February 21 to 24 show features Big Buck Night, Wildlife EncountersFor 40 years, Michigan sportsmen and sportswomen have circled February on their calendars in anticipation of the annual Outdoorama sport show. This year’s show is stacking up to be bigger and better than ever with new attractions and additional seminars geared towards conservation, recreation and education. Michigan’s most popular outdoors event comes to town February 21 to 24 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
Michigan is home to more than 1 million hunters and anglers, most of whom reside within an hour’s drive or so of Novi. They will fill the aisles at Outdoorama while looking for hot deals on boats and sporting gear, for conservation education that includes nearly 100 free seminars, and for family entertainment and features.
Returning to crowd fanfare are favorite attractions like “Big Buck Night” (Thursday only), “Wildlife Encounters”(all 4 days) and “Ultimate Air Dogs” with Milt Wilcox hosting daily demonstrations and weekend competition. New this year is the WOW Whitetail display featuring some of the most famous whitetails of all time including the X-Factor buck, the Hole-in-the-Horn buck and several others.
Although hunting and fishing are the show’s roots, Outdoorama has long appealed to legions of conservationists who enjoy hiking, camping, boating and canoeing, and who pursue bird watching, wildlife photography and mushroom hunting.
“Outdoorama is a great show for the entire family,” said Adam Starr, show manager. “While the heart and soul of the show is certainly hunting and fishing, there is something for everyone from opportunities for kids to have fun and learn about the outdoors to seminars and features on canoeing, mushroom hunting and much more.”
Adding to the show’s broad appeal is the 6th Annual Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, which runs concurrently at Suburban Collection Showplace. Patrons to either event receive free crossover admission. “We’ve kept the admission fee low again this year,” Starr said. “It’s only $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 14. Kids 5 and under get in free.”
For those interested in booking an out-of-town adventure, Outdoorama once again features dozens of lodges, outfitters, guides and charter boat captains from Alaska to Africa and across North America. Show patrons also can expect to find great deals on fishing and hunting boats, pontoons and pleasure boats, docks, lifts, hunting and fishing gear, and camping supplies.
Besides Ultimate Air Dogs, family fun activities include a Trout Pond with live rainbows, a pellet shooting range, free Casting Kids Contest, a video fishing simulator, Wildlife Encounters with live native Michigan wildlife, and the Sportsman’s Grill with fried fish all four days of the show. Premier Animal Attractions is bringing several exotic creatures to the show.
Dozens of sport clubs and conservation organizations, many of which are MUCC affiliates, will staff booths with volunteers to hand out literature and explain club programs.
National turkey hunting authorities Seth McCullough and Greg Abbas lead an all-star cast of hunting seminar speakers. Also scheduled to appear are Steve Francis, owner of Country Smokehouse with a demonstration on field dressing, skinning and butchering a whitetail; Jason Herbert with “Hunting on a Dime;” and Ed Spinazzola and Doc Morrow on food plotting.
Walleye pros Mark Romanack, Mark Martin and Lance Valentine headline the Fishing Academy of veteran speakers that also includes bass pro Wayne Carpenter, fly-fishing expert Mike Schultz, muskie-fishing guides Bob Brunner and Mike Pittiglio, perch-fishing guru David A. Rose and river-fishing expert Jim Bedford.
Traditional skills expert Jim Miller offers demonstrations on building birch bark canoes, making fire with a wooden stick, and tanning hides the Native American way.
Team Morel wild mushroom expert Theresa Maybrier will be on hand all four days of the show to share techniques for hunting, preserving and preparing the delectable fungi.
The Huron Valley Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation will host an open turkey calling contest on Saturday
Terry McBurney from Ada will head up a huge display of collectible gear for outdoor sport. Patrons can bring their artifacts to the show for a free appraisal. There are even vintage boats and collectible outboard motors, thanks to expert Dick VanRaalte from Grand Haven’s Starboard Marine Restorations.
The first 500 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 500 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a free Quick Fillet Tool from Quick Fillet Productions in Plymouth.
The show that celebrates Michigan’s great outdoors is February 21 to 24. Bring the kids and grandchildren. Show hours are Thursday and Friday, 2 to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; and Sunday, 10 to 5. For more information, go to http://www.Outdoorama.com or call 800-328-6550.
Discount tickets are available at Wendy’s or online at Outdoorama.com
You can also follow late-breaking news and developments at: www.facebook.com/ULTIMATESPORTSHOWTOUR and at www.twitter.com/Outdoorama
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