Hoopengarner on Outdoors
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Sportsmen shows take center stage
It hardly seems possible that the eighth annual Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show will open its doors Friday through Sunday at TRAC in Pasco.
The smoke hasn't even cleared from the last volleys of the 2000-01 waterfowl hunting season, and already the parade of sportsmen shows are beginning.
Bev Shuyler - who along with her husband Merle operates Shuyler Productions in Selah, which is putting on the three-day Tri-City event - admits the timing could be better.
"Scheduling is always a problem. January is a tough month because there are all sorts of conflicts, such as the waterfowl hunting season, Super Bowl and other sportsmen shows," she said.
Despite the logistics, Shuyler is optimistic Tri-City sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts will show up in good numbers.
"Last year, we had 8,000 people attend. Our Central Washington Sportsmen Show at Yakima's SunDome drew 10,000, and we'd sure like to see that in the Tri-Cities." The Yakima show is Feb. 23-25.
For Mid-Columbia sportsmen, the Tri-City show will offer a gaggle of perennial favorites, including a kids fishing pond and air rifle range, sponsored by the Richland Rod and Gun Club, a kids' casting contest and an archery range. The popular indoor 3-D archery shoot is sponsored by Colyak Bowhunters.
Also returning this year is the turkey calling contest. The National Wild Turkey Federation is sponsoring the calling contest Saturday in the seminar room.
This year's show also features the return of Stan Fagerstrom, known to many as the "Master Caster," demonstrating his amazing trick casting skills on Saturday and Sunday.
Another well-attended event is the Bassmaster Casting Contest for Kids, sponsored by the Tri-Cities Bassmasters. The event, open to boys and girls ages 7 to 10 and 11 to 14, allows youngsters to test their casting, pitching and flipping skills and possibly earn a chance to represent Washington at the Bassmaster's Classic in Greensboro, N.C., later this year. The casting contest is Saturday and Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m.
For big-game enthusiasts, there will be an impressive collection of trophy animal heads from Washington, Oregon and other western states.
Beyond the popular yearly events, the show will include a slew of exhibitors, taxidermists, wildlife art, boats, ATVs and fishing and hunting guides, as well as daily hunting retriever demonstrations by the Sage and Sand Retriever Club members.
New this year is a one-time admission price of $6.50 for adults, $3.50 for children 6 to 12 and no charge for children 5 and under. Bev Shuyler said showgoers can knock $1 off of Friday's admission by cutting out a discount coupon in Thursday's Herald.
Another bonus is free parking.
Tri-Cities Sportsmen Show hours are from 1 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
If you still crave more, the Washington Sportsmen's Show sets up camp at Puyallup's Western Washington Fairgrounds from Jan. 24-28.
Headlining the show is Ray Scott, the Alabama native who founded the Bass Anglers Sportsmen Society. Scott will be talking bass and signing copies of his biography, Bass Boss on Jan. 26-27.
Show hours are from 1 to 9 p.m. Jan. 24-25, 1 to 10 p.m. Jan. 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Jan. 27 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on "Super Bowl" Sunday.
Admission is $8 for adults, with juniors (6 to 16) admitted for $5. Children under 6 are free when accompanied by an adult.
Wrapping up the winter show schedule is the 41st annual Big Horn Outdoor Adventure Show on March 15-18 in Spokane.
This year, turkey hunting and safety seminars will be featured, along with the show's guest speaker, Jim Zumbo, hunting editor for Outdoor Life magazine.
The show also features three indoor lakes stocked with more than 7,000 trout, air rifle range for adults and kids, a climbing wall, archery range and an impressive collection of trophy big-game heads. Ticket prices are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and military personnel with children under 12 are admitted free. Hours are from noon to 9 p.m. March 15-16, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 17, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. March 18.
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