NRA’s Great American Outdoors show in Harrisburg

With our hunting seasons finally winding down (late deer season here ended on Saturday, Jan. 26, while Canada goose season closes on Jan. 31) and insufficient “hard water” in our area to accommodate ice fishing aficionados, what are we outdoorsy types to do? The answer comes in the form of our upcoming show season featuring outdoors and boat shows set to hit town soon.

And the first of these is the biggest, baddest dog of the breed – the National Rifle Association’s 2019 Great American Outdoor Show scheduled to open this Saturday, Feb. 2, with a nine day run through Feb. 10 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. With the demise of the Greater Philadelphia Sports Show held for years in Oaks, the NRA’s extraordinary extravaganza is now the only such event within reasonable driving distance of our area. Of course, as the biggest and best of all American outdoors shows, this exposition is well worth the drive, so let’s take a closer look.

At its heart this show features firearm manufacturers, hunting and fishing outfitters, fishing tackle, boats, RVs, archery, and fun-filled events for the entire family. More than 1,100 exhibitors fill nine halls and cover 650,000 square feet, making the Great American Outdoor Show the largest consumer sports and outdoor show in the world. This year’s show will feature a jam-packed schedule of events and attractions —including the 3D Bowhunter Challenge, Dock Dogs competitions, celebrity appearances, more than 200 seminars, wild game cooking demonstrations, activities just for kids, an NRA Country concert, and much more.

New additions to this year’s edition include chainsaw demonstrations that turn bare wood into sculptured art, a daily Henry Gun Giveaway, and promotions for the NRA’s awardwinning and totally free Hunter Education online course designed to help new hunters of all ages learn how to be safe and responsible members of the hunting community through stateof-the-art, comprehensive online instruction. One highlight of the event is the NRA Country Concert slated for Feb. 9. It’s an annual favorite that this year will feature Grammy-nominated star Lee Brice and special guests Easton Corbin and Tyler Farr for epic night of music and celebration of the outdoors lifestyle.

Other enduring attractions of this show include the PA Taxidermy Association Competition (Feb. 2-6) where members of the PA Taxidermy Association, both professionals and hobbyists, can showcase their best work to thousands of people each day. Spectators are welcome to come by and see this amazing display of talent in the Large Arena.

Another favorite is DockDogs (Feb. 2-6) which features sensational high-flying canines in the Large Arena. Anyone who thinks their four-legged companion has what it takes to compete in one, two, or all three of the DockDogs events is eligible to participate.

While this show is heavily weighted toward firearms and hunting, fishing is still a significant aspect as evidenced by the Kids Casting Contest (Feb. 2-3 & 9-10) where young anglers ages 7 to 15 are welcomed to learn how to cast, pitch and flip a fishing rod from Pennsylvania Bass Federation volunteers, and then compete in a friendly contest. Every child participating will receive a rod and reel, and winners proceed to the PA State cast-off.

Family friendly attractions include the Eddie Eagle Kids Zone with fun interactive activities for the kids including coloring stations, wildlife identification, face painting, the basketball court and more. Then there’s the NRA Air Gun Range that features a 15-meter indoor air gun range, reactive targets like spinning metal plates, animal silhouettes and even lollipops. Air guns are provided and NRA Range Safety Officers are there to provide tips and guidance. The NRA Range Experience in the Hunting Outfitter Hall is a special area where families and youth can come together and enjoy learning how to shoot airsoft guns at various stations including Airsoft Rifle, Airsoft Pistol, and a 2-Gun Range of both Airsoft Rifle and Pistol.

For firearm enthusiasts, the NRA Foundation’s ever-popular Wall of Guns is again in play giving attendees the opportunity to win their favorite of more than 40 firearms on display. Another chance to bid on and win unique firearms, merchandise, and hunts comes at the fundraising Friends of NRA Banquet on Feb. 7 with a special guest appearance by Phil Robertson of Duck Commander.

A mainstay of this show remains the broad roster of seminars and expert presenters it offers. New speakers added this year include whitetail bowhunter Todd Pringnitz with his “Ghost Bucks” seminar; Dr. Grant Woods with hunting strategies and habitat management in his “Growing Deer” seminar; David Blanton with his “Monster Bucks” seminar; central Pa. native Corey Brossman with his “Bowfishing 101” seminar; and Eddie Salter with his “Turkey Calling and Improving Your Success” seminar.

Returning featured speakers include Lee & Tiffany Lakosky, popular hosts of Outdoor Channel’s top-rated, award-winning Crush! They will host Q&A sessions in covering everything from hunting the Iowa whitetail woods and elk out west to farming, filming and food plots. Pennsylvania’s own bowhunting legend Barry Wensel also returns with his “Hunting Whitetails” seminar. Another returning favorite is “Raptors Up Close,” back with seminars designed for all ages, to educate and teach conservation through an entertaining demonstration with live birds of prey. Show dates and times for the show are Saturday, February 2: 9:00am - 7:00pm; Sunday, February 3: 10:00am - 5:00pm; Monday, February 4 - Friday, February 8: 10:00am - 7:00pm;-Saturday, February 9: 9:00am - 7:00pm; and Sunday, February 10: 10:00am 5:00pm.

To purchase tickets to the show or browse the exciting list of events, seminars, exhibitors and more, visit the official website at www.greatamericanoutdoorshow.org. See you at the show!