The Southern Tier Outdoor Show is back for its 13th year and wants to encourage everyone to get outdoors. Whether it is fishing, boating, hunting, skiing, shooting sports, biking, hiking, camping, or any other activity done in the great outdoors, this is where to experience it. You can learn from the experts, engage in new activities, purchase gear and services, and let the kids try their hand at some of the fun. The show takes place October 12-13 at the Steuben Country Fairgrounds in Bath, NY.
Want to see a thrilling and educational show at our fall outdoor show? Then look no further than Brunon Blaszak’s Royal Tiger Show! Brunon Blaszak is a third generation tiger trainer and has been performing with Sumatran, Siberian, and Bengal tigers his entire life. He and his mother, Ada Smieya-Blaszak, are fully devoted to preserving these magnificent creatures for many generations to come, and use their incredibly entertaining show for both your excitement and to spread a conservation message about protecting tigers. Internationally-acclaimed, Brunon is helping to ensure that people will continue to love and learn about these beautiful big cats!
Tigers once occupied most of Asia, south into India, China Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Some subspecies of tigers are completely extinct and those that remain are threatened with extinction because of poachers hunting them for their hides. Protected by the Convention on International Trade and Endangered Species (CITES), the tiger is a particularly special animal, and Brunon’s expertise in working with them shows in the vast knowledge he gives the audience during the performance! Featuring both Bengal and Siberian tigers, watch these incredible cats walk the tight wire, perform choreographed leaping, and jumping and dancing that will leave you amazed and delighted!
Also at the show, prepare for close encounters of the wild kind with nature’s elite predators of the sky with Hawk Creek Wildlife Center’s flying bird shows. Stand face-to-beak with an eagle, have a vulture and a hawk soar inches above your head and get closer than ever before to a variety of raptors from around the world! Raptors, with powerful grasping talons, and sharp curved beaks, are the ultimate aerial hunter, and they will be on display all weekend.
Hawk Creek, a 501c3 not-for-profit founded in 1987, is one of the largest accredited raptor centers in the East and receives and is located in East Aurora, New York. Through exceptional education programs, they instill respect for nature and her laws and promote stewardship of our planet. In addition, they support endangered species through collaborative partnerships and vital breeding programs. Hawk Creek has received many international awards including one by National Geographic.
While the family enjoys the animal shows, the avid sportsman can learn from our professional array of speakers:
· Interest in coyote hunting is increasing as the predator becomes a larger presence, threatening both domestic animals and wildlife. Nationally-recognized predator hunter Tom Bechdel of Saegertown, Pennsylvania, has been a hunter for more than 40 years. His nationally acclaimed seminar includes information about the life of the coyote, how to find them, how and when to call coyotes, and how to use electric and mouth calls and how to use decoys.
· Peter Marchese, is a SAF-Certified Forester, QDMA- Approved Land/Habitat Inspector, and President of the QDMA-Twin Tier Branch. He will discuss techniques on combining Food Plots and Forest Management for optimal Deer Habitat. He has conducted numerous seminars and written articles on Deer Habitat Management of the Forest and will discuss the proper way to get started along with other techniques of improving forest habitat, how to get rid of least preferred species to optimize food and cover for deer, and how to integrate food plots into the landscape along with the proper preparation and plants to match the soil types.
· In 2012, Joe Zaffuto started his own predator light company Night Eyes, LLC and recently retired from a 28-year career in Law Enforcement where he was a certified firearms instructor. He has given seminars on calling predators at night throughout the northeast United States for several years now and has written articles for Fur-Fish-Game and Woods & Water magazines. In 2017 and 2018 Joe was featured on three TV episodes that aired on the Pursuit Channel. In his latest episode Joe and his partner killed 18 predators in three nights of filming. Joe is always willing to provide hunting strategies to those who are willing to listen.
· We never think a crime can happen to us, until it actually does. While sometimes unfortunate things do happen unexpectedly, it is important to be equipped with the knowledge and skills for personal safety and crime prevention. Having a personal safety strategy in place and knowing the techniques and tactics you can use to avoid becoming an easy victim can help you live smarter and be safer. Clinton “C.J.” Walters, NRA Instructor, will teach a four-hour class called Refuse to Be a Victim from 10:00 a.m.-noon and 1:00-3:00 p.m. You can pre-register for the class at bit.ly/victimseminar.
The weekend includes contests like Upland and Antler Kennels’ Retriever Challenge and the Cohocton Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation’s youth turkey calling contest and sanctioned call contest. Youth will enjoy a number of hands-on activities like archery, fishing, tomahawk throwing, air rifles and more.
There will be around 150 vendors of all types of outdoor gear and services. Vendor space is still available, and the show is seeking volunteers to help run the activities. Contact Carla Dawejko at 607-857-1977 for details.
Sponsors of the show include Wilkins RV, Inc, Silver Lake Marine, Inc., Wilbri Service & Towing, and Payne’s Trailer Sales.
The show will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 12 and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 13. Admission is just $5 per person or $10 per carload. Food will be available all day at the show. For more information visit SouthernTierOutdoorShow.com or call 607-857-1977. Join the show on Facebook at SouthernTierOutdoorShow and on Instagram at STOutdoorShow.
