All of my fellow fishermen, hunters, and outdoor enthusiasts know what it is like this time of the year; when it is too cold to be on the creeks fishing for that monster trout or no wild game is in season besides predators and small game. For these like-minded people, there was the Early Bird Sports Expo, held this past Thursday through Sunday, at the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds.
Approximately 6,000 to 7,000 people were in attendance for the four-day show, which featured hunting and fishing outfitters selling trips across the country, and even to South Africa. Other vendors included those that specialize in ATV and boat sales, game calls, taxidermy, archery equipment, wood and coal stoves, hunting clothing, and even furniture, including a camouflage leather recliner.
The Early Bird Sports Expo features the same variety of vendors as the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show held every February at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, but the one in Harrisburg is much, much larger. The Early Bird Sports Expo is perfect for the outdoorsman who is unable to take an entire day off of work to travel to Harrisburg and battle a large crowd. Those who attended the show were able to enjoy a taste of the outdoors for only $6, while the Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show costs $13 for entrance to the show after paying $8 to park. Anyone that made it past kindergarten knows which outdoor show is cheaper.
One of the vendors at the show was an outfitter who traveled from northern Missouri to promote their whitetail deer and turkey hunt business. This was the seventh year that they were in Bloomsburg for this outdoor show. Despite their whitetail deer hunts ranging from $1,300 to $1,800, they were happy to note that 85 to 90 percent of the hunts they book annually are booked at the Early Bird Sports Expo.
Brave Heart Safaris, an outfitter from South Africa, attends the Early Bird Sports Expo annually with hopes of booking 10 to 12 hunts with attendees in Bloomsburg. The owner of Brave Heart Safaris, Joe Viljoen, noted that they offer not only hunting trips, but also photographic trips. On his land, covering 40,000 acres in the Vredefort Dome, Viljoen has over 20 species of animals to offer for hunting, including cape buffaloes for just $15,000.
"We are not out to just kill animals. Our view is to hunt selectively and conserve," stated Viljoen. He continued, "We hunt to conserve our natural resources."
Scott Gulliver of Gulliver's Taxidermy in Wapwallopen, north of Berwick, was at the show promoting his taxidermy business for the third consecutive year. Gulliver mentioned that he enjoys having a stand at the Early Bird Sports Expo because he is able to get the local business. He also feels this show is more personal and he has a better chance of talking one-on-one with his potential customers.
Of the 10 to 12 vendors that I spoke with on Friday only a couple felt that their business has been impacted by the economy. Bob Makaravage, of R.J. Marine Sales Inc., sells fishing and pontoon boats and was in attendance for the fifth year. He felt that overall business has been good, but because of the economy, banks are giving fewer loans to potential buyers.
Top Calls is one of those businesses that can be found every year in the same spot at the Early Bird Sports Expo. They have attended the show for 15 consecutive years, and they do not intend to stop. Top Calls has something for almost any hunter, from turkey calls to predator calls to turkey feather mounts.
"This show is affordable and overall a better show than the one in Harrisburg. We see the same people every year here in Bloomsburg," said Frank Sutliff, one of the owners of Top Calls, based in Renovo, PA.
On Friday there were four separate seminars throughout the day. In the morning, Tom Austin gave a speech on Pennsylvania collectibles ranging from antique hunting and fishing licenses to old issues Pennsylvania Game News. Early in the afternoon, there was a speaker on forestry management and timber harvesting. In the late afternoon, Joe Viljoen from Brave Heart Safaris gave a speech on hunting in Africa, and Jason Michael wrapped up the day by speaking on hunting turkeys with a bow. Archers provided a form of entertainment for me while I chowed down on a sub from Steph's Sub and they practiced for the Berwick Archery Club Money Shoot.
As I walked through all three buildings, there were raffles upon raffles for guns, bows, hats, and hunting clothing. Other products that were available for sale throughout the show included treestands, personalized license plates and other vehicle accessories, animals carved out of wood with chainsaws, and even vendors selling log homes were in attendance.
"For an avid outdoorsman as myself, the Early Bird Sports Expo is something I always enjoy checking out," said Bloom sophomore Jarred Fry. "They always have everything from the newest bows on the market to the latest in predator calls to some great new fishing tackle and each year it gets better."
Josh Moser, another outdoorsman that I talked to at the expo noted, "One can never go wrong with attending this show. It always gets me in the mood for spring turkey season to get here when I go to the Early Bird Sports Expo after hearing all of the different turkey calls that are available. No lie, they have something for every outdoorsman."
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