Adirondack Outdoorsman Show 2008
Third annual outdoorsman draws crowd to Johnstown Moose
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-Herald POSTED: February 17, 2008

JOHNSTOWN — Tales of the whopper caught and the buck that got away are being shared this weekend at Twin Cities Sports Promotions’ Third Annual Adirondack Outdoorsman Show at the Johnstown Moose Club.

“ We expect 2,000 to 3,000 people over the weekend,” Twin Cities Sports Promotions President Mike Hauser said Saturday.

Saturday’s crowds were steady, as the Moose parking lot overflowed with many outdoors enthusiasts. Show hours continue today from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and the event is geared towards the tastes of avid hunters and fishermen.

“ We’ve been very well received,” Hauser said of the Outdoorsman Show, which also attracts people from throughout New England.

There are 60 exhibits this year featuring items for sale pertaining to outdoors activities and featured guests on hand, Hauser said.

Hauser said that he’s been doing baseball card shows for 18 years, but noticed in recent years this area has even more people interested in hunting and fishing than cards. An avid outdoorsman himself, he said he would never include exhibits and displays in his shows that he doesn’t personally believe are worthwhile and interesting.

“ We get more people every year,” he said. “We get a better selection of vendors each year.”

It took about six months to plan this weekend’s show, Hauser said, and he is already promoting a similar event at an expanded site this fall at the Concordia Club in Gloversville. That will be the fall edition of the Adirondack Outdoorsman Show for hunters, fishermen and boaters Sept. 13-14.

“ We’re running out of room here,” he said, although Hauser added that his company has a wonderful relationship with the Johnstown Moose Club.

Every square foot of the club’s spaces are crammed with displays dedicated to hunting and fishing in the Adirondacks, including one by The Whitetail Club. Inc. of Gloversville. Former Gloversville Fire Chief Steve Santa Maria explained he is a member of the club, which promotes activities such as hunting, snowmobiling, ATV riding, cross-country sking, hiking and snowshoeing.

“ We’re trying to generate some new members,” Santa Maria said. “We want to put up new members.”

Craig Turner of Groton, N.Y., had a popular New York Outdoor News exhibit showcasing replicas of three record fish caught in New York state. They included a 48-pound, 58-inch Northern Pike in 1940 caught by Peter Dubuc on the Great Sacadaga Lake — still believed to be the largest fish of its kind caught in North America.

Turner said Dubuc eventually ate the megawhopper.

Another exhibitor — Captain Dave Burkhart Jr. of Westerlo — is promoting Reel Fun Sportfishing this weekend. He offers salmon and trout charters on Lake Ontario.

“ This is a really good show,” Burkhart said. “We do better here than we do in Albany. These are good friendly people.”

Jody Stuart of Gloversville and his son, John, were checking out the collectors guns at the show Saturday.

“ My friend, Dave, asked me to come out,” the elder Stuart said. “They’re all hunters and fishermen.”

Another showgoer — Carl Edwards of Mayfield — kept a keen eye on the scene.

“ I’m here to see some of the new products that are out and talk to the outfitters,” he said.

At another exhibit for The Gun Shop of Lake Luzerne, Linda Sehlmeyer said the shop has been at the Adirondack Outdoorsman Show all three years.

“ We really enjoy being out here,” she said. “People are looking for 22s and looking for hunting rifles.”

Dennis Dedek of Worcester, Otsego County, represented Iron Skillet Seasonings, which he said has been around since 1993. He served up some tasty food samples sprinkled with his seasonings for game, jerky and breakfast sausages.

“ For a small show, it’s a very good show,” Dedek said.

Longtime Adirondack guide and author Don Williams of Gloversville is on hand this weekend to tell tales and promote his new book, “Adirondack Hotels & Inns,” which is coming out in April. He said the hotel era in the Adirondacks lasted 100 years from the middle of the 19th Century to the middle of the 20th Century.

Williams said he still enjoys these outdoors shows.

“ This is great,” he said. “This is kind of like a hobby for me.”

For more information on this weekend’s show, call Mike Hauser at 725-5565, e-mail http://us.f654.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=mhauser%40frontiernet.net or go online at http://www.adkshow.com./



Michael Anich covers Fulton County and Johnstown. He can be reached at http://us.f654.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=johnstown%40leaderherald.com.