Adirondack Outdoorsman Show expands to Autumn
By RICHARD NILSEN, The Leader-Herald POSTED: September 14, 2008

Article Photos
The Leader-Herald/Bill Trojan
Elijah Claus, 2, of Gloversville, goes fishing for magnetic fish at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation booth during the Adirondack Outdoorsman Show at the Concordia Club in Johnstown Saturday.

JOHNSTOWN - There was a little bit of everything at the first fall Adirondack Outdoorsman Show which took over the Concordia Club grounds Saturday on West Fulton Street Extension.

Jim Van Deusen of Johnstown said he liked the show a lot.

"There were a lot of venders and a good turnout," Van Deusen said. "The show was good. We don't have them often enough."

Organizer Mike Hauser said it was the fourth such show he had put on and each one has increased in size, scope and variety.

"This year we had an art show as part of it," Hauser said. "We had 75 interior spaces rented to venders and 25 more outside."

Hauser said some of the highlights of the show included 30 3-D archery stations around the grounds sponsored by Bowhunters Plus of Amsterdam, a trout pond, sponsored by Peck's Lake and the Iditarod Dog Sled demonstration sponsored by Outlaw Dogsleds of Fonda.

"That dogsled demonstration really drew the crowd," Hauser said. "They will do it again [today] at 2 p.m."

Hauser said when the sled dogs were hitched to their summer sleds for the demonstration they "perk right up."

Besides venders, several events were educational and were to encourage youths to get out of the house and away from a computer, Hauser said.

Peck's Lake Resort sponsored a trout fishing pond and Ken Topliff was flipping burgers and hot dogs to benefit the Odyssey of the Mind program at Gloversville Enlarged School District.

The rock climbing wall also was popular with youths at the show.

Dave Anderson of the National Education for Assistance Dog Service was there with his dog, Dakota, and said the non-profit, independent organization supplied service dogs for disabled veterans coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Each dog goes through a two-year training program," Anderson said. "The dogs are valued at $20,000 each but are given free to vets who need them."

Vender Dennis Dedek from Worcester, Otsego County, had his "Iron Skillet" seasonings at the show.

"I sold a lot of seasoning," Dedek said. "I also made a lot of new contacts."

Dedek said his seasonings were specialized for wild game meat.

Leon Cirulnick of Queens was showing off his Bucks-N-Does Human Scent Eliminator products and said he had made many good contacts at the show. He also said he had excellent feedback from visitors.

"It was the first time I got to see many of my customers," he said.

Near the entrance to the park, Jim Petrillo of Earthworks in Vail Mills was showing family name woodcarvings he had made that had never been picked up. He said he could offer a good deal for anyone with the same names.

Hauser said he hadn't had time to do a head-count on visitors to the show Saturday, but was sure it was running well ahead of his last show.

"With so much going on in Johnstown, some thought we wouldn't have a very good turnout," Hauser said. "That didn't turn out to be true."

The show will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at the Concordia Club. Admission is $5 for adults and those less than 21 are admitted at no cost.

The next Outdoorsman Show will be at the Johnstown Moose Club Feb. 13 and 14.

Richard Nilsen is a general assignment reporter and can be reached at [email protected].