Although I am inundated year round with mail order catalogs hawking just about every conceivable hunting-, fishing-, and military surplus-related product under the sun, those glossy photos of clothing and equipment just don’t compare to the real things.

Don’t get me wrong. I can certainly build a fine wish list by paging through the one hundred plus-page master catalogs and their associated specialty booklets that arrive in my mailbox every six weeks or so. In fact, stacks of catalogs with dog-eared pages can be found throughout my home on nightstands, coffee tables, counter tops, and office desks, but the marked pages and circled items greatly outnumber actual purchases. After all, it’s quite difficult choosing a turkey call when you can’t hear it, a pair of boots when you can’t size them, or a bow when you can’t judge how it feels in your hand.

While I enjoy ‘window shopping’ and making the occasional purchase from catalogs, I would much rather make my hunting and fishing gear purchases in person. Delaware has a handful of reputable outdoors-related stores, and several mega outdoors superstores are within driving distance of all three Delaware counties. I make it a point to support our local supply stores (as you should, too), but I have to admit that I always look forward to paying a visit to the annual Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show.

The Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show is an outdoors enthusiast’s playground, testing ground, fitting room, megastore, networking event, and knowledgebase that makes hunters, fisherman, and campers alike feel like kids in a candy store.

Held at the State Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, this year’s Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show opens Saturday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, February 13. Featuring more than 1,200 vendors, the show is the largest consumer event of its kind in North America, according to the show’s web site. The show, occupying nearly every nook and cranny of the massive Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, draws outdoor sportsmen from all over the Mid-Atlantic region.

The sheer size of the show is overwhelming, and it can even be difficult to peruse every booth in every aisle in every building in one day. Seriously, this show is massive. Not only can you view, test, and/or try on hunting and fishing products directly from manufacturers and retailers, you can also visit with outfitters to research and book hunting and fishing trips; shop for boats, RVs, pick-ups, SUVs, motorcycles and ATVs; and observe or participate in outdoor sports-related educational sessions, autograph signings, game calling contests, archery competitions, and family entertainment offerings.

As a testament to how large the Eastern Sports & Outdoor Show actually is, the show’s web site provides a mobile site and iPhone app that enables web-connected attendees to navigate the show floor via interactive maps, locate new products and show specials, view show schedules and set appointments, and find restrooms and food courts.

For show newbies, arrive early (ticket lines form early, and yes, there is an entrance fee) and plan to stay all day. Fee-based on-site parking is available, and shuttle bus service from a local shopping center is typically available. If you intend on loading up with freebies (promotional materials, giveaway items, etc.) and shopping until your heart’s content, I suggest bringing a large backpack or other bag for carrying your gear. Dress in layers, as temperatures seem to vary from hall to hall, and wear comfortable walking shoes.

For More Information:

www.easternsportshow.com

Hours:

Saturday, February 5              10:00am – 7:00pm

Sunday, February 6                 10:00am – 5:00pm

Monday, February 7               10:00am – 7:00pm

Tuesday, February 8               10:00am – 7:00pm

Wednesday, February 9          10:00am – 7:00pm

Thursday, February 10           10:00am – 7:00pm

Friday, February 11                  10:00am – 7:00pm

Saturday, February 12            10:00am – 7:00pm

Sunday, February 13               10:00am – 5:00pm

Here is a slightly modified version of my column that appeared in The News Journal last week. – SMK

Last week I hunted black bear in northern Maine and didn’t come close to harvesting a bear. In fact, after a year filled with anticipation about black bear hunting, I didn’t even see a bear. While some may complain about five straight days of soaking rain, lost vacation days, twelve-hour drives, or maybe even the lack of television, Internet, and telephone, I will not. To the contrary, I enjoyed every second of the hunt.

Since returning home Saturday, I’ve told my bear hunting story no less than twenty times. Some friends, family members, and colleagues quickly labeled my hunt as boring, a waste of time, or as a failure, which made me realize that many people have a skewed perception of hunting.

To most of us, an enjoyable hunt is not solely defined by the actual harvesting of your quarry. As most hunters will attest, far more time is spent actually ‘hunting’ than ‘harvesting,’ and in more cases than not, hunts end without any shots being fired. Hunters around the globe recognize these odds, but they still choose to hunt season after season. There is absolutely more to hunting than just harvesting an animal.

Firing a shot takes less than second, but the actual act of hunting – the planning, set up, stalking, etc. – can take hours, days, or even weeks. Initial feelings of success can quickly be replaced by feelings of finality since a filled tag can mean the end of a hunting season. What’s more, a filled tag can depress hunters who live for the spirit of the chase rather than the end of the pursuit.

I try to find enjoyment and enrichment in all aspects of my hunting experiences. In the case of my bear hunt, I was obviously disappointed that I saw no bears, but I was ecstatic that I saw several moose roaming free in their natural habitat. Likewise, I appreciated the uncommon sights and sounds of gray jays, red squirrels, and chipmunks that kept me occupied throughout my late afternoon hunts. And, to my surprise, I caught a glimpse of an animal that looked like a cross between a fox and a raccoon (that I later learned was a fisher). Combined with clean air, lack of litter, crystal clear streams and lakes, and the smell of evergreens, the time I spent hunting bear in the Maine woods was great.

As with all of my hunts, the quiet solitude is enough to make me keep coming back to the woods, fields, and marshes. It is amazing how a few hours in the woods can lessen the everyday tension, clutter, and noise caused by jobs, traffic, household chores, and the constant, multi-media bombardment from my iPhone and BlackBerry (yes, I have both). This ability to unplug from the material world and open my mind to nature is one of the main reasons I hunt.

Instead of viewing hunting as a lottery where I play in anticipation of the big pay off, I see it as similar to non-competitive weightlifting, running, or martial arts. Non-competitive weightlifters, runners, or martial artists enjoy their hobbies without winning bodybuilding contests, marathons, or karate tournaments. They train for the sake of training and don’t gauge their enjoyment by societal definitions of success. With hunting, I hunt for the sake of hunting. I love the thrill of the chase and the relaxing solitude of nature. The total hunting experience is what fuels and drives me.

For the record, although I do not base my definition of an enjoyable hunt on harvesting an animal, it doesn’t hurt to get what you’re after every now and then.

2010 Maine Black Bear Hunt

A group of friends and I hunted black bear with Moose Country Guide Service in Stockholm, Maine last week.

Just like the majority of my hunts last year, it rained every single day of our hunt! Northern Maine hadn’t seen any measurable rain in nearly two months, but they received about 4 inches of rain during our bear hunting days last week. Out 0f seven hunters, only one harvested a bear. What’s worse, I and several others, didn’t even see a bear.

Although I didn’t harvest a bear, I enjoyed the hunt. I saw two moose, multiple red squirrels, a fisher, and several species of birds I hadn’t seen before. I saw bear tracks, scratches, and droppings, and I learned a bit about black bear biology and habits.

I spoke with several bear guides in the area. They all were having a tough time due to the rain. I also spoke with a local taxidermist who said relatively few bears were dropped off last week. The poor harvest numbers are definitely out of the ordinary for the area. For the past two seasons, the group of guys I hunted with had 80%+ success rates on bears. Last year 7 out of 8 hunters had shots at bears. I plan to head back up to Maine next year.

For information about bear or moose hunting in extreme northern Maine, contact:

Gary Sweeney
Moose Country Guide Service
gary.sweeney@yahoo.com