AAR Sept 25-26 Southern Illinois National Hunting & Fishing Days

[OutaAmmo]

AAR Sept 25-26 Southern Illinois National Hunting & Fishing Days

The largest outdoor show in Southern Illinois held at the John A. Logan College in Carterville, IL.  Whow what a great show, 25,000+ people. Weather was great. We where only 5 miles from the Marion, IL. Appleseed shoot.

BioGranny helped PlentyaAmmo and I on Saturday and appreciated her help. Thanks Donna

The Booth;
10 foot long
8 ft table with 2 chairs
Missouri Brigade loaned us a Project Appleseed Promotion Banner which we attached to the back of the circus tent  where we where with with 25 other exibitors 
On the table we had Appleseed info, CMP catgalogs, a heavy poster board which I had a attached an AQT, 1 inch squares, and Red Coat targets, and my 28 inch CZ Ultra Lux bolt .22 gun.  I didn't have an LTR put together
I also quickly wrote in big letter on another big poster board and attached to a tent pole in the back of the booth the following messaqge
                     
                    WANTED
                 VOLUNTEERS
                LAND OWNERS
                  APPLESEED
                     NEEDS
                       YOU

The show ran from 9 to 5 on Saturday and 9 to 4 on Sunday.   It was non stop traffic both days.  I learned a lot at the booth and am a pretty good pitch man IMHO.  Had a lot of fun guessing kids ages that came up to the booth. 

The good;

The landowner sign brought over four property owners and offered their land for an Appleseed shoot. WHOW!!

The people in Southern Illinois are interested in becoming Riflemen

Women like to hear, "Women and kids get to shoot FREE."

One lady stopped by and said her son was shooting at the Appleseed today 5 miles away

People stopped by just to look at the CZ rifle either to want to know what it was, to buy a raffle ticket or offer to buy it.  Rifles on the table creates "Stopped Traffic"


The Bad;

Several people said that they wanted to shoot the Appleseed this weekend but was "Sold Out"

At least 3 people told me they choose not to shoot the Appleseed because it was on the same day at the Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days show.

Lots of guys with "Man Cards"    When ask if they would like to learn to shoot and they responded that they all ready knew how to shoot and I responded would you like to learn how to shoot better. A few stopped in there tracks and came over to the booth. Some would say they are already experts and I would say "Great'" we are looking for people like you to help us teach others, would you like to be an instructor, brought a few back to the booth.

Not another Appleseed in the area this year for all those that where interested without driving several hundred miles.


What I learned and would do different;

Possibly two tables if we could get more help to man the booth,

Add a few more rifles, LTR, Garand, AR15.....Rifles stop traffic

Maybe offer a drawing for a "FREE" Appleseed event.....traffic stopper

Some kind of video player showing what Appleseed is all about....traffic stopper

A photo albumn on the table with lots of pics and testimonials of kids and women

A big sign that says "Women and Kids shoot FREE"  "ask how" ..... would bring some to the booth

A big sign that says "We Teach Rifle Marksmanship"  As much as I like the Project Appleseed banner (it does get people looking this way) but it doesn't say what we do when people are walking by and "rubber necking"

I'm sure they is more that I could add but in all it was a very worth while sport show with a lot of youngsters and moms unlike the gun shows that I attend.  Look out for Southern Illinois to explode next year.

OutaAmmo