Death Defying Acts Highlight Show
Inside the Outdoors, February 03, 2012

As in the years past, the Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show has always brought something of interest to the outdoor sportsman, woman and child, for there has been something of interest that fascinated each one way or the other. This year, the producers have taken it once notch above all the others.

Produced by Expositions, Inc., “The Allegheny Sport Show is going to the extreme edge with dangerous animals and incredible displays of daring bravado,” said Show Producer Chris Fassnacht. “Our non-stop schedule features death-defying stunts and some of the world’s most treacherous creatures – all on stage in western Pennsylvania.”

For 27 years now, the show has been the region’s most comprehensive exhibition for hunting, fishing and camping enthusiasts. The show – which runs Wednesday, February 15 through Sunday 19 at the Monroeville Convention Center – will provide even more displays, gear and information about the great outdoors. And because children age 12 and under are always free, the sport Show offers family fun at a tremendous value.

The all new line-up features:

  • The Lady Hoggers – who will share tales of their exploits with mean, destructive and brutal feral hogs that terrorize Hog Country in Florida. These ladylike hog hunters have taken on ugly 700-pound feral hogs standing in their way.
  • Knife-thrower Mike Gross – Award winning Gross and his wife, Rosa, will dazzle attendees as they risk life, limb and domestic harmony with razor sharp knives, tomahawks and crossbows. Fassnacht said, “It’s a hair-raising display that will have audience members gasping."
  • Snakes Alive! - “Guests will get nose to nose with some of the world’s most dangerous reptiles in a simulated outdoor environment where slithering serpents lurk in ever corner. Snakes Alive! Is a heart-thumping exhibition of poisonous predators,” he said.
  • Youth Life Jacket Safety – Presented by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the first 50 children who register at the Commission’s booth and attend the safety seminar will receive a free PFD life jacket. All kids should attend!
  • Hunters Sharing The Harvest Booth – Pennsylvania’s charitable venison donation helps hunters donate their extra venison to more than 4,000 local food pantries, missions, homeless shelters, Salvation Army facilities and churches. HSH provides 750,000 meals annually to help 1.4 million hungry families across the state.
  • Safari Club International – On Saturday, the country’s leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and promoting wildlife conservation worldwide, Robb and Marci Rusiewicz of SCI’s Pittsburgh Chapter will host a special seminar titled “Your First African Safari.

Admission to the show is $10 for adults. Children 12 and under are admitted free with paid adult admission. $2 off coupons for the show are available at participating McDonald’s restaurants. More than 40,000 parking spaces are available free of charge.

Doors open on Wednesday and Thursday at 3 p.m., Friday, noon, and Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m. For addition info, call 1-800-600-0307.

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Now that we have a number of banquets on the horizon, I was notified of two banquets just around the corner.

The first is Forbes Trail Chapter Trout Unlimited, held once again at the American Legion in Latrobe, March 3. The 39th Annual Banquet and Raffle is the organization’s main yearly fundraising get-together that supports trout stream conservation in Westmoreland County.

Tickets remain at the low price of $25 per person. Kids will be given $20 worth of raffle tickets free when they purchase an admission ticket. Tickets are available only at the Ligonier Mountain Outfitters, Main Street, Ligonier, The Angler’s Room, Route 217, Latrobe, or mailing in a form obtained from the FTTU website: forbestrailtu.org. Deadline is Feb. 27. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation will have its banquet March 10 at Lakeview in Greensburg, the same location as it was also held last year.

“We now have a Facebook page,” Steve Kowatch, president, said. “One can get updates of the auction and raffle items we will be having.” One may obtain tickets directly from the RMEF.org website. If no computer is available, one may call him at 724-537-2618.

- Paul J. Volkmann
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