NRA’s Hunter Services Division is now accepting applications for the next NRA Great American Hunting and Outdoor Show, to be held at the Carroll County Agricultural Center’s Shipley Arena in Westminster, Md., Jan. 28-30, 2011.
More than half of the available booth spaces for the 2011 show are now filled, with 104 of 200 spaces booked as of June 30. The most current floor plan and exhibitor list is available online at www.nrahuntingshow.org.
The inaugural show, held January 29-31 this year in Westminster, drew a dazzling array of exhibitors that reached thousands of visitors. Among those manning the booths were outdoor retailers, manufacturers, guides and outfitters, custom makers of guns and game calls, fishing charters, conservation groups, shooting preserves, government agencies, taxidermists, topo map dealers, archery tackle suppliers, wildlife artists, and fine knife makers.
Many outfitters were pleased with the number of hunts they booked on-site and inquired about returning for 2011 as soon as the 2010 show ended. Business was good for the manufacturers, too.
“We can’t wait to come back,” said a sales representative from Nosler, Inc.
Other attractions included numerous seminars led by major hunting and TV figures, as well as the Great American Whitetail Collection—40 of the highest-scoring whitetails in existence—and the first NRA/Mason-Dixon Big Buck Contest. Staff from the NRA National Firearms Museum were also on hand, displaying arms such as Dwight Eisenhower’s 20-gauge Winchester Model 21, Tom Selleck’s .45-110 Shiloh Sharps rifle from Quigley Down Under, and Theodore Roosevelt’s .450 double rifle, made by custom gunmaker Fred Adolph.
Visitors also had the chance to learn more about the NRA first-hand at various booths manned by staff from NRA’s Training Department, Women On Target, and Institute for Legislative Action (ILA).
Staff from NRAhuntersrights.org were constantly busy at their booth, answering questions on many issues of concern to hunters in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The Henry .22 raffled off at the booth no doubt accounted for some of the traffic as well.
Commenting on the inaugural event, J.R. Robbins, managing editor of NRAhuntersrights.org, said, “Not only was there a huge diversity of vendors there representing the hunting and outdoor community, it was a superb family event as evidenced by the number of wife-eyed children tagging along with their parents.”
Vendors related to hunting, fishing, and outdoor sports are encouraged to come in 2011. For more information, contact rpeak@nrahq.org or visit www.nrahuntingshow.org.
