President's Message

Hello Fellow White-tailed Deer Hunting and Outdoors Enthusiasts,

 

On behalf of the Wake County Wildlife Club, welcome to the Dixie Deer Classic! For forty-three years, the Dixie Deer Classic has served as the showcase for – and record keeper of – the largest white-tailed deer harvested annually in North Carolina. What once began as a simple, day long show has grown to one of the largest, multiday outdoors shows in the nation, and rightfully earning its nickname, the “Granddaddy of all Deer Shows.”

 

We couldn’t do this without your support. Your ticket purchase helps fund numerous, worthy conversation and education partnerships and programs across North Carolina. Since 1981, the proceeds from the Dixie Deer Classic have:

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• Educated tens of thousands of students though the hunter education program,

• Provided hundreds of scholarships for youth to attend 4-H camps,

• Processed venison for over 380,000 meals through NC Hunters for the Hungry, and;

• Fostered thousands of wildlife and conservation education programs, including, Hunter Safety; Academics Afield; Becoming an Outdoors Woman; Tree Stand Safety; Introductions to Trapping; Archery Safety; and National Hunting & Fishing Day.

 

What was once a simple white-tailed deer show has evolved into much more. The Dixie Deer Classic is now home to the NC National Wild Turkey Federation’s Call Making and Calling state championships; a sanctioned event for Dock Dogs, the world's premier canine aquatics competition; the largest, sanctioned venison chili competition in partnership with the International Chili Society and World Food Championships. We have listened to your suggestions for improving the show, and we always welcome more.

 

We hope you will take full advantage of everything the show has to offer. Sample the venison chili (the cooks have traveled from around the country to compete here.) Catch one (or all) of our educational seminars. See the birds of prey and visit the decoy carvers. Watch the dogs jump – they’re awesome! Grab a selfie with this year’s celebrities: Melissa Bachman, Ralph & Vicki Clanclarulo, and Kip Campbell. Visit with this year’s sponsors – RAM, the Official Truck of the Dixie Deer Classic, Mahindra Tractors, Performance East, and National Land Realty – for the latest on their products and services. There’s plenty for the kids too: check out the scavenger hunt, catch a fish in the pond, get their faces painted, test their archery and bb gun skills, and build a turkey call. And, of course, check out the deer mounts and scores. You can also have your own deer scored through the Boone & Crocket or Pope and Young method; one scoring is free with the purchase of your ticket. You can now have your bear skulls scored here too.

 

Check out this program or download the Dixie Deer Classic app for more information and a schedule of this year’s events. Be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram for details of future shows.

 

Thank you for attending this year’s Dixie Deer Classic! Enjoy the show!

 

Happy Hunting,

 

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David Kaiser, 2024 President

Wake County Wildlife Club