OUTDOOR EXTRAVAGANZA COMING TO SOUTHWEST PA

SOMERSET, PA- In what is one of the state’s most fun-filled outdoors events, the Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (PANWTF) will present its 26^th Annual Sports Show and Convention at Hidden Valley Resort on April 6 and 7. The purpose of the two-day event is to raise money for the PANWTF, with the proceeds to be spent on habitat improvement and conservation work throughout the state to benefit wild turkeys and other wildlife.

The family-oriented festival is expected to draw thousands of sportsmen and outdoor enthusiasts from all over Pennsylvania and surrounding states. One of the weekend’s most popular events will be the gun bash, which begins 11:00 a.m. on Saturday and runs until 5:30 p.m. Every ten minutes during that time, a firearm or other valuable prize will be given away to a winning ticket holder. “We expect this gun bash is going to be a real crowd-pleaser,” says show organizer Howard Meyers, who advises people to order tickets for it now, as only 3,333 are available. Among the prizes are a Viking pop-up camper, $1,000 cash, and scores of top-of-the-line rifles and shotguns. In addition to the gun bash, more prizes will be raffled off throughout the day. Other activities taking place are trout fishing for kids and adults on a freshly stocked pond, hunting dog demonstrations and an art auction. Numerous vendors and exhibitors will be set up, and members of the public are encouraged to bring along their own shotguns to participate in trap shooting and the state championship turkey silhouette shooting contest.

Some of the show’s other attractions will be a number of presentations and seminars given by noteworthy members of the outdoor community. Foremost among them will be two appearances by Rawley Cogan, the well-known elk biologist from the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC). Cogan will be doing one talk on elk in Pennsylvania and another on the upcoming elk hunting season. “If people want their questions answered about the new elk season, this is the place to come,” adds Meyers. Renowned turkey hunters Preston Pittman and Denny Gulvas will both lead seminars, as will national outdoor writer Shirley Grenoble. “Denny Gulvas’ production is one of the most unique turkey programs anywhere, says Meyers. “Anyone who thinks they know it all when it comes to turkey hunting haven’t seen a thing until they see Denny in action.” Additionally, PGC turkey biologist Mary Jo Casalena will speak about the ongoing research project to determine the reason for the shortage of wild turkeys in the South Mountain region of southcentral Pennsylvania.

With a little bit of luck on Saturday, other officials from the PGC will arrive with a tranquilized black bear, and will subsequently demonstrate the process of collecting data from the animal before releasing it back into the wild. A rocket-net turkey trapping demonstration will take place on Saturday as well. Also featured will be one of the most prestigious turkey-calling competitions in the nation, the Wilson F. Moore Invitational Calling Contest.

Topping off the weekend’s festivities will be a banquet on Saturday night. Ben Moyer of Pennsylvania Sportsman magazine will be the keynote speaker. “Few organizations have the grassroots depth of commitment to conservation displayed by the PANWTF,” says Moyer. “They work hard for their species of immediate interest – the wild turkey, but they are always ready to lend their support and credibility to the wider conservation challenges that we face here in Pennsylvania, and I’m honored to be asked to address their convention.” Also taking place at the banquet will be the always-entertaining gobbling contest, in which participants mimic both the sounds and behavior of a male turkey. Members of the public who want to attend the banquet are advised to get their tickets early, as seating is limited to 300.

The cost is five dollars for anyone interested in going the PANWTF’s Sports Show and Convention. Children 17 and under get in free. The show opens at 3:00 p.m. on Friday and 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Those with a $20 gun bash ticket not only get three chances at the 37 firearms and the camper, but also gain admission to all the exhibits and receive a lunch on Saturday. “Buying a gun bash ticket is really the best way to go,” adds Meyers. “People should remember to bring more money for all the other raffles though, too.” To register, or to purchase a daily pass or gun bash tickets, contact Rick Moroney at 412-372-6613. A registration form can also be printed off the PANWTF’s web site at www.go2pa.com/panwtf. For room reservations and directions call Hidden Valley Resort at 1-800-458-0175.

The PANWTF is dedicated to the conservation of wild turkeys and the preservation of the turkey hunting tradition. Though its focus is the wild turkey, the organization’s efforts benefit a wide variety of Pennsylvania’s natural resources. The chapter, which is a branch of the 300,000-member National Wild Turkey Federation, has over 18,000 adult members, and another 7,000 youth members in its Juniors Acquiring Knowledge and Sportsmanship (JAKES) program. Since 1985, the PANWTF has spent over two million dollars on conservation efforts that benefit wild turkeys and other wildlife in Pennsylvania.