It’s the largest outdoor show in Pennsylvania, if not the entire East Coast. The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show (often referred to as the Harrisburg show) is set to open Feb. 2-10 at the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg.
Every year, Reed Expositions, the organizer of the show, attempts to bring in new exhibitors and seminar speakers to keep the long- running show fresh. And this year they’ve accomplished that by featuring over 200 exhibitors showcasing guns, archery, fishing, boating and new this year, a Tactical Gun and Accessories Section in the Wild West Hall.
And it will be easier to navigate the massive show floor with color-coded halls, an on-line pre show mapping program plus a mobile phone app.
Returning to the show will be the Sportsman’s Shop Gun Alley featuring more firearm manufacturers, gun reps and retailers such as Ruger, Thompson/Center Arms, Benelli, Stoeger, Smith & Wesson and new exhibitors Cross Canyon Arms and LHR Sporting Arms. According to Chris O’Hara, Event Director, LHR will be unveiling their first rifle at the show.
Expanded too will be the annual calling contests that features the 22nd Annual Northeastern States Elk Calling Contest (Youth & Adult), Owl Hooting, five divisions of turkey calling to include a new Youth Intermediate Division, Pennsylvania’s 3D Bowhunters Challenge & Keystone IBO Indoor Nationals shooting contest, SRWA’s Gunning Decoy Contest, a Taxidermy competition plus the annual Photography Contest.
In addition, there will be dog-training demo’s, Chris Brackett’s Archery Trick Shooting show, “Taste of the Great Outdoors” sponsored by the NWTF plus their DART Electronic Shooting Range and the Kids Trout Pond.
Children ages 7-14 are invited to participate in the Capital City BASSMASTER Casting Kids Contest held both Sundays of the show in the Maclay Street Lobby. Kids can learn the basics of fishing and about the environment. And the winners of this contest will advance to the PA Finals of the Casting Kids competition with each receiving a goodie bag donated from sponsors and exhibitors at the show.
As for this years seminar schedule, the show has lined-up a host of popular personalities that include top fishing pro’s Mark Menendez, Tommy Skarlis, John Hansen and local fishing guides Blaine Mengel, Rod Bates, Frank Angelo and Darrel Gesford to give tips on fishing local waters.
For hunters, Vicki and Ralph Cianciarulo, Lee and Tiffany Lakosky are popular deer hunting TV show hosts plus veteran hunters Barry and Gene Wensel, Larry Weishuhn, Stan Potts, Fred Eichler, Matt Morrett, Alan Probst and Abner Drunkenmiller, avid predator hunter (who was at Cabela’s recently for his standing room only predator hunting seminar).
For waterfowlers, Sean Mann, who is a goose calling champion and who finished in the top five in the world twelve times, will be on hand to talk goose hunting. Special guest Jamie Gray, who is the U.S. Gold Medalist in the 50m three-position rifle competition, will be on hand to meet and greet showgoers.
Some other highlights you may want to look out for include iScope, a Smartphone scope adapter that allows users to see a full screen view of what you’d normally see through your scope; Wild Evolution’s unique “Little Runt” turkey decoy; Beavertail and Duck Water Boats will display their latest duck boats and blinds; Icehole Coolers will be selling their made in USA, military grade coolers; Gatorskins will have their cold weather hunting apparel; while Golden Valley Enterprises will display their food plot planting equipment.
For a complete listing of exhibitors, special discount tickets, seminar speakers and show times, check www.easternsportshow.com. And to automatically receive outdoor news and views from Nick Hromiak, click on the “Subscribe” notation on this page.
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