Annual SHOT Show goes from huge to huger
For many folks, this weekend means Super Bowl, but for yours truly it also means the huge SHOT Show held in Las Vegas. One of the largest trade shows in the world, the SHOT (Shooting, Hunting & Outdoor Trade) Show, put on by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), will run February 2-5 at the Las Vegas Community Convention Center. Nearly 2,000 exhibitors will fill 715,000 square feet of space for the event. Just the aisles of the show span over 12 miles. In a word, everything concerning the show is HUGE!
The show has grown so large that the mammoth convention center complex in Vegas can no longer house it in its entirety, and this year it has a big 125,000 sq. ft. sprung structure erected in the north parking lot to house the overflow of 650 exhibitors. Having covered the show for several years, I can honestly say that it can be overwhelming to first-time attendees. The show is not open to the general public.
One of the first areas I normally check is the New Product Center, where companies trot out their latest and greatest innovations. On average, there will be about 500 items exhibited there, covering almost anything you might envision that pertains to shooting, hunting and their related activities. A great innovation, at least for me and other media members, was the addition of portable scanners that are handed out when you enter the center. You simply scan the bar code of those new products that catch your eye, hand the scanner when you're finished, and an attendant prints out a list containing the details of all the products you scanned, along with the exhibitors' booth numbers and contact info. Sure saves a lot of writing. With each new show, I wonder how anyone could come up with something truly new and different enough to warrant much attention? But some always do. Often though, the "new" product may be just a major improvement on an existing one. This tends to be the case with clothing, optics, electronics, and new rifle or handgun calibers. My job is to pick and choose those that are truly useful and beneficial, regardless of whether they're really new or just improvements. Believe me, it's harder than you might think, given all the hype "new" products are given these days. An interesting change in the show has been the growing emergence of tactical weapons and gear relating to the military, law enforcement and security. Of all the various exhibitors sections of show, the Tactical and Law Enforcement Center has grown by leaps and bounds since 9/11. While the vast majority of attendees reviewing this area are there representing the government, law enforcement agencies or security contractors, it's an eye-opener to tour the area and see what's available to our military, police and security people these days.
However, the expanding tactical exhibits haven't had a diminishing effect on the staggering number of exhibitors specializing in the various items useful to hunters, recreational shooters and the general outdoor public. If you can imagine something you "might" use, chances are excellent that it's present somewhere at the show. If you fancy firearms, there are hundreds of manufacturers and distributors showing off their collective thousands of models and types. Want to actually hold a $40,000 custom double rifle designed for hunting Africa's most dangerous big game? This is where you could do it. Interested in finding a unique rifle calibered in any of the 437 available worldwide? You'd probably find it at the show.
Even though the show isn't open to the public, it's anticipated that more than 45,000 will attend, the majority being licensed dealers and buyers, agents and members of the media from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. The number and diversity of exhibitors is also international in its scope, with dozens of countries being represented. While I may wear out shoe leather walking the show aisles for four days, there's some enjoyment to be had beyond the professional media aspect. What with outdoor writers, editors and company representatives being scattered all over the nation and world, this is the time I get to see many of them again, most of whom are old friends now, following decades of us sharing a common profession. It's always nice to "catch up" on what they've been doing since last year. We also get to share our thoughts on what products have impressed us this show.
The secondary and very real challenge will be trying to steal some free time to watch the Super Bowl. But then, I suspect there will be TVs scattered around the show booths with it on. That will give me a legitimate excuse to stop a bit longer at some than others, regardless of what product(s) they're pushing. In the weeks following the show, I'll pass along some of those that truly caught my eye as both useful and innovative in this column.
Derbies Delayed By Thin Ice
Two of the more popular ice fishing derbies in our area have been rescheduled due to insufficient ice. The NYS Crappie Derby (WWW.CRAPPIEDERBY.COM) at Whitney Point Lake is rescheduled for Feb. 9, and the Lions Club Perch Derby (WWW.FRONTIER.NET/MADOUGLASS/) at Chenango Lake has been moved to Feb. 16.
Harrisburg Outdoor Show Feb. 2-10
The popular Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is set to kick off Feb. 2 and run until the 10th, making it one of the longest shows of its type in the nation. The top billing of this year's show is internationally known bowhunter Chuck Adams, who will give twice-daily bowhunting clinics.
The show has grown so large that the mammoth convention center complex in Vegas can no longer house it in its entirety, and this year it has a big 125,000 sq. ft. sprung structure erected in the north parking lot to house the overflow of 650 exhibitors. Having covered the show for several years, I can honestly say that it can be overwhelming to first-time attendees. The show is not open to the general public.
One of the first areas I normally check is the New Product Center, where companies trot out their latest and greatest innovations. On average, there will be about 500 items exhibited there, covering almost anything you might envision that pertains to shooting, hunting and their related activities. A great innovation, at least for me and other media members, was the addition of portable scanners that are handed out when you enter the center. You simply scan the bar code of those new products that catch your eye, hand the scanner when you're finished, and an attendant prints out a list containing the details of all the products you scanned, along with the exhibitors' booth numbers and contact info. Sure saves a lot of writing. With each new show, I wonder how anyone could come up with something truly new and different enough to warrant much attention? But some always do. Often though, the "new" product may be just a major improvement on an existing one. This tends to be the case with clothing, optics, electronics, and new rifle or handgun calibers. My job is to pick and choose those that are truly useful and beneficial, regardless of whether they're really new or just improvements. Believe me, it's harder than you might think, given all the hype "new" products are given these days. An interesting change in the show has been the growing emergence of tactical weapons and gear relating to the military, law enforcement and security. Of all the various exhibitors sections of show, the Tactical and Law Enforcement Center has grown by leaps and bounds since 9/11. While the vast majority of attendees reviewing this area are there representing the government, law enforcement agencies or security contractors, it's an eye-opener to tour the area and see what's available to our military, police and security people these days.
However, the expanding tactical exhibits haven't had a diminishing effect on the staggering number of exhibitors specializing in the various items useful to hunters, recreational shooters and the general outdoor public. If you can imagine something you "might" use, chances are excellent that it's present somewhere at the show. If you fancy firearms, there are hundreds of manufacturers and distributors showing off their collective thousands of models and types. Want to actually hold a $40,000 custom double rifle designed for hunting Africa's most dangerous big game? This is where you could do it. Interested in finding a unique rifle calibered in any of the 437 available worldwide? You'd probably find it at the show.
Even though the show isn't open to the public, it's anticipated that more than 45,000 will attend, the majority being licensed dealers and buyers, agents and members of the media from all 50 states and more than 75 countries. The number and diversity of exhibitors is also international in its scope, with dozens of countries being represented. While I may wear out shoe leather walking the show aisles for four days, there's some enjoyment to be had beyond the professional media aspect. What with outdoor writers, editors and company representatives being scattered all over the nation and world, this is the time I get to see many of them again, most of whom are old friends now, following decades of us sharing a common profession. It's always nice to "catch up" on what they've been doing since last year. We also get to share our thoughts on what products have impressed us this show.
The secondary and very real challenge will be trying to steal some free time to watch the Super Bowl. But then, I suspect there will be TVs scattered around the show booths with it on. That will give me a legitimate excuse to stop a bit longer at some than others, regardless of what product(s) they're pushing. In the weeks following the show, I'll pass along some of those that truly caught my eye as both useful and innovative in this column.
Derbies Delayed By Thin Ice
Two of the more popular ice fishing derbies in our area have been rescheduled due to insufficient ice. The NYS Crappie Derby (WWW.CRAPPIEDERBY.COM) at Whitney Point Lake is rescheduled for Feb. 9, and the Lions Club Perch Derby (WWW.FRONTIER.NET/MADOUGLASS/) at Chenango Lake has been moved to Feb. 16.
Harrisburg Outdoor Show Feb. 2-10
The popular Eastern Sports and Outdoor Show in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania is set to kick off Feb. 2 and run until the 10th, making it one of the longest shows of its type in the nation. The top billing of this year's show is internationally known bowhunter Chuck Adams, who will give twice-daily bowhunting clinics.
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