Conservation, Family Fun Highlight Michigan’s Outdoorama February 27 to March 2 at Suburban Collection Showplace
OutdoorHub 01.30.14
For more than 40 years, Michigan’s sportsmen and sportswomen have helped make Outdoorama the state’s most popular outdoors event. With over four acres of boats, hunting and fishing equipment, outfitters, conservation organizations and other features this year’s show promises to keep the tradition alive when it comes to town February 27 to March 2 at Suburban Collection Showplace, 46100 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
Michigan is home to more than 1 million hunters and anglers, many of whom reside within an hour’s drive or so of Novi. They will fill the aisles at Outdoorama looking for hot deals on boats and sporting gear, for conservation education that includes nearly 100 free seminars, and for family entertainment and fun. Show patrons can expect to find great deals on fishing and hunting boats, pontoons, kayaks and pleasure boats, marine accessories, docks, lifts, hunting and fishing gear, and camping supplies.
Returning to crowd fanfare are favorite attractions like “Big Buck Night” (Thursday only), “Wildlife Encounters” and “Ultimate Air Dogs” with Milt Wilcox hosting daily demonstrations and weekend competition. For the first time this year Outdoorama patrons may bring their deer, bear, elk and turkey trophies and have them scored for free by Commemorative Bucks of Michigan, and displayed throughout the show for all to see.
Although hunting and fishing are the show’s roots, Outdoorama has long appealed to legions of conservationists who enjoy hiking, camping, boating and canoeing, and who pursue bird watching, wildlife photography and mushroom hunting.
“Outdoorama is the epitome of family fun and conservation all wrapped into one spectacular show,” said Show Producer Henri Boucher. “Hunting and fishing are certainly the foundations of the show, but there truly is something for everyone from opportunities for kids to tie flies, catch trout and experience virtual fishing to opportunities for adults to pick up tips on hunting and fishing and learn the facts about conservation efforts taking place in this amazing state.”
Adding to the show’s broad appeal is the 7th Annual Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, which runs concurrently at Suburban Collection Showplace. Patrons to either event receive free crossover admission.
For those interested in booking an out-of-town adventure, Outdoorama again features dozens of lodges, outfitters, guides and charter boat captains from Alaska to Africa and across North America.
Besides Ultimate Air Dogs, family fun activities include a trout pond with live rainbows, a pellet shooting range, a video fishing simulator, Wildlife Encounters with live native Michigan wildlife, and the Sportsman’s Grill with fried fish all four days of the show.
Dozens of sport clubs and conservation organizations, many of which are MUCC affiliates, will staff booths with volunteers to hand out literature and explain club programs.
Tim Andrus, Fred Abbas, Mark Martin and Jason Herbert will cover several aspects of deer hunting, from creating mock scrapes to hunting during the late seasons, and lead an all-star cast of hunting seminar speakers. Also scheduled to appear are Steve Francis, owner of Country Smokehouse with a demonstration on field dressing, skinning and butchering a whitetail; national turkey hunting authority Seth McCullough; Mark Romanack and his lab Mason with a presentation on dog training, and Ed Spinazzola and Doc Morrow on planting food plots.
Walleye pros Mark Romanack, Mark Martin and Lance Valentine headline the Fishing Academy of veteran speakers that also includes bass pro Wayne Carpenter, fly-fishing expert Mike Schultz, respected author and river-fishing expert Jim Bedford, and full-time muskie guides Mike Pittiglio and Kevin Backus.
Traditional skills expert Jim Miller offers demonstrations on building birch bark canoes and containers, making fire with a wooden stick, and tanning hides the Native American way.
Team Morel wild mushroom expert Theresa Maybrier will be on hand all four days of the show to share techniques for hunting, preserving and preparing the delectable fungi.
The first 500 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 750 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a a K&E Bass Stopper lure from Stopper Lures in Hastings.
The show that celebrates Michigan’s great outdoors is February 27 to March 2. Bring the kids and grandchildren. Show hours are Thursday, 3 to 9:30.; Friday, noon to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; and Sunday, 10 to 5. For more information, go to http://www.Outdoorama.com or call 800-328-6550.
Discount tickets are available at Wendy’s or online at Outdoorama.com
You can also follow late-breaking news and developments at: www.facebook.com/ULTIMATESPORTSHOWTOUR and at www.twitter.com/Outdoorama.
