By Mike Roche

This writer spent some time last week in Charleston, South Carolina. My daughter Jen has “wintered” there the past couple years, as she can work from anywhere and the seaport city offers great weather, lots of fun destinations and activities, and two of her cousins live there.

Charleston has been the site of the Southeast Wildlife Exposition for the past 43 years and this writer has been aware of the event since my time working for Ducks Unlimited. The weekend of activities has evolved over time and attracts a huge crowd of sporting enthusiasts who appreciate the outdoors and the 300 exhibitors that run the gamut of artists, conservationists, the nation’s leading conservation organizations, collectors, and craftsmen and women covering almost every outdoor sporting activity.

There were over 90 events included and those of us with event packages had a hard time selecting which ones to attend. Almost all included great food and beverages, and many featured quality musical performers as well. Last year, Jen ran into multiple exhibitors who, after finding out her background, asked if her father was attending. She twisted my arm (and gave me a high-level ticket package for Christmas!) so Wednesday found me on a Delta jet bound from Boston to Charleston.

Jen and her dog Janet stay in a nice place located just over the bridge in Mount Pleasant. My first night happened to be her bocce night and we went to the local pub with an indoor bocce court where the league meets and enjoyed a great burger and stiff competition, but held our own. This was probably my second time ever, and it was fun with great company. Wearing my Ruffed Gouse Society hat and pin, the number of knowledgeable comments made it clear that hunting was a very important part of the local culture.

Thursday dawned and it was my choice to tour the USS Yorktown, the famous WWII aircraft carrier whose huge presence cannot be missed from the bridge over the harbor. Expecting a brief tour and figuring that it might take an hour, the walk down the dock began to prepare me for how big the carrier actually is.

There is no way in this brief space to describe what the Yorktown offers the visitor. Entering on the second deck, your attention is drawn to a long row of World War II fighter planes that were specialized for aircraft carrier utilization and that immediately made the trip worthwhile. It brought me back to elementary school, where my off-subject time was spent looking up facts about those planes.

Besides being able to see how the crew of 380 officers and 3,080 enlisted men ate, slept and worked on the 90 fighter planes aboard, you could walk four different tours. Small museums you encounter include a history of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the history of African Americans in the military, the history of women in the military, and exhibits on the battle history of the many aircraft carriers that have played such an important part in our country’s history since WWII.

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Then the flurry of SEWE events began Thursday with a welcome oyster roast sponsored by The Ruffed Grouse Society and American Woodcock Society, which was a great time and resulted in my connecting with a half-dozen people who are key in that organization and have spent time at the New York State grouse camp, where it has been my pleasure to hunt and guide the past 30 years.

Friday began with first of the DockDogs competition, a crowd favorite all weekend. As it happened, my nephew Matthew Campbell and his Boykin Spaniel Wellington were the first competitors, and she did great! We toured the exhibits, made some purchases and had a great day. That was followed that night by an incredible time at “Lowcountry Lyrics.” That was a chance to see three of country music’s top songwriters perform their songs, many of which were top 20 hits or even Grammy Award winners, recorded by artists like Kenny Chesney, Randy Travis and Zac Brown in an intimate setting at a beautiful private residence.

Saturday brought visits to two other venues, many with great art including paintings, sculpture and hand-carved decoys and some of the most beautiful outdoor-themed clothing, jewelry and decor items imaginable. Saturday evening featured another great oyster roast with other country food items like pulled pork, ribs, BBQ chicken and beans and a great bluegrass combo playing all night.

Sunday was an early rainout with strong winds, but it cleared by noon for some “family time” celebrating George Sawyer’s first birthday (my niece Kristine and Andrew Sawyer’s newest addition) done up right at the home of my niece Katelin Haver and her husband Kyle.

The storm y’all got to enjoy during my southern soiree delayed my flight home Monday, but it capped off a great getaway for yours truly. Meanwhile, that storm has drastically changed life for local wildlife, as the frozen rain crust on top of snow makes life tough for some species. Turkeys now have to penetrate the crust to forage, as do whitetail deer. More critically, canines like coyotes and dogs can cruise atop the frozen snow while deer flounder and that can be a real problem. As always, please do not let your dogs run loose, as there are deer wintering in close proximity to most of us.

Don’t forget the Springfield Sportsman’s Show this weekend at the Big “E” in Springfield. The show opens today and goes from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. You know how many great exhibits the show features with something for every hunter and fisherman!

Mike Roche is a retired teacher who has been involved in conservation and wildlife issues his entire life. He has written the Sportsman’s Corner since 1984 and has served as advisor to the Mahar Fish’N Game Club, counselor and director of the Massachusetts Conservation Camp, former Connecticut Valley District representative on the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board, a Massachusetts Hunter Education Instructor and is a licensed New York hunting guide. He can be reached at mikeroche3@msn.com.