It’s the last day of the New York Sportsman’s Exposition at the State Fairgrounds. Show opens at 9 AM and goes until 5 PM. Buy tickets online here or at the door. Tickets are $12 for adults (ages 13 to 64). Seniors, military, police, and children (ages 6-12) are $10. Children 6 and under are free.
Iron Skillet game meat seasonings
Sean LaRose holds up a shaker of Iron Skillet’s “10 Gauge” spice.
When other vendors at the show are clamoring over your product, you know you’ve got something good. Iron Skillet from Worcester NY sells a complete line of seasonings to spice up any kind of fish, fowl, or game. Their “10-Gauge” rub ($7.99 per bottle) goes great with pork, or so we hear.
Four Leaf Custom Calls
Boutique, hand-carved turkey calls from Four Leaf Custom Calls
Trent McCall, owner of Four Leaf Custom Calls in Truxton, NY, used to make Stickley furniture. Now he handcrafts “small batch” game calls from premium hardwoods. McCall’s new turkey feather box calls are works of art ($100).
Outback Survival Gear leather goods
Mick Rodgers, owner of Outback Survival Gear, makes leather goods.
You don’t have to be a Crocodile Dundee cosplayer to appreciate Outback Survival Gear’s leather hats, jackets, and boots. Mick Rodgers, who was born in Australia and now lives in Saratoga Springs, will set you up with a kangaroo leather hat for $70, crocodile teeth hatband not included.
Timber Trail e-bikes
Timber Trail e-bikes: when hunting isn’t enough fun.
Designed by two avid outdoorsmen from central Pennsylvania, the “Monster” model electric bike from Timber Trail has electric motors powering each wheel (1750-watts total), an aluminum frame, a 25-mile range, and goes 25 mph. At $4695, invest in a decent bike lock to secure it to your tree stand.
Spangler Forge knives
Ben Spangler holds a Scottish “dirk” style dagger.
Ben Spangler, blacksmith and proprietor of Spangler Forge in Rochester, says his blades are not only great for cleaning game, but also gouging and slashing, just like the Vikings who inspired his designs. Spangler makes swords too, but he keeps those in the trunk of his car. A 12-inch Scottish “dirk” will set you back $295.
Bullet Jewelry Designs bling
A novel way to stick your kid’s report card to the refrigerator.
Sportsmen and women tend to be a practical bunch. Bullet Jewelry Designs from Youngstown, Ohio, jewelry is made out of spent bullet casings, polished, engraved, and embedded with colored glass crystals (gemstones would be a bit much, don’t you think?). Prices range from $25 to $55.
Gooseman Game Calls
“Gooseman” Halliwell makes game calls of all kinds.
Family owned and operated, Gooseman Game Calls makes a complete line of game calls in Lakeland, just a few miles down the road from the State Fairgrounds. All their calls are hand-crafted, and range in price from $10 for squirrel calls, $30 for deer, and $100 for a goose calls. Gooseman’s lessons are free.
Nictau Lodge bear hunts
Wayne Scott runs bear hunts out of Nictau Lodge in New Brunswick, Canada.
According to many of the outfitters we spoke to at the show, Covid-19 has put a damper on the African safari business. But Wayne Scott, owner of Nictau Lodge in New Brunswick Canada, is already booking black bear hunts into 2023. 5-day, all-inclusive for $2950.
Woodys Maple Syrup
Woody’s Maple Syrup is aged in bourbon casks from Clayton Distillery.
Turn ordinary waffles into a breakfast cocktail with Woody’s Maple Syrup limited edition, bourbon barrel aged maple syrup, made in Hermon NY (bourbon barrels supplied by Clayton Distillery). $12 for a 750 ml bottle.
Pulsar thermal optics
Expo attendee listens to sales pitch about thermal range finders
What would a gear round-up be without at least one ridiculously expensive electronic gadget you didn’t know you needed? Pulsar’s line of thermal range finders and binoculars can get pretty pricey (the super cool Accolade binos go for $6,000) but it’s free to give them a test drive at the show.
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