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Big events await outdoorsmen

While many sportsmen spend the month of June angling at their most treasured fishing holes or dreaming of hunting seasons to come, others may be interested in taking a road trip to spend some quality time with the kids or even learn more about their favorite pursuits.

With that in mind, there are two events coming up that may make excellent outings for outdoors aficionados looking for something a little different this summer.

In Kempton, Pa., located in Berks County, outdoors enthusiasts of all ages will be able to see and participate in a wide range of fishing- and hunting-related activities at the new Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza on Kempton Fairgrounds June 23-25.

According to Orefield resident Bob Danenhower Sr., who is organizing the event with Rick Weaknecht of Weaknecht Archery in Kutztown, the extravaganza was started after the Lehigh Valley Outdoor Expo closed its doors earlier this year as a way to allow local sportsmen's and conservation groups to promote the outdoors.

"They were at a real loss because that was their major way of fundraising and building their membership and also keeping the interest in the (outdoor) sports in our area," Danenhower said. "We have a huge following of outdoorsmen in the area but if we don't have a show for them to promote themselves, how do you get new blood involved?"

At the extravaganza, getting youngsters interested in hunting, fishing, shooting and camping is one of primary goals. Activities and attractions for children include a casting contest, trout fishing pond, shooting video games, archery range, .22 caliber shooting range, primitive encampment, tomahawk throwing and black powder demonstrations.

"A lot of the clubs and organizations that are coming out are doing special events at their displays just to promote hunting and fishing for the youth that are going to be coming to the show," Danenhower said.

In addition to the activities for kids, there will be plenty for adults as well, including a big buck display, dog training demonstrations, hunting and fishing seminars, sporting clay course and an outdoor flea market. Highlighting the weekend is the Mr. Lehigh Valley Outdoorsman Competition, which will offer people the opportunity to showcase their outdoors-related skills.

During the event, set for Saturday, participants will engage in .22 shooting, archery, casting, black powder shooting and a 15-question outdoor knowledge quiz. The top competitors in those five qualifying events will move on to the championship round, which will feature tomahawk throwing, log chopping, tree stand climbing and dragging a dummy deer through an obstacle course.

"The Mr. Lehigh Valley Outdoorsman Competition is designed to have a lot of fun but it's going to have some serious contenders in it as well," Danenhower said.

The same weekend as the Lehigh Valley Hunting and Fishing Extravaganza, the Quality Deer Management Association is holding its sixth annual national convention at the Valley Forge Convention Center in King of Prussia, Montgomery County. The event, which runs June 22-25, provides an opportunity for whitetail enthusiasts and those interested in deer habitat management and biology to learn from some of the most well-known and well-respected deer experts in North America.

The keynote address at the convention will be delivered by former Pennsylvania Game Commission Deer Management Section leader Dr. Gary Alt, who will speak about the challenges to the future of deer and deer hunting. Other speakers include comedian Jeff Foxworthy, Dr. James Kroll of the Institute for Whitetailed Deer Management and Research at Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas and QDMA Education and Outreach Director Kip Adams, to name just a few.

Among the topics to be covered during the event are managing small properties for deer; updates on the latest research taking place in states such as Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia; aging and judging whitetails in the field; how weather and moon phases influence buck movement and how Chronic Wasting Disease may impact the future of deer hunting.

In addition to the wealth of seminars, the convention features a Whitetail Expo showcasing some 100 suppliers of products and services for deer hunters; Bass Pro Shops' King of Bucks Truck, a mobile display highlighting some of the largest whitetails ever taken; a banquet luncheon that includes a raffle and silent and live auctions awarding more than $250,000 in wildlife art, trips, guns and deer management equipment; and a hunt auction luncheon, which provides attendees with the opportunity to bid on more than 50 hunts led by some of the most prominent outfitters in the nation.

Mark Demko can be reached by e-mail at sports@express-times.com

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Big events await outdoorsmen