Outdoor show returns

January 22, 2012
By DON WILLIAMS , For The Leader Herald

We live in "outdoor" country - the best of woods, waters, valleys and mountains surround us. Fishing, hunting, hiking, camping, skiing, skating, swimming, boating and snowmobiling fill the lives of Adirondack residents and visitors, alike. Sport shows, swap meets, contests, club meetings and other "outdoor" events provide information, fun and gathering places for participants. When we count our blessings, Adirondack connections should fall in the top 10.

One major annual event for those who love what the out-of-doors has to offer is scheduled for Feb. 18 and 19 at the Johnstown Moose Lodge. The Adirondack Outdoorsman Show, now in its seventh year, continues to attract vendors and outdoor enthusiasts to the two-day event. Promoter Mike Hauser of Twin Cities Sports Promotions has put together the right formula for a successful gathering, year after year.

The 2012 Adirondack Outdoorsman Show will attract hikers, fishermen, hunters, boaters, campers, and hundreds of others who love the out-of-doors and the Adirondacks. Attending the annual show has been known to drive away some of that wintertime cabin fever. The vendors and exhibitors will again feature a long list of outdoor related interests including snowshoeing, guiding, taxidermy, collectables, firearms, books, wildlife art, and Adirondack furniture, among others.

Each year, the Outdoorsman Show features current authors or outdoorsmen of note. The 2012 show will include author Don Wharton with his recent book, "Adirondack Sportsman's Reader." The "Bone Man," Sy Lloyd, will be there, and fly rod creator, Doug Moody, will build his Bark Eater Bamboo Poles.

Some 60 booths will fill the Johnstown Moose Hall on Route 30A for the two days, open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Raffles, gear and equipment giveaways are a part of each day's events. Attendees will see such outdoor-related goods as archery gear, gloves, tools, game meat antiques, solar power, log cabin information, traps, outdoor vehicles, and who knows what else - it is an all-inclusive outdoor show with quality vendors and exhibitors.

Doug Moody, one of the guests at the show, has been making bamboo fly rods for more than 20 years. Forester Don Wharton, who has made previous appearances at the show, returns this year with his third outdoor book. There is a "skeleton in the show;" the Bone Man, Sy Lloyd, will be sharing his bone study display that has appeared far and wide. A record Brook Trout, art work of note, and outdoor books will be brought to the show by wildlife artist, writer, educators, designer, and NYS fishing record holder, Tom Yacovella. Outdoor writer Dan Ladd, another repeater at the show, has compiled his newspaper articles in his latest book.

And, if you want to know more about the Adirondack Outdoorsman Show, check out the www.adkshow.com; you might find a 2008 article that I wrote on the tradition of the Adirondack outdoor shows-"the Show must go on!"-I'll be there.

Where can you find beef jerky, the Walleye Wizard, Aurora fire starters, the Deer Doctor, Chainsaws fish mitts, Daniel Boone Log Homes, elk meat, a game sled and other outdoor items of interest all in one place at one time?

Well, at the annual Adirondack outdoorsman ahows, of course.

The annual local show, hosted recently at the Moose Lodge between Gloversville and Johnstown on Route 30A, celebrated its third year.

And a second, expanded show, is now planned for Sept. 13 and 14 at the Concordia Club in Gloversville.

Adirondack sportsman shows have enjoyed a long history, providing outdoor information to generations of those who love the out-of-doors.

Madison Square Garden once hosted big outdoor shows featuring the Adirondack guides of yesteryears.

I once visited with Adirondack hermit Noah John Rondeau, in the 1940s Amsterdam Sportsman Shows.

Adirondack shows take place in such locations as Lake Placid and Saratoga, as well as in some of the smaller settlements. Bigger shows are conducted regularly in Edison, N.J., Altoona, Pa., and Suffern.

The shows provide a profitable outlet for the sharing of information, products and activities for hunters, fishermen, hikers, campers, tourists and others with outdoor connections.

One of the off-shoots of the Outdoorsman Show is the opportunity for those with like interests to get together.

Stories are told, information exchanged, and old friends reunited at the gatherings.

While there, promoting my Adirondack books, I got to talk with lifelong friends, Adirondack old-timers, former students, and those who wanted to meet an “author.”

The feedback I get from those who have read this column for the past 18 years makes the effort worthwhile and keeps me going (at my age).

Thanks for the many kind words.

The next Adirondack Outdoorsman Show to be conducted in September will feature a series of seminars, adding to the offerings of the gathering. Search and rescue, Iditarod racing, deer/turkey calling, boat building, and fly fishing, are among some fifteen seminars planned.

A special bowhunters archery shoot will be offered with cash prizes.

An Adirondack Art Show featuring guest artist, Karen Hauser, will take place at the site on the same weekend.

The New York State Trekkers will set up an 1800s campsite and the Wildlife Museum will display their record Whitetail Deer mounts.

It promises to be a premier show, well-worth saving the date and planning to attend.

New York state sportsmen have been on the front lines for years protecting the environment and sustaining populations of wildlife, fish, and birds.

The outdoor shows, bringing together commercial exhibitors and outdoor performers and enthusiasts, raised funds and awareness over the years for “the propagation and protection of fish and game.”

It was a great way to introduce thousands to the Adirondacks and the outdoor benefits and the shows serve as a focal point for a wide range of outdoor sport comings and goings.

When I attended the Sportsman Show in Amsterdam as a youngster, it opened up a new world for me.

How else would I have memories of Noah John Rondeau, the hermit?

Where would I have the opportunity to hear the country music from “Slim Devoe and his Bark Peeelers” or the “Lumberjack’s Hoe-Down Band,” who “played ’em as they learn ’em?”

I never would have heard of “Polly and her Plowboy” hillbilly band if I had not attended the show.

Other Adirondackers were introduced to my life at outdoor shows including “Pants” Lawrence, Jacques Suzanne, Arch Tabor, Watson Arnold, Ed Arsenalt, William and Clayton Edwards, Clark Johnson, Robert and Elmer Dampier, among other lumberjacks, dog trainers, fishermen and hunters.

The outdoor shows are great gathering places.

In my estimation, there can never be too many Adirondack shows; it is a big region with a vast history and offerings.

And sharing the Adirondacks will keep us in touch with the great out-of-doors, so essential to our well-being.