Take Your Pick: 2016 Great American Outdoor Show Preview

by
posted on February 6, 2016
** 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_2016_preview.jpg

Reasons to visit central Pennsylvania in the dead of February: rabbit hunting (there are a few windy weeks left in the season); ice fishing (your fingers probably won’t stay frozen forever); and testing your four-wheel drive (not just in snow but ice, too). If none of these causes you to jump off the couch and enter winter-warrior mode, consider booking the elk hunt of a lifetime; trying the trigger on Smith & Wesson’s new pistols; getting expert advice on decoy spreads; and celebrating your Second Amendment freedoms—all at one place, at one time. No matter what gets you into the field, on the range or on the water during the warmer months, the Great American Outdoor Show, held in Harrisburg, Pa., has it covered in February.

Presented by Outdoor Channel, the Great American Outdoor Show runs nine full days, Feb. 6-14. NRA produces the largest outdoor sport show in the world to include more than 1,100 exhibitors that fill nearly 15 acres of floor space at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex, showcasing firearms, bows, hunting gear, fishing tackle, tents, boats, ATVs, artwork and more. There is an entire hall devoted to outfitters, as well as a Family Fun Zone, an air gun range and a trout fishing pond for the kids. Learn a new whitetail tactic at one of the daily seminars, spend a rowdy Saturday night with NRA Country artist Justin Moore, and support the future of our outdoor traditions through raffles, auctions and The NRA Foundation Banquet. All told, there are plenty of reasons to make the Great American Outdoor Show your top destination in February.

For more information and to buy tickets, go to GreatAmericanOutdoorShow.org.

Latest

Photo 03 Ammo On Buffalo
Photo 03 Ammo On Buffalo

Behind the Bullet: .450/400 3” Nitro Express

Among the lot of Nitro Express cartridges—a term coined by James Purdey to compare the power of these cartridges to a locomotive and newly loaded with smokeless powder—the .450/400 3” N.E. represents one the best blends of hunting power and ease of shooting. Curious? Read on, as Phil Massaro goes in-depth on this classic, though esoteric, favorite.

TriStar Arms to Exhibit at 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

TriStar Arms will exhibit at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits, taking place April 17–19, 2026, in Houston, TX. Attendees are invited to visit TriStar Arms at Booth #3103 to explore the newest firearm offerings and learn more about the brand's continued commitment to the shooting sports community.

New for 2026: Left-Handed Ruger American Gen. II

Ruger has introduced left-handed models of the Ruger American Rifle Generation II. The first of these models will be released in the Ranch configuration, with six chamberings available: 7.62x39mm, 450 Bushmaster, 400 Legend, 350 Legend, .300 Blackout and 5.56 NATO.

New for 2026: Swhacker #307 Mechanical 2-Blade Broadhead

Swhacker Broadheads has launched its #307 100-grain Mechanical 2-Blade Broadhead. This latest addition to Swhacker's lineup promises precision engineering with reliable deployment, coupled with accuracy and devastating field performance.

Keys to the Eastern Turkey Hunt

A turkey is a turkey regardless of subspecies, sure, but best hunting tactics often vary depending on geographical location due to the birds’ varying behavior. Translated, killing turkeys back East is different than killing them out West. Check out some Eastern-specific tips below, and stay tuned for a follow-up targeted at our Western readers.

Montana and Utah Celebrating 125th Anniversaries

Two 125th Anniversaries are occurring this year, the first being for the entire Montana FWP, and the second being a key piece of property in the history of the Utah DWR.

Interests



Get the best of American Hunter delivered to your inbox.