Of all the outdoor events I have attended in 2022, including the Archery Trade Association show (ATA), NRA Great American Outdoor Show and Total Archery Challenge (TAC), the Mobile Hunters EXPO in Winchester, OH was the most memorable and impactful of them all. Grab a beverage and follow along as I draw you in with a literary scent-drag of enticement.

My phone lit up this past February from a whitetail aficionado, Chris Leppert of Fueled by the Outdoors, whom I had met at the Archery Trade Association show (ATA) a month prior. We bumped into each other while I was swinging from one of the display poles in the Latitude Outdoors booth and instantly connected. Both being Latitude Outdoors saddle junkies, we engaged in conversation for over an hour while I remained perched on the newly released x-wing platform.

The phone call from Chris was one I will remember for quite some time. He was planning the second annual Mobile Hunters EXPO and wanted me to be one of four guest speakers at the event. The three other speakers he had confirmed (Gregg Staggs, Jake Bush and Jacob Emery) were heavy hitters in the mobile hunting industry and I was more than humbled to be on the list. I immediately accepted the opportunity!

Speaking of calendars, in July of 2021, Chris solicited the social media hunting world with the idea of a saddle hunter’s event near his home in southern Ohio. Three weeks later, the weekend of 7 & 8 August, 2021, the Mobile Hunters EXPO was born. With only 10 days of social media advertising, the spur of the moment event caught the interest of 10 companies and 187 attendees and they assembled at Brown County Fairgrounds in Georgetown, Ohio.

Now, entering its second year, the Mobile Hunters EXPO has climbed to much greater heights. With 7 months of planning behind them, Chris Leppert and Josh Luck ignited the future potential of the expo with a powerful 3-day event, and a new location at the Willow Event Center in Winchester, Ohio. Pulling in over 40 vendors and 400 tickets sold, the event was buzzing with activity from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon. Climbing poles littered the expo footprint, elevated-capable shooting lanes safely settled at the back 40 of the property, and door prizes and raffles tempted the budgets of all who entered the structure.

Kicking things off this year was the Deers & Beers private event. 35 attendees purchased weekend experience tickets which not only allowed access for the entire weekend, but they were also invited to mingle and have dinner with the vendor owners and guest speakers the opening night of the expo. Local craft beer and BBQ filtered around the building while seasoned mobile hunters and newbies alike engaged in conversation.

The second addition to this year’s event was the Mobile Hunter’s Film Fest. Multiple categories were open for submission, and all ticket holders were invited to enjoy nearly 3 hours of self-filmed hunts. At $25 per entry, self-filmers had the opportunity to win prizes and bragging rights.

What truly made this expo stand out from other outdoor events was the atmosphere and connection. Being an experienced mobile hunter, I was astonished at how impactful the event was. The only secrets in the building were waypoints or where cameras were hanging on trees. Every other topic was on the table. Vendors talking with vendors. Hunters engaging with hunters. Vendors and hunters discussing gear and sharing ideas. Everyone departed the expo with knowledge gained and newly formed friendships and relationships.

What does the future hold for this blossoming outdoor extravaganza? In speaking with Chris, his hopes are as diverse as a stud whitetail buck’s high mountain hub. Outside of increasing vendor and ticket holder presence, Chris plans to move the expo to a location providing better lodging and meal options for all involved. Additionally, the founder’s vision is to host the event in three different regions throughout the year. 

Chris and Josh most certainly hit the bullseye. The 2022 Mobile Hunters Expo fell nothing short of amazing. The mobile hunting talent this event drew to a single location was like the natural pull of an early November rattling sequence. Whether you are a seasoned climber or have discovered an interest in the different methods of elevated hunting, the Mobile Hunters EXPO needs to be on your calendar of events for 2023.

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