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PLAINS TWP. — It was a night out for Hunter Kreig and his dad, Hank. The father and son enjoy the outdoors, so spending a 70-degree day together inside a ballroom at Mohegan Sun Pocono for the Wild Pennsylvania Outdoor Hunting & Fishing Expo was a no-brainer.
Hunter, 11, enjoys fishing, hunting and riding bikes, but the one thing that captured his attention Friday: quads.
“(We) don’t have them,” he said, “but maybe some day.”
Hunter gained his appreciation for the outdoors from his father, who enjoys big bass angling.
“I’m a tournament guy,” the elder Kreig, of Dickson City, said.
A few dozen people were enjoying the first day of the expo, which offered abbreviated hours of 4 to 8 p.m.
“It’s always slow on Fridays,” Alan Probst, the expo’s organizer, admitted.
Though a slow start, Probst said he expects up to 4,000 people to come out over the weekend.
“We have fishing, hunting, ATVs … and if you get a little hungry, beef jerky and pickles,” said Probst, who owns Wild PA Beef Jerky and Cheese Shop.
Heather Tawny and her husband, Aaron, were hand-in-hand as they browsed the vendors.
The Tawnys came in from Schenectady, N.Y., for the three-day event. Aaron was quick to say they also have a cabin in Lopez, which boasts some goods purchased at last year’s show.
“It’s something we don’t have (in Schenectady),” he said.
“And it’s a small vacation for me,” Heather added, noting the couple is staying at Mohegan Sun Pocono for the weekend.
Probst agreed, adding that before the began the expo six years ago, the Wyoming Valley had nothing comparable.
“The area needed an outdoor show,” Probst said.
Probst said the event began in Williamsport, moved to the 109th Field Artillery Armory in Wilkes-Barre and moved again to the hotel and convention center in 2014.
“(The casino) is more easily accessible,” Probst said.
First year vendor Sheldon Jones, of S & J Argo & Sons, brought his ultimate terrain vehicles to show. The vehicles can be used in all types of conditions — including snow, mud and water — according to a video shown at Jones’ table.
Jones said he has been selling the vehicles in Dallas for four years but the brand has been in business for 50 years.
“People are definitely aware of them,” Jones said.
If an individual buys a UTV, Jones said it must be registered as a vehicle; if used with a boat motor, it must be registered as a boat.
The expo continues 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. There is a $5 admission charge.