next to Ed and tells that to the passers by. Who could resist a cute kid with that message.

[Mills Morrison]

Update. Harry has shot 2 boxes of shells with his 410. He got 3 clays with the first box and 5 with the second. Some of the shots from each box were him getting used to the gun too. Hoping to graduate him up to a 28 and then 20.