Outdoors Shows by Showspan

Antique and Collectible Sporting Goods
Terry McBurney from Ada near Grand Rapids will head up a major display of made-in-Michigan fishing lures and reels. McBurney, a member of the National Fishing Lure Collectors Club and the Old Reel Collectors Assn, is considered a foremost expert on this subject. Besides displaying his collector’s dream of tackle, he will appraise fishing gear for Outdoorama patrons at no charge.

Antique boat expert Dick VanRaalte from Starboard Marine Restorations in Grand Haven will be on hand to present a classic wooden boat and several vintage outboard motors. He, too, will appraise attendees’ artifacts at no charge.

Q and A with TV star, Kelly Gotch
Kelly Gotch, the former co-host of Michigan Out-of-Doors TV, will make a special appearance all day Saturday at the Bow Buddy booth to talk with fans and sign autographs. A native of Ortonville, Gotch appears regularly on three national television shows. Kelly is the co-host of "Step Outside," the popular Outdoor Channel show sponsored by the National Shooting Sports Foundation. She also co-hosts, with Eddie Nickens of Field & Stream magazine, "The Total Outdoorsman's Challenge. Co-sponsored by Bass Pro Shops, that show also airs on the Outdoor Channel.

She recently completed a national ad for Bow Buddy that will soon air on the Sportsman’s Channel. Last year she appeared in 13 original episodes on the Pursuit Channel with her own signature show. In "The Guide's Life," the affable host took viewers behind the scenes to learn how the best hunting and fishing guides do their jobs.

Kelly Gotch's passion for the outdoors is infectious. Don't miss this opportunity to meet her in person all four days. You can also catch her special half-hour seminar on Saturday called "Q & A with Kelly." For more information, go to www.outdoorama.com and click on “Seminars.”

Big Buck Night with Jimmy and Jenny
For more than 50 years, Michigan Out-of-Doors has been the state’s most popular TV program for hunters, anglers and lovers of the outdoors. Year after year, the most-watched segment of the show is the annual “Big Buck Night” where successful deer hunters display their trophy bucks and tell the stories behind them.

Co-hosts Jimmy Gretziner and Jenny Olsen bring their show, sponsored by Country Smoke House, to Outdoorama on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 7:00 p.m. The cameras will roll to tape the event for a future program.

Commemorative Bucks of Michigan volunteers will be on hand to score antlers for anyone who requests an official measurement.

Wildlife Encounters
The Howell Nature Center will bring several wild creatures, many of which have been permanently disabled and can’t survive in their natural environment, to the show. This exhibit gives adults and children the opportunity to see some of Michigan’s rare and threatened or endangered species up close and personal. Hawks, owls, reptiles and mammals typically comprise the show, which is a learning experience for all.

In addition, Bill Yoder’s Live Big Game Show will feature white-tailed deer, a black bear, and a bobcat. His animals appear in the remake of the movie Red Dawn, recently filmed in Michigan.

These attractions and many others are included with admission, which is the same as last year: $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12. Kids 5 and under are admitted without charge. Bonus: Outdoorama patrons receive free crossover admission to the 4th Annual Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, which runs concurrently at Suburban Collection Showplace.

Show hours are Thursday and Friday, 2 to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; and Sunday, 10 to 5. Affordable admission is the same as last year: $10 for adults and $4 for children 6 to 12 (no charge for kids 5 and under). For more information, call 800-328-6550 or go to www.Outdoorama.com. Follow us on FaceBook and Twitter.

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