Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Great American Outdoor Show
Nine-day event in Harrisburg celebrating hunting, fishing and outdoor traditions is now in play
On February 2 crowds of people flocked to Gobbler’s Knob to party in the shadow of Punxsutawney Phil as he forecast an early spring. This week many of those same folks and plenty of others will be flocking to the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg to visit the Great American Outdoor Show (GAOS) which opened on Saturday, Feb. 3, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 11. The nine-day event produced by the National Rifle Association celebrates hunting, fishing, and outdoor traditions treasured by millions of Americans and their families. This gigantic show features over 1,100 exhibitors displaying a vast selection of shooting, fishing, and other outdoor equipment ranging from shooting manufacturers to outfitters to fishing boats and RVs, and from archery to art covering a massive 650,000 square feet of exhibit hall space.
Family friendly attractions at this event include the Pennsylvania Lumberjack Championships, the Hawg Tank with live fishing demonstrations, Dock Dogs, a rock-climbing wall, the kids’ trout pond, and the Eddie Eagle Kid’s Zone among others. Other popular attractions are the NRA Foundation’s Wall of Guns, the 3-D Bowhunter Challenge and the GAOS Spot Challenge — a more traditional archery competition. A night of country music is set for Feb. 10 with country artist Warren Zeiders.
A major draw at this show is the large number of outdoor oriented seminars that run throughout the week. The 2024 GAOS will feature more than 200 seminars from leading outdoors experts covering such topics as hunting, trapping, self-defense tactics and strategies, cooking with wild game, fishing tips from angling experts, and much more. From pro anglers to world champions, the GAOS brings some of the outdoor industry’s best. You’ll have the chance to learn tips and tricks of the trade from these individuals throughout the week.
And for anyone looking to book a hunting or fishing trip, there’s no better place to shop for one than the GAOS. Charter captains and outfitters from all over the world will be on hand to guide you through the services they offer and help you get the best deal possible on your next outdoors adventure. Over the years I’ve booked a number of trips at this show — hunting caribou in Canada, bear hunting in Ontario, Elk hunting in Colorado, chasing pronghorn antelope and mule deer in Wyoming and whitetail in Texas, and fishing for lake trout and salmon on Lake Ontario. I’ve
never been disappointed in the quality of any of those excursions.
Another major highlight of this show is that for the 41st year, the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association (POWA) will host the Sportsman’s Auction at the GAOS. This popular auction, held each year on the last Sunday of the 9-day show, is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 11, from 1-3 p.m. in the Erie Room, located above the Small Arena. I’ve been a member of POWA for over 35 years now, and I help support this auction by donating a half-day, back bay flounder fishing trip in Ocean City, Maryland. If you make it to the auction, feel free to bid on it and plan to catch some fluke next summer!
Funds raised through the annual auction benefit POWA’s Kermit Henning Youth Education Grant program which, for years, has supported student programs designed to get youth outdoors and to teach them about the valuable natural resources available throughout the state. Youth fishing days, nature photography programs, and camps introducing urban middle and high school students to various outdoor activities are just a few of the programs supported by POWA.
In 2023, 14 organizations from around the state shared in $8,900 to help with costs for their programs. To date, POWA has raised and distributed $452,900 to fund youth educational opportunities.
POWA supporting and active members, as well as many of the show’s vendors, donate items and services. Auction items in the past have included guided fishing trips, firearms, hunting and fishing accessories, and artwork. Great American Outdoor Show promoter, the NRA, generously donates space each year at the Farm Show Complex to hold the auction.
In addition to serving as the state’s only professional media organization dedicated to informing Pennsylvanians about the wise use and management of natural resources and outdoor recreation, POWA’s mission includes promotion of outdoor education and increasing awareness and appreciation of our natural resources and outdoor heritage.
The GAOS is now taking place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, 2300 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17110. Show hours are February 3 and February 10, 2024 (Saturdays) 9:00am — 7:00pm; February 4 and February 11, 2024 (Sundays) 10:00am — 5:00pm; February 5 — February 9, 2024 (Monday-Friday) 10:00am — 7:00pm. Tickets are $15 for adults ($26 for a two-day pass), $13 for seniors age 65 and over, $9 for children ages 6 to 12 with kids age 5 and under admitted free with a paying adult. For more information check out their website at greatamericanoutdoorshow.org.