Tips, Tactics and Educational Seminars Highlight OUTDOORAMA’s 41th Anniversary Event
OutdoorHub 02.17.14
Anglers, hunters and outdoors enthusiasts are always searching for a new tip or technique that will enhance their chances for success. Patrons attending the 41st annual Outdoorama will be able to pick up those tips and a lot more when the show returns to Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Feb. 27 to March 2. From mushroom hunting, stalking whitetails or calling turkeys to catching bass, walleye, trout and salmon no stone will be left unturned.
“We’re extremely happy to announce this year’s lineup of seminar speakers who will be appearing at Outdoorama,” said Show Manager Ben Nielsen. “We have some of the top names in the country ready to educate and entertain show patrons. Deer hunting is a passion for many residents of this state and deer hunters will be able to pickup tips on hunting deer, learn to process their own deer, then gain insight and learn new recipes for cooking venison and other wild game. We’ll also have some on the top names in the industry covering all aspects of fishing, experts on morel mushrooms and a guide from the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. We truly have something for everyone.”
Here’s a look at some of the educational topics scheduled for the show.
Mark Millis, better known as “Uncle Millie” is the co-host of Deer City USA on the Outdoor Channel. Born and raised in Lansing, MI, Uncle Millie will entertain and educate Outdoorama patrons on the finer aspects of wild game cooking. An avid and successful hunter and fisherman, Uncle Millie admits that cooking is his passion. “My culinary experience came at an early age with the influence of three of the most important people in my life, my mother and both of my grandmothers,” he said.
Outdoorama kicks off Thursday night with several seminars including the always popular taping of Big Buck Night by Michigan Out-of-Doors TV. Jimmy Gretzinger and Jenny Olson will be on hand to interview the Michigan hunters who tagged white-tailed deer last fall sporting some of the largest antlers of the season.
On Saturday, Steve Francis, owner of Country Smoke House in Almont, MI, will demonstrate how to field dress, handle, butcher and package your next whitetail. Francis is an expert in his field and he’ll start with a fresh deer and walk through every step of the process from dressing and skinning to butchering and packaging.
Michigan native Jim Miller, a national authority on traditional wilderness skills, returns to Outdoorama for all four days. Miller has spent countless hours studying the skills of our ancestors and fascinates crowds with his demonstrations on making birch bark canoes and containers, tanning animal hides without chemicals and building a fire by rubbing sticks together.
The popularity of mushroom hunting is at an all-time high in Michigan and Outdoorama patrons can learn all about this family-oriented springtime activity. Theresa and John Maybrier formed Team Morel LLC to promote everything about delicious morel mushrooms. Learn how to identify morels, where to find them, how to prepare them for the table and much more in Theresa’s seminars, which will be offered throughout the show.
Ramsey Dowgiallo has been canoeing and camping in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area for almost 25 years. Dowgiallo is a Master Angler fisherman in three states and is certified in wilderness first aid. He’ll share his experiences and expertise in a series of seminars running throughout the show.
There is also a full slate of seminars for hardcore anglers and hunters.
FISHING
Mark Romanack, host of Fishing 411 television show and an expert walleye angler, will be on hand all four days of the show providing tips on trolling for walleyes in the open water of the Great Lakes.
Mark Martin, a nationally acclaimed walleye pro and champion of the first PWT tournament, will share his knowledge on targeting walleyes using modern-day open-water techniques.
Captain Lance Valentine, founder of Lance Valentine’s Walleye 101 and the Fishing Education Center, will teach anglers the basics of catching walleyes in southeastern Michigan’s prized Detroit River.
Bass fishing professional, author and video producer Captain Wayne Carpenter will provide show attendees with insight and tips on bass fishing in Lake St. Clair.
Mike Schultz, owner of Schultz Outfitters, a fly fishing guide service specializing in southeastern Michigan warm-water angling, will provide insight into the abundance of local fly-fishing opportunities and explain to show patrons how to get started in fly fishing.
Jim Bedford is one of Michigan’s foremost authorities on fishing Michigan rivers with spinners and other lures. The well-known book author and outdoor writer will provide Outdoorama patrons with an in-depth look at river fishing tactics and techniques.
Captain Mike Pittiglio is a full-time muskie guide on the world renowned Lake St. Clair. Pittiglio will hold nothing back during his seminars and cover the hottest lures, locations and set-ups for trolling for these toothy predators.
Captain Kevin Backus began fishing for muskies at an early age. His grandfather, legendary fisherman Homer LeBlanc passed on his knowledge and skills to his grandson and Backus will pass that knowledge on to Outdoorama patrons.
Outdoor writer, photographer and fishing guide David A. Rose will provide an in-depth look at the life cycle of the yellow perch. His seminar, “Perch Under Pressure,” gives patrons the details on where to locate perch as well the tips and tricks on how to catch them when the fishing pressure is high.
HUNTING
Tim Andrus has hunted white-tailed deer in 20 states and five Canadian provinces. He is host of Rust Outdoors on Time Warner TV and has appeared on several other outdoors TV shows including Realtree Outdoors, Deer City USA, Outdoors America and Pearcy’s On the Right Track. Andrus brings his skills and knowledge to Outdoorama for the first time this year. He will talk about hunting whitetails in the early and late seasons as well as do-it-yourself hunts in the Midwest and West “I will bring you an honest seminar that includes audience participation as well as information and a few laughs that people will enjoy,” Andrus said.
Tim Fox is a professional trainer of pointing dogs. His seminars at Outdoorama will teach dog owners the basics of getting your dog to heel, come, cast for birds and whoa without using verbal commands.
Mark Romanack is also a savvy bird hunter, outdoor writer and seminar leader. Romanack will put Mason, his five-year-old black Lab, through his paces right on the water at Outdoorama. They’ll demonstrate marked retrieves, blind retrieves, whistle commands and hand signals and Romanack will lead a brief discussion on understanding dog behavior. His goal is to show that with a little effort anyone can train their own dog for waterfowl or upland hunting.
Mark Martin, aside from being a walleye-fishing professional and teacher, is also an accomplished and successful deer hunter. He will share with show patrons some of the tactics and techniques he uses to put venison in the freezer each year.
Fred Abbas ranks No. 1 all-time for trophy bucks bagged in Michigan. In fact, he put another one in the book last fall. He’s the only Michigan hunter to have officially entered four whitetails in the record book in one season (1990, the last year with a four-buck limit.) Abbas’ seminar, “Secrets of Mock Scrapes: the Deadliest Tactic of All,” is one deer hunters won’t want to miss.
Seth McCullough is an avid turkey hunter, contest caller and the owner and founder of Bully’s Wild Turkey Calls. McCullough will offer tips for better turkey hunting and discuss the life cycle of the wild turkey in his informative seminars.
Outdoor writer, speaker and Bear Archery prostaffer Jason Herbert has carved out his niche as a “regular guy” who lives and hunts in the real world. Herbert’s advice and tactics in his seminars, “Scent Control from the Inside Out,” are practical and apply to almost everyone.
Ed Spinazzola is a food plot expert and author of Ultimate Deer Food Plots. He’ll be on hand daily to discuss all aspects of growing food plots for wildlife. This year’s special presentation, “Ultimate Corn-Based Kill Plots,” will help hunters place crops to impact deer movement and maximize their time, effort and cost.
“Doc” Paul Morrow has been featured on Michigan Out-Of-Doors TV and has been experimenting with food plots and habitat for years. In his presentation “Managing Small Woodlots of Wildlife,” Doc will teach the tricks of the trade as it pertains to making food plots the most popular place for wildlife.
The first 500 attendees on Thursday and Friday receive a free, collectible Dardevle spoon from Eppinger Manufacturing Co. in Dearborn. The first 250 attendees on Saturday and Sunday will receive a K&E Bass Stopper lure from Stopper Lures in Hastings.
A special added bonus is free crossover admission to the 7th Annual Cottage & Lakefront Living Show, held concurrently at Suburban Collection Showplace. Patrons to either event receive free crossover admission.
The show is February 27 to March 2. Show hours are Thursday, 3 to 9:30; Friday, noon to 9:30; Saturday, 10 to 9; and Sunday, 10 to 5.
For more information, go to http://www.Outdoorama.com or call 800-328-6550.
Discount tickets are available at Wendy’s or online at Outdoorama.com
You can also follow late-breaking news and developments at: www.facebook.com/ULTIMATESPORTSHOWTOUR and at www.twitter.com/Outdoorama
