2009 Eastern Sports & Outdoor will Feature More Seminars, Outfitters, New Products and Manufacturer Demonstrations
HARRISBURG, PA – -(AmmoLand.com)- The Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show®, presented by Chevrolet, the largest consumer event of its kind in North America, will be bigger and better when it comes to the State Farm Show Complex, Harrisburg February 7-15, 2009.
“This year we are really pumping up the seminar schedule and factory reps. We have some of the biggest names in hunting and fishing giving seminars and a solid lineup of family entertainment. And, of course the most outfitters from around the world than any other show in the world,” says Chris O’Hara, Manager, Strategic Accounts Eastern Sports & Outdoors Show.
The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show attracts outdoor sports enthusiasts from across the country to view the newest and best hunting and fishing products, plan and book hunts, shop for boats, SUVs, motorcycles, ATVs and RVs, and enjoy a wide range of contests and family entertainment.
Discount tickets and FREE parking and shuttle services to the Show and back will be available at Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg.
This year’s Show includes more than 1,000 hunting- and fishing-related vendors including: nearly 200 hunting-related vendors; more than 30 archery-specific vendors; 40 outdoor-apparel vendors; more than 30 fishing-specific vendors; 23 different game-call vendors and over 500 outfitters from around the world.
Thompson/Center Arms, one of the world’s most respected designers, manufacturers and marketers of premium hunting firearms, is bringing many of their newest products and factory representatives to the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show. Thompson/Center Arms, a Smith and Wesson Company, is widely recognized by hunters as a manufacturer and distributor of innovative firearms that meet the highest precision, performance, craftsmanship, and reliability standards.
Hunting Seminar Speakers
Michael Waddell, one of the biggest names in deer hunting, will present hunting seminars on February 13-15. Waddell’s popularity in the hunting world has soared since becoming the entertaining host of the Outdoor Channel shows “Realtree Road Trips” and “Gander Mountain We Live Outdoors.”
Lee and Tiffany Lakosky, stars of Getting’ Close–one of the highest-rated shows in outdoor television–will be part of a Whitetail Deer Hunting Panel on February 7, 9, 11, 13, and 14. The Lakoskys will be appearing in the Whitetail Freaks booth in the Wild West Hall.
Larry Weishuhn, one of most recognized hunter/outdoor personalities in America, will present “Deer hunting and Deer Management” seminars on February 7 through the 9th. Known in hunting circles as “Mr. Whitetail,” Weishuhn is a highly experienced professional wildlife biologist. Weishuhn helped develop many of the quality deer and habitat management techniques used today throughout North America.
Gregg Ritz, world renowned for his technical muzzleloading expertise and success in managing land for big bucks, hunting pressured whitetails and scouting techniques, will share his knowledge on February 13-15 during a Whitetail Deer Panel. He will also be signing autographs in the Whitetail Freaks Booth Located in the West Hall.
Hunter’s Specialties, one the world’s largest manufacturers of hunting accessories with over 900 products, is sending five members of its pro staff to present seminars: Matt Morrett (deer & turkey) on Feb. 7-15; Allen Morris (predators hunting) on Feb. 13-15; Alex Rutledge (deer) on Feb. 7-9; Eddie Salter (deer) Feb. 10-12; and Rick White (deer) on Feb. 13-15.
Chuck Adams, a bowhunting legend, will appear on February 10, 11 and 12. With 5 world records and 122 animals listed in Pope and Young, there is no bigger name in the world of bowhunting.
The Benoits, the first family of deer tracking and hunting, will share their secrets of success with attendees during daily seminars.
Sean Mann, Keith McGowan, Scott Christopher & Josh Neuwiller–“Goose Hunting & Calling with Sean Mann Outdoors & Cabella’s” Daily Seminars.
Randy Anderson–“Predator Hunting” February 7 & 8.
Gregg Day and Rick Malik, two members of the Drury Outdoors Team will appear on February 14 & 15. They will sign autographs in the Cabela’s Booth and participate in a Whitetail Deer Hunting Panel discussion.
Bob Hart, an expert custom gun maker and champion long-range shooter, will conduct a daily seminar each day of the show—alternating between “How to Become a More Proficient Shooter” and “Preparing for Your Western Hunt.”
Fishing Seminar Speakers
George and Mike Acord, co-owners of SFTackle.com and Susquehanna Fishing Tackle and SFT Guide Service, are both are accomplished tournament fishermen. George is a two-time BASS Master Classic Qualifier and Mike was the 2007 winner of the Capital Clash Co-Angler, Potomac River. Mike will present a seminar on “River Smallmouth Techniques” on February 7, 9 11, 13 and 15 and George will present his seminar on “Bass Fishing Techniques Guide Service” on February 8, 10, 12 and 14.
Woo Daves is one of the most successful and well-known personalities with 40 top-10 finishes on the BassMaster tournament trail. He is a 17-time BassMaster Classic Qualifier, the 2000 BassMaster Classic Champion and a member of the Nitro, Motorguide, Stren Line, and Flowmaster fishing teams. Daves will talk bass fishing at Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank in the Fishing and Boating Hall on February 7 & 8.
Brian Snowden is a professional fishing guide and an up-and-coming star in the tournament-fishing world. He is a four-time BassMaster Classic Qualifier, runner-up in the 2007 BassMaster America, runner-up in the 2008 Elite Sunshine Showdown and two-time Elite 50 qualifier. Snowden also has a degree in Fisheries Management from Southwest Missouri State University. Snowden will share his secrets of bass fishing at the Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank in the Fishing and Boating Hall on February 7 & 8.
Aaron Martin is quickly becoming a fixture in the bass fishing universe. As host of the “Bass Edge” television show, he reaches millions of viewers. He is also a co-host on “The Edge,” the #1 bass fishing podcast on iTunes, and is a frequent contributor to www.bassedge.com <http://www.bassedge.com> and the “Inside Edge” monthly e-newsletter. Martin will present “Finesse Fishing” and “Bass Fishing Seasonal Patterns” seminars on Feb 12-14 at the Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank.
Mark Menendez has spent the past 17 years earning the reputation of a warrior on tour. His career earnings of more than $600,000 along with success in individual tournaments and season-long point standings are testament to his passion and skill for competition. Menendez will present “Cold Water Strategies Suspending Jerkbaits & Crankbaits” seminars Feb 7-9 at Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank.
Rod Bates—“River Walleye Tactics” & “Bass Fishing Seasons and Patterns” February 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 & 14
Frank Angelo—Fly Fishing Demonstration—Daily
Dusty Wissmath—Fly Fishing Demonstration—Daily
Other Seminars
Albert Wutsch, Director of the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Academy of Culinary Arts, will again share his butchering skills during daily deer butchering sessions. Sessions will include: fabricating one side of a hanging carcass; breaking down carcasses into sub primal cuts; fabricating cuts into steaks, roasts, stir fry, butterfly and other cuts. Wutsch’s presentations were some of the most popular seminars at last year’s show.
Rick Fetrow, a professional butcher, will teach attendees how to make homemade sausage, bologna and jerky during twice-daily seminars.
Tim Flanigan will present a daily seminar on “Tips for Successful Outdoor Photography.” Flanigan has been shooting wildlife photos for the print media for more than thirty years with photo credits in numerous books, magazines, newspapers, greeting and post cards, calendars, travel brochures, phone books and advertisements. His photography can also be seen on the covers of the Pennsylvania Game News Magazine and their annual calendar.
Daily Attractions
Randy Oitker thrills and amazes crowds by shooting 5 arrows and hitting 5 individual targets at a distance of 41 feet with one shot. Oitker’s performs many of his favorite tricks lying on his back and holding his bow like a crossbow while using lifesavers as targets. Oitker is a two-time North American Bowhunters World Champion, three-time NABH Shooter Of The Year, and has won 17 national titles.
Lion Country Supply will teach you how to have a better relationship with your dog, both at home and in the field. From puppy hood through finished bird dog, Lion Country Supply will teach the basic skills and techniques to get the most out of your hunting experiences with your dog.
Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank
Bass Pro Shops Hawg Tank, sponsored by Bass Pro Shops is 53-feet long and holds 6000 plus gallons of water and an array of hungry large-mouth bass. Come and watch as local and national fishing experts demonstrate the latest in fishing tackle as well as the most popular and effective ways to land the big ones. Seminars will be conducted several times daily.
Special Attractions
Ward Burton an all-time great NASCAR driver and “Full Throttle” conservationist is coming on February 10 & 11. Ward Burton made the NASCAR Cup series in 1994, and today is considered one of the all-time best in NASCAR, with five Nextel Cup racing wins under his belt, including the coveted 2002 44th Daytona 500 Champion title. But, it may be his work as a conservationist that many see as his greatest and most-lasting achievement. Burton and his foundation, The Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation (www.twbwf.org), are pioneers in environmental education and advocacy, resource protection, and habitat restoration. He has dedicated his life to giving back to the next generation our natural resources.
Raptors Up Close, a program designed for all ages to educate and teach conservation through an entertaining demonstration with live birds of prey, will present demonstrations on February 9-13. “Raptors Up Close” is filled with visually exciting displays illustrating the power, skills, and beauty of raptors including owls, falcons, hawks and other birds of prey.
Taste of the Great Outdoors
On Tuesday, February 10, from 5 to 7 PM, students from the culinary school at Harrisburg Area Community College will present a variety of delectable game and fish recipes in the Small Arena to the hundreds of attendees who can’t wait to sample unique game recipes and learn new cooking techniques from cooking professionals. During the event over a thousand free samples will be consumed.
The Toyota Behind the Wheel Adventure
This is the first time that Toyota is bringing the highly acclaimed consumer ride and drive to the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show. Known formerly as the Toyota Trucks Off Road On Site Adventure, the overall look and feel of the program has been completely refreshed – from the name of the program to the logo, to the vehicle displays. While the theme has changed, the core draw remains the same: show attendees can get behind the wheel and test drive a Toyota 4×4 Tundra, Tacoma & FJ Cruiser on a challenging off road course built with hundreds of tons of dirt and rock. There is no additional fee to drive or participate in the event. The Toyota Behind the Wheel Adventure will be open Feb. 7 from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm, and Feb. 8 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The event site utilizes approximately 60,000 square feet, including the course, registration tent and vehicle displays.
Other entertainment includes:
- Keystone Regional Duck Calling Contest
- Duck Decoy Painting Contest
- Northeastern States Elk Calling Contest
- Dog Training Demonstrations
- Turkey Calling and Owl Hooting Contest
- Rocky Mountain Elk Tour
- Knife & Tomahawk Throwing and Contest
- Professional Taxidermy Display and Contest
- Amateur Wildlife Photography Display and Contest
- Antler Scoring
- PA Bowhunter Competition
- Decoy Float Contest
- Hunter-Trapper Education
- Capital City BASSMASTER Casting Kids®
Show Dates & Times
- Sat. Feb. 7 10 am – 7 pm
- Sun. Feb. 8 10 am – 5 pm
- Mon. Feb. 9 10 am – 7 pm
- Tues. Feb. 10 10 am – 7 pm
- Wed. Feb. 11 10 am – 7 pm
- Thur. Feb. 12 10 am – 7 pm
- Fri. Feb. 13 10 am – 7 pm
- Sat. Feb. 14 10 am – 7 pm
- Sun. Feb. 15 10 am – 5 pm
Discount tickets and FREE parking and shuttle services to the Show and back will be available at Bass Pro Shops in Harrisburg.
For more information, or to order tickets online visit our web site at www.easternsportshow.com.