Made it to the show today and was in a hurry to see who was and was not there. Many of the long visiting vendors are still coming. Some new ones and some returning ones.
I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking to Mark Sullivan who did the show man years ago and he stated he was glad to be back. He was very busy with long lines wanting to purchase videos and other things offered.
The opener was almost snowed out with over a foot of snow and guess what another storm is coming for Tuesday night and Wednesday with maybe a foot or more. George Carlin is the best weatherman Snow till it stops...
A very large attendance today.
Will be heading back for Thursday and Saturday and Sunday.
Want to catch up with Larry Weishuhn.
Met a couple of AR members and will hope to meet a few more.

http://www.easternsportshow.com/


Mike

Mike,
Sorry I missed you at our booth.
They call you "Elephant Man" , said I missed you and knew exactly who they were talking about. Man it was packed until about 4 pm then it faded fast. I will be back Thurs eve and then rest of show. Maybe see you then.

I just found out what I'm doing next Friday night! Whoop!

My wife and I made it on Sunday after spending Saturday digging out. Crowds were moderate and we had a great time just wandering around.

I spent about 2 hrs Sunday talking with friends and Africian outfitters. It is about the same as always couple of hrs and stick a fork in me as I am done. Maybe because I have gone so many times and nothing changes, but give me Dallas.

Mike,

Cindy, Brandon and I will be there Thursday afternoon hanging around Keerweder's booth #5005 so maybe we can hook up. I agree with Ed that much of it is the same every year but we still have a good time. I'm sure the weather is affecting bookings for all the booths as the turnout has been low at leas two of the days so far.

Paul

Jim and I plan to be there for two days, either Thursday and Friday, or Friday and Saturday. It all depends on how much more snow we get today, and how long it takes us to dig out.

Mike - I am at booth 7824, come by.

I'll be there for the weekend.

Really great show, I just wished it was better organized. I wish they would put the outfitters together by country for the foreign hunts, and by species or region for the domestic ones.

I went last year and you had guys selling mid west whitetail hunts next to guys from Zim next to fly in fishing trips for the Gaspe Peninsula???

I am not complaining, it is a great show and you really need at least 2 days to see and enjoy everything, but that is a lot easier if you can concentrate on the places and species you want to hunt and not have to wade through booth after booth of stuff you have ZERO interest in.

Just my 21/2 cents

Well guys and gals, I will be back Thursday, Friday, Saturday, & Sunday. Will be looking to see all..

Aaron, missed you yesterday, but will stop by.


Mike

quote:

Originally posted by Honkey:

Really great show, I just wished it was better organized. I wish they would put the outfitters together by country for the foreign hunts, and by species or region for the domestic ones.

I thought the same myself, but after looking at the way the vendors are spread out I decided it was intentional to force you to wander around and consider all the options.

I have to say that ths is the worst laid out and confused show I have ever been to. The facility has no hotel attached, only one close, and it has no place to eat or a bar. The whole place feels like you are in a basement somewhere, and seems to be like a huge flea market. I can't express how disappointed I am in this show that brings in more visitors than any other in the country. It is in the Farm Show center, and that is definitely the feeling I get. I hate to be so negative, but I have attended ATA, DSC, SHOT and SCI in the last 30 days, and this show just really blows my mind... The people that are visiting are great, but they all deserve better than this facility and layout.

I personally can't see what the fuss is all about with these shows. I would rather hunt anything, even rabbits, than spend a weekend indoors.

To each his own...

Mike, I plan to be there Sunday - should be dug out by then - with my nephew and his two kids. I'll look for you then.

For those coming into Harrisburg, today may not be the best day. The crowds won't be as big. The snow bunny is delivering another basket of joy. So, I'm putting off until tomorrow.

Bfly

Why go to the sports show. I like to speak to the outfitters and see what they have to offer. I enjoy answering questions for people who are browsing and curious. I enjoy speaking to any of the African PHs and outfitters.
Tim, as for organization You could not put all the hunt outfitters guides in one room. There are too many of them to be in one room. Yes it is an older state owned site with the new fishing arean being the newest part. There is some organization and I will list them: from jthe Main entrance you enter the Fishing & Marina hall Fishing, boats, Charters, Lodges.
Then one enters a hallway and down passing the Powersports hall motorcycles, ATV utility trailers and campers. At the bottom of the long hallway on your left is the Large Arena, Archery Hall & 3D archery range. Coming out of this hall you enter the Northeast hall North Hall , & Northwest Hall working up and down isles to your right it is made up of hunting and Accessories.
Next up is the Wild West Hall hunting accessories/ hunting guides, Small Arena, & East
Hall Game Calls & hunting products.
The you enter the main hall which has all hunting guides, Phs and hunting accessories, Also at the back are the seminar rooms.

But I agree it is a little confusing to a first timer, in fact you can get lost (confused) there. I did a few times.

Mike

Hell, I still do, every year.

quote:

Originally posted by AnotherAZWriter:
I personally can't see what the fuss is all about with these shows. I would rather hunt anything, even rabbits, than spend a weekend indoors.

To each his own...

Couldn't agree more why wonder around a crowded show when one could actually be outside enjoying the outdoors first hand? If someone needs to hang out around booths striking up conversations trying to impress a first timer they need to get a real life.

I can understand that some folks don't enjoy the crowds and being inside.
I've wandered through this and other shows over the years. I've made a few friends that I would never have met any other way. That alone makes it worth it.
Right now, there is not much hunting around here. We have about forty inches of snow on the ground. My knees and back won't let me hobble through that very far. So, I'm going to be inside tomorrow at the show. The strong young bucks can hunt for me tomorrow. Maybe Friday morning I'll go out and try to call some foxes.
Bfly

Interstate 81 S from the interstate 80 crossover in NE Pa. to the Maryland border is closed because of the blizzard.

Mike

Add I78 and I83 to the closed routes.
The Sportsmans Show was closed around lunch time today, as well.

Alas I will miss this fine show for the first time in a while. The friends I usually go with all work in maintenance departments and these snow storms are keeping them busy....and very very tired.

Oh well hopefully next year despite the lack of glitz, glamor, amenities and general chaos of the venue.

quote:

If someone needs to hang out around booths striking up conversations trying to impress a first timer they need to get a real life.

2th doc,

That is my favorite part of these outdoor shows. Meeting new people and hearing their stories. You get alot of valuable info.

The best part of the hunt is story telling around the camp fire....with a few cocktails. I would not call them "impressive", but they sure are exaggerated. Funny too.


dale


dale

Hunt of a Lifetime booth 5008. This is one of the booths I always stop at and AR member EJ Carter & Grant Fritz, they go out of there way to raise money for children who want to make hopefully not there last hunt.
These men are my friends.

http://huntofalifetime.org/

Mike