Sportsman Show

[Mattones]

Every year the same people go and say the same thing... "It's horrible" if its been horrible two years in a row why go the following? I haven't gone to one in years and don't think I ever will again.

[fratri]

Well I went down with my son, a couple of brothers and their kids.... We got what we expected, a chance to get out of the house, spend some time together and go for a walk looking at boats, fishing stuff and some odds and ends...
We don't go down there to buy anything, we use the show as an excuse to get together and spend some time together... As an added bonus I got to meet someone I haven't seen in a couple of years working one of the booths...My son got a chance to ride the train, eat some overpriced junk food and buy some silly things that he will never use....
It may not be a good show for an outdoors person but its a good show for a dad to take a kid...

[muskokaguy]

Every year the same people go and say the same thing... "It's horrible" if its been horrible two years in a row why go the following? I haven't gone to one in years and don't think I ever will again.

Fool me once, shame on you.
Fool me twice, shame on me.

[gbk]

I think GRAARG said it all-the times are changing. When I started hunting almost 20 y ago-there was barely any store around here(LeB in Missisauga ,Shooters Choice in Waterloo, Ellwood Epps-then Gagnons in Oshawa)the ones I knew at that time. Now-Sail in Cambridge,Sail,BPS in Vaughan,BPS in Niagar falls,Cabelas in Barrie,and all the other old and tried out ones mentioned above.Then the Internet purhcases from all the above plus Gander Mt-Sportsmans Warehouse-Sportsman Guide etc-etc.......

For Sunday getaway-Yes,for learning,buying and seeing something(especially new or cheap)-likely Nope
Yet- spent several great Sundays there in the past- would like to remember it as such.........

[Redhead]

Im going to check it out on Sunday for something to do with a couple friends from work. Part of why I am going is because I got two free tickets. I usually check out a seminar or two, pick up a few gobblestalker mouth calls and grab some jerky from Carmichaels

Your welcome..

[Waftrudnir]

it's not only end-user shows that go down the drain. also the very few wholesaler, retailer, importer shows like IWA are not what the used to be. at least you can touch all the new products (if you get in). problem is when you have a question. you used to be able to talk to people who knew their stuff, now it's marketing boys fresh from university...

[Waftrudnir]

as mentioned before the reasons why all shows are not what the used to be is the internet, but we all seem to have still the desire to go once or twice a year somewhere; be it to see things in real life or just to be at a place where we think like minded people will go.

sales is not the driver it used to be. are there any events/shows already out there that take care of the more social aspect or what would a show need to have to be attractive; e.g. gun gallery, dog show, food, seminars, etc.?

[mattadam]

I went down on sunday and did pretty much what I said I was going to do. I brought a friend of mine from work who I go fishing with, and two guys who I work with that just got into shooting and hunting. I bought a new gobblestalker diaphragm call, I bought two more books of OFAH lottery tickets, I got a package of pepperettes, a pack of jerky and a summer sausage from carmicheals.
I also had the immense pleasure of finally meeting the wonderful Amanda Lynn Mayhew who I thank for the tickets.

[Dakota Creek]

There are 3 million people who live in the GTA. one of every 10 Canadians lives there. Strictly a numbers thing. Besides like already said, there are more Salami and cheap flip flop booths than fishing or hunting ones. Citiots love flip flops. Having said that I would travel to Peterborough or London for a quality hunting/fishing show even if it's in a smaller venue.

Well .... The Fur, Fowl and Feathers held in late August 2014 in Barrie, tried to give an alternative to those looking for a hunting show outside the GTA. Was it a small show ...yes, but it you are looking for an alternative to flip flops and fudge, keep an eye open this year to see if the organizers are going to repeat it!

[terrym]

Well .... The Fur, Fowl and Feathers held in late August 2014 in Barrie, tried to give an alternative to those looking for a hunting show outside the GTA. Was it a small show ...yes, but it you are looking for an alternative to flip flops and fudge, keep an eye open this year to see if the organizers are going to repeat it!

I was away that weekend and couldn't make it but will definitely make a point of it this year.