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Bill Cochran

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BILL: The following are my observations regarding [the recent] outdoor show [at the Salem Civic Center].

About two weekends prior to the Salem show a show was held in Richmond. They had a packed house the entire show.

I do not think the economy played a role in the low attendance at the Salem show. However, the Bristol NASCAR race did have an effect. Roanoke/Salem is a “tuff” town. I do not think the Roanoke Valley will support two outdoor shows per year.

The first show in Roanoke year before last competed against the Richmond shown on the same weekend. A big mistake! A lot of people who came to the first Roanoke show said they would never come back. The Richmond show is much larger and better established. I know several people from Roanoke that go to that show every year. They say it has more to offer in the way of manufactures, outfitters, and no women's make-up displays!

A lot of people I talked to did not know that there was anything to see but the main floor in Salem. I do not think that [the show promoter], Sponsor Hounds, did a good enough job over the PA system telling about the other booths to see off the main floor.

I went the Fishersville outdoor show in February and it was so crowded you could hardly get through the show. Again I do not think the economy was a factor. Somehow, outdoors men and women will sacrifice to see something worth their time and money.

Sponsor Hounds could have had the NRA Whitetail exhibit in Salem. They should have had more celebrity fishermen and hunters at the show. I know this cost money but is part of the show business. You can not sell the steak if it does not sizzle on the plate it is served on!

My advice to Sponsor Hounds would be to concentrate on one show per year in the Roanoke Valley. Offer a better quality show including more expensive displays or celebrities. Include more out-of-state outfitters. Include a better fishing offering. Fishing is a year-round sport in Virginia.

I worked the Friends of NRA booth. We sold 100 $5 raffle tickets for a limited edition NRA Charles Daly shotgun, a great outcome for such a poorly attended show: much better that the 64 tickets we sold at the July gun show in Salem and the 66 tickets we sold at the Roanoke gun show in August. We were pleasantly surprised.

BILL: Thank you for mentioned the interview with National Wild Turkey Federation CEO George Thornton and the September/October issue of Turkey Call Magazine. We have been hard at work all through this transition, so it is a bonus and a huge pick-me-up for our staff to see their efforts reflected in a positive way. Thanks to you and the Roanoke Times for helping get the good word out.

BILL: I live in Ashe County, N.C., next to Grayson County, Va. People here believe mountain lions were never exterminated in our rugged mountains. They also believe the exploding deer population will mean more sightings.

I am a member of the Eastern Cougar Foundation and last year I was told by a local taxidermist that he was offered a lion for a full body mount. He refused it, fearing endless trouble with the government over the Endangered Species Act.

The North Carolina Department of Wildlife Resources officially denies the existence of the big cats, yet the reports keep coming. This thing is not going away.