The competitions are heating up at Game Fair for dogs, archers, and callers--not to mention for exhibitors looking to give people the best deals on outdoor equipment. This upcoming weekend at Game Fair is the second annual $10,000 Duck and Goose Calling contest. The duck calling contest is on Saturday, August 17 and the goose calling contest is Sunday, August 18. There are three divisions for each duck and goose calling, including: youth, open and two-person. A portion of all entry fees will be donated to Minnesota Ducks Unlimited and sponsors of the event include: Game Fair, Ducks Unlimited, Federal Ammunition, Cabelas, Hardcore Brands, Flyway Customs, Big Sean's Championship Calls, Beavertail, Luck Duck Premium Decoys, Visual Web Group, Eaglehead Outdoors, HuntTheNorth.com, Top Gun Guide Service, Foiles Migrators, Dakota Decoy Company, Flagman Products, First Flight Finishers, and Kruger Farms. Everybody got into the calling contest mood during the first weekend of Game Fair, with a turkey calling contest on Sunday. New to Game Fair this year, and expected to return, was a turkey calling contest hosted by Shane Simpson of callingallturkeys.com. A total of 15 different callers and 24 entries turned out for the premiere, much to the delight of Simpson. "This was a very good turnout for a contest and most were new faces," he said. The contest was more for fun, rather than a sanctioned event, but there were still plaques for the winners along with prizes. "Had this been a sanctioned contest, there would have been even bigger prizes and more callers making it one of the larger contests in the Midwest," Simpson said.

In the open division: first place went to Kevin Croteau of Ramsey; second place was Curtis Goettsch of Cresco, Iowa; and Connor Wall of Clearwater came in third. In the amateur division, Wall took first place and Croteau came in second, while Thayne Jensen of Otsego came in third.

Contest emcee Kara Wattunen, an avid turkey hunter, was especially happy with the fact that in the youth division, the top three winners were all girls: Adrianna Rice of Minneapolis won the event; Clara Wall of Clearwater came in second; and, Kelby Moore of Rice finished third in the standings.

Check out the photographs from each of the three divisions as well as the emcee and judges making their final announcements at the end of the contest. Sponsors of the contest included: Game Fair, Hunter's Specialties, Hook's Custom Calls, Federal Premium Cartridge, Weaver, and CallingAllTurkeys.com

As if that wasn't enough. The second weekend of the North American Shed Hunting Dog Association international qualifier and junior dog hunt test takes place Saturday throughout the day at Game Fair. To qualify for the international contest, dogs must already be registered, but the event is open to all who are interested in seeing how well their dog retrieves antlers. There will also be finals on Sunday for all the dog events at Game Fair. Winners from each day of both weekends will return for a final championship round. If you are interested in having your dog participate, bring them to Game Fair (leashed) Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Dogs are admitted to the fair for free but dog events cost $1 to participate in.

The Game Fair Archery World $1,000, 100-yard Archery Challenge is also going on throughout the second weekend.

Kurt Baumgartner is running the event and reported that 20 archers have qualified so far and only three are repeats from last year. One of the archers is a 15 year old girl and she probably won't be the only one by the time the final shoot-off takes place on Sunday.

Additional qualifying shoots take place Friday and Saturday from 10 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. There's one last chance Sunday morning from 10 to 11 before the final shots are fired Sunday afternoon. More details? Details on any of these contests, and all the other details at Game Fair, including the $10,000 Duck and Goose Calling Contest, can be found at www.GameFair.com. Don't forget to print your $2 off coupon for admission and that Friday is Family Day meaning that kid's get in free with a paid adult.