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I usually skip these shows, but i'm in dire need of some light-warm-wicking-breathable turkey hunting layers (if such clothing is even manufactured lol) so I'm going to check it out when doors open on Friday.
Hoping most of the serious vendors (not including the overpriced gun traders here) are set up by then.
Who else is going and what are you hoping to find?
I'll be there measuring antlers. Stop by and say hello!
I'll be working with some good friends at their set up. We usually sell a pile of guns there, in fact I think last spring we sold 75 if remember right. Saturday is always very busy. I am hoping to catch a bit of the calling competitions there too.
were is this show DUTCH
Stopped in quickly tonight on my way back to Ottawa. Wasn't terrible, even though many vendors weren't set up yet.
Managed to get the waterproof/wicking shell I needed for turkey hunting, so that's good. 1st night of the show and clothing sellers were falling over themselves to knock the price down. It was regular $140 in store, stickered down to $100 for the Carp show... and ended up getting it for $80, taxes inc. I can only imagine the peanuts retailers buy this crap for.
Firearms and accessories were a different story. Not one seller would budge on a price. There was a nice used tikka ss laminate .243 that I was interested in, but the guy was asking $745 for it and wouldn't drop a penny. That's $100 more than I can get a brand new one for at SAIL.
Carp, Ontario. 15 mins west of Ottawa.Quote:
Originally Posted by dutchhunter
I stopped in tonight. There were less vendors at the gun show than usual. I found a nice Remington model 1100, but the seller was asking a little too much and wouldn't budge.
I hope I win the Beretta over-under that the Grenville fish and game club is raffling off. That would make my day. I was speaking to the guys from the club, and I think I might join. It sounds like they have a nice set up.
My dad is heading there, with instructions to get me some gobblestalker calls.
Hey Rick it was nice chatting with you again. What was the final score on that non typical velvet rack you were measuring?Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick Teal
The picture I took did not turn out good so I will let you post some of yours.
Another good turn out at the Carp show judging by the crowd of people inside and the hundreds of half tons lining up the area side streets.
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r...a/IMG_0116.jpg
Some friends have posted videos of the Goose calling competition going on today, Just now on Facebook, wish i could have gone.
Will be heading there tomorrow... Maybe pick up a few items for turkey season and mainly to check out some of the Big Bucks
Just got back from there, not bad this year. I have found its getting more about the hunting now. Without ed from Paddletails there isn't much fishing gear other than the other larger store and small booths. Did anyone even see the Boaters Card booth this year? That Hunting Store had quite the impressive gun selection there, more than I remember them having at their store. I'll have to drive out to Richmond and check them out again.
It was alright... A little underwhelming. A few booths had a nice selection of guns/turkey stuff. Highlight for me was seeing that MASSIVE set of sheds at one of the turkey booths.
Big Buck Contest had like 7-8 bucks?
I wish the area had a much bigger/better outdoors show every year... Is there an appetite for it in this area?
My dad and brother picked up a bunch of stuff, including some Gobblestalker calls for me :)
No. Eastern Ontario is a fairly small hunting population so there's little justification for spending tons of $$$ on a high-end show. Also, the organizers know that most of the hunters in the area will show up and pay the entry fee even if the show is usually crap.Quote:
Originally Posted by Legend Killer
I think with the increasing popularity of turkey hunting, coyote hunting and the possibility of the spring bear hunt returning the hunting component of the show(s) will continue to improve.
I was at the Renfrew one and saw no need to go to the carp one, I am planning on hitting all of the mom and pop shops around Eastern Ontario once the tax refund comes in though :)
I ended up going and it was decent . I picked up a Mosin Nagant for cheap
"not bad this year"..."It was alright"..."it was decent".......Holy Crap, on this forum that's HIGH praise !!!! :)
There, I fixed it for you ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Are you kidding me? Small hunting population? Maybe that's true in the big smoke but here in the sticks here it's sort of a big deal. Hit a Timmies in October at 4:00AM and see the trucks and trailers full of us heading to the fields for goose hunting. Heck, here in Lanark County during the first week of November it is a ghost town when we move into deer camps. Many small businesses close that week.Quote:
Originally Posted by Oddmott
This is what I was thinking Oddmott, whenever I am visiting/hunting with the family the area is crawling with hunters.Quote:
Originally Posted by RideauOutdoors
It is a big deal. Even Costco had a booth there..lol. My son wanted to sign up for a membership but their wireless interact machine would not work properly even after stepping outside with it so too bad! so sad!..... they lost a sale......lol
OddMott must be a little out of touch with what is happening outside of the suburbs of Ottawa :)Quote:
Originally Posted by RideauOutdoors
Hunting in the Ottawa Valley is a big deal...just look at how many gun shows this area hosts compared to the western side of the province. It always amazes (pleases) me how much 'orange' you see driving around the Kemptville/ Smith Falls/ Perth areas when the season opens.
They don't quite close down all the schools for 2 weeks in November, but very few people actually attend, ha ha.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
You get funny looks not wearing orange around Kemptville in November and weird looks for wearing it when you get back into Ottawa.
Who said a word about big or small deal? Hunting is a big deal - to hunters.Quote:
Originally Posted by RideauOutdoors
I said the hunting population of eastern ontario is small. And it is. You're talking about less than 1.9 million people total, of which less than 11% hunt. That's still a very high percentage compared to the rest of Canada (of which less than 7% hunt), but you're only talking about 200,000-ish hunters spread out over a MASSIVE geographical area.
Factor in that many are:
- too old to bother traveling to an hour+ distant show
- too well equipped to need to attend a show
- too busy to attend a show
- too fair-weather to attend a show
- too broke to attend a show
And you quickly whittle your prospective attendee-base down.
The same 6 small shows are attended by mostly the same small population base. The guy who goes to Eganville's, goes to Perth's, goes to Petawawa's, goes to Carp's, etc... A bigger, better show makes no sense to show managers. They'd spend a fortune and only attract another 1000 or so hunters.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
Why would anyone do one monster show with significantly increased costs, if it means you wouldn't (because you can't) attract a similarly significantly increased crowd?
Quote:
Originally Posted by TurkeyRookie
I went for a couple hours on Saturday and also picked up a new Gobblestalker box call, those guys are great to deal with. It's my first from them but I will definitely buy more.
i did find the carp show wasnt as good as the past years but maybe it will improve,i also think now just my opinion that the gun table some people were a little too expensive but thats me.I just cant wait till turkey season ,i go in the denbigh area cant wait
what did you find was missing?Quote:
i did find the carp show wasnt as good as the past years but maybe it will improve
We actually measured 22 deer heads (+ 2 moose & 1 bear), however many guys took them back and didn't enter the contest. We ended up with 14 deer in the contest, the best scoring 165 +, and another 163+.Quote:
Originally Posted by Legend Killer
The bear went 20 2/16 which is pretty decent, and one moose measured out at 184 6/8 which is a keeper as well
it just wasnt the same as been before it didnt have alot of outfitters etc usually the guy with the beagles wasnt there etc etc maybe it was just me