NEW OUTDOORSMAN'S GROUP WILL KICK OFF AT EXPO AUG. 28-29

A new outdoorsman's organization will be introduced during the Buck McNeely Outdoorsman Expo and Sporting Clays Tournament to be held in this area Aug. 28-29.

"We will debut the Outdoorsman International magazine before the show," said McNeely. "We're also creating a new sportsman's organization by the same name."

McNeely, who is featured on the national television show, "The Outdoorsman," said the organization will be an interactive one.

"We'll be inviting members to send in their own outdoors video," said McNeely. "We'll conduct an outdoors video contest, with the grand prize being an opportunity to `Hunt With Buck' on location in Africa."

The expo portion of the two-day event will be held at the Show Me Center. The clay tournament will be conducted about 20 miles away, at the Trails of Tears Sportsmen's Club in Southern Illinois, barring complications with floodwaters.

"We're making arrangements to move the clay tournament to a Jackson location if the water prevents us from reaching the Illinois location," said McNeely.

Activities get under way at 9 a.m. each day at the Show Me Center. Cost of admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 10.

Special events include archery contests, a petting zoo, a shooting gallery, and a special hunting presentation by McNeely, who is featured on "The Outdoorsman."

Entry forms for the clay tournament, to be held Aug. 29, are available at various sporting goods stores and the Show Me Center.

"The archery range is a projecting range," said McNeely. "video images are shown on a target."

McNeely said that the National Rifle Association will set up a pellet-gun range.

McNeely will be keynote speaker during the expo, discussing the launching of the new outdoorsman club.

"We'll also have turkey-calling and goose-calling seminars and deer-hunting and dog-training workshops during the day," said McNeely.

One of the highlights of the expo will be a paraplane demonstration. "This is kind of a motorized parachute," said McNeely. "The demonstration will be held outside the Show Me Center. I'm predicting that paraplaning will become a fascinating new sport."

Four-wheel-drive and other sports vehicles will be on display, along with exhibits by Remington, Nikon, Mossberg, NRA, and others.