Wednesday, July 23, 2025

It’s Delta Waterfowl EXPO Week

Get ready for all things ducks and geese as the annual Duck Hunters Expo kicks off Friday in Oklahoma City

BISMARCK, NORTH DAKOTA — The epicenter of the waterfowl hunting world shifts to Oklahoma City this week as Delta Waterfowl’s highly anticipated 2025 Duck Hunters Expo presented by Federal Ammunition quacks to life at 11:55 a.m. Friday. The official opening ceremony at the OKC Fairgrounds Bennett Center will feature Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell and Wade Free, director of Oklahoma Dept. of Wildlife Conservation.

Pinnell, Free, and Delta Waterfowl CEO Jason Tharpe will open the three-day event that features 210 vendors, three exhibition stages, a duck-calling championship, and all the waterfowl hunting gear, fun, talk, and camaraderie you can handle. The opening ceremony will emphasize Oklahoma's importance to waterfowl conservation and to our outdoor heritage, while also setting the stage for a weekend devoted to duck hunters and outdoor enthusiasts from all over North America.

“Oklahoma is excited to host the 2025 Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo,” Pinnell said. “This three-day event will draw thousands of hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to Oklahoma City. This expo is the place to be for duck hunters. It will be a huge tourism draw and a wonderful opportunity to showcase our state and all that we have to offer to visitors.”

Pinnell has been Oklahoma's lieutenant governor since 2018. Pinnell serves as the president of the Oklahoma Senate and chair of the Oklahoma Tourism Commission and the Route 66 Centennial Commission. Pinnell is known as Oklahoma's "chief marketer." He has led many major workforce development, business recruitment, and statewide branding initiatives. He regularly hosts events, including the Lt. Governor's Turkey Hunt, to invite outside investors and site selectors to explore Oklahoma.

Free brings 40 years of dedication to ODWC. He served as an area manager, assistant chief, and regional wildlife supervisor before being name interim director of ODWC in 2023.

“The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation is proud to be part of the Delta Waterfowl Duck Hunters Expo in 2025, where all things waterfowl will be gathered in one place,” Free said. “This is a unique opportunity for folks to learn more about the wonderful world of waterfowl hunting, waterfowl management, conservation, new hunting products, and more. Where else can you watch a duck dog training seminar and a wild-game cooking seminar under one roof? There is something for everyone in your family, and I hope to see you there.”

The Duck Hunters Expo is a family friendly event. Expo hours are Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. Ticket information and full schedules can be found at https://deltawaterfowlexpo.com.

Delta Waterfowl is The Duck Hunters Organization, a leading conservation group working to produce ducks and secure the future of waterfowl hunting in North America. Visit deltawaterfowl.org.