Final Thoughts at the Great American Outdoor Show 2014

by
posted on February 9, 2014
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
gaos.jpg (8)

undefinedHunters and fishermen often seek solitude. We take to the woods and waters to get away from people and the constraints of society. We look for hidden hollows to hang stands and abandoned farm ponds to cast lines. We avoid crowds and become sick with disappointment when others discover our "secret" spots.

But, as the saying goes, there is strength in numbers. If the crowd filling the halls of the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex on the final weekend of the Great American Outdoor Show is any indication, we are stronger than ever. The tens of thousands of excited attendees flooding the aisles yesterday and today prove that, as much as we may shun other hunters and fishermen while in pursuit of longbeards and largemouths, we relish the chance to get together every now and then to celebrate our passions. And when the things we live for become threatened, we stand united to ensure our beloved traditions are not lost. As a group we boycotted the "Harrisburg show" last year in response to Reed Expositions' anti-gun policies, prompting the former show manager to cancel the event, and as a group we have returned now that NRA and show sponsor Outdoor Channel have brought it back.

Despite the cold, icy weather, we drive for hours and then huddle together in line, awaiting our turn through the doors leading to 650,000 square feet of hunting, shooting, fishing and camping exhibits. In a way, the experience is like deer hunting in December or ice-fishing. Any inconveniences are minor, embraced as part of the deal, because simply being here is worth the effort.

Once inside, we go our separate ways. We have important things to see and do. Maybe we're here as a family, like Keith and Kelly Heasley, who brought their 9-year-old son Sam from their home in West Virginia. Sam shot his first deer last year—a four-point buck—but "the stock of his rifle is just a little too long for him" says Keith. They've come to look at youth rifles and maybe even find a replacement stock with a shorter length of pull for Sam's Remington Model 700.

Or perhaps we've made the trip with a couple buddies—like Tom Neiderer, Luke Puterbaugh and Justin Slusser—not looking for anything specific but knowing a good deal when we see one. "I bought a light for my bow sight," says Puterbaugh, a resident of nearby Gettysburg, Pa. "I couldn't pass it up. That and a stick of bologna. I'm a sucker for it every time." As Puterbaugh bites off another chunk of his meat snack, Neiderer points toward the Fishing Hall, and the group is off to find some lures.

We may even be on a date, like Jordan Reitz and his fiancé Andrea Klemm, both from Smithsburg, Md. The 26-year-old Reitz is already a longtime show attendee, coming here the first time when he was about 10. Klemm is newer to the scene but, dressed in a camo fleece jacket, feels right at home. She likes to hunt turkeys, "because it's warm," but she admits she's here to see Brantley Gilbert at the NRA Country Concert as much as the slate calls and shotguns. Reitz is happy to oblige, noting "there's more guns and shooting-type stuff here this year" for him to see before the music starts.

These are just a few of the many reasons why so many of us come to the Great American Outdoor Show. But the biggest one of all may just be to immerse ourselves in our favorite pursuits, surrounded by our kind of people. In the dead of winter, there's no better cure for cabin fever.

Latest

LEDE S2 Bottomland In 20 Gauge
LEDE S2 Bottomland In 20 Gauge

First Look: Spandau S2 20-Gauge

Spandau Arms, a brand of SDS Arms, has announced that the  Spandau S2 Shotgun is now available in a 20-gauge model in both a Mossy Oak Bottomland and a traditional wood finish.

Count Some Quail, Tally Some Turkeys

The Arkansas turkey season ended in May, but there’s still good reason for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts to keep the birds in mind when they head out to their favorite hiking trail or drive the backroads of The Natural State. Outdoorsmen who scare up coveys of quail are welcome in the survey as well.

2025 Online Firearm Sales Continue to Grow

While nationwide firearm sales have held steady this spring, guns.com is reporting significant growth, surpassing 10-percent year-over-year gun sales growth in the first half of 2025, according to the company's internal data.

#SundayGunday: Henry Special Products Division HUSH

This week on #SundayGunday, we’re checking out the HUSH Series, from Henry’s new Special Products Division, SPD for short.

New for 2025: Federal’s Personal Defense HST .44 Rem. Mag.

Federal Ammunition has recently added a new HST .44 Remington Magnum “Light Magnum” load featuring a specially designed hollow-point bullet, ideal for those seeking HST performance for self-defense with magnum revolvers.

Utah Wildlife Board Updates

The Utah Wildlife Board approved a few new and updated rules, some of which are necessary after recent legislative changes—including the wildlife management area license requirement for certain counties and the new process for regulating hunting guides and outfitters—along with a few other proposals during a public meeting Thursday.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.