With the official start of spring two weeks away, there's still time to set aside same space on your calendar for two outstanding area outdoor events that weekend. 

One is the 47th Annual Tri-State Boat & Sport Show on March 19-21; the other is a newcomer, The Little Pigeon Longbeards First Annual Turkey Shoot on March 20.

he Turkey Shoot, a regional qualifier for the National Wild Turkey Federation's National Turkey Shoot on Aug. 15-17 in Forsyth, Ga., will be at the Izaak Walton League Conservation Club grounds on Bethany Church Road south of Boonville. 
It starts at 9 a.m. and is open only to members of the NWTF, although prospective members are welcome to attend, join and participate. Concessions will be available. 

The local event is a "still target" shoot where participants must hit a 3-inch steel circle at 40 yards. There are two classes, open and hunter, and further divisions within those classes for women and children. "We encourage family involvement and maintain that type of atmosphere," said local chair Mike Teddleton in a statement. "This will be the only sanctioned event in the Tri-State." 

All winners and runners-up in each division qualify for the National Shoot, a three-day event that has grown in participation each year. 

The Little Pigeon Longbeards is the Warrick County Chapter of the NWTF. It also has its JAKES event set for June 19 and its annual banquet set for Aug. 28. 

For information on the upcoming shoot or the chapter call Teddleton at (812) 490-7025. 

The Boat Show is growing into more than a gathering of retailers, resorts and outfitters. It's offering more attractions than ever this year. 

There are two fishing seminars, turkey calling demonstrations, a local canoeing seminar, fly rod and fly-tying demonstrations and demonstrations by the Ohio Valley Search and Rescue Team and their dogs. 

There will be the annual staples of boats, RVs and other "big boy toys," the Trout Tank and the Miss Outdoors contest. 

There will be a fishing seminar at 10:30 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Saturday's will feature Kentucky tournament professional Jeremy Estes, who will talk on tackle and other essential equipment basics. 

The Sunday seminar will be mine. I'm going to talk on pond fishing basics. I'll demonstrate how simple anglers can keep it and still be successful and point out some places to catch fish. 

On the turkey calling front, the Southwestern Hoosier Chapter of the NWTF will present a "mini-seminar" according to Lennie Coleman. 

"We're going to demonstrate the box, slate and diaphragm calls and how to use them" said Coleman. "We're going to show hunters what to do when they get a bird to fly down and, hopefully, bring it in." 

The canoeing seminar will be about the upcoming guided canoe trips through Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve on Pigeon Creek through Evansville. 

Seminar times are Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. In those, Tommy Donahue will discuss the water quality of the creek, wildlife and habitat, and how the creek was actually formed in the last Ice Age. 

Fly rodders can get constant fly-tying demonstrations at the main booth of the Ohio Valley Fly Rod Club. The stage demonstrations will be at 8 p.m. on Friday at 8 p.m., noon on Saturday and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday. 

The Ohio Valley Search and Rescue Team will be on stage four times, demonstrating a new "homing device" to help rescuers locate distressed boaters and campers. Their stage times will be at 6:30 p.m. Friday, and 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, and 1 p.m. on Sunday. 

As always, the Trout Trank will offer up its hundreds of farm-raised fish and prizes, while young women take stage to be named Miss Outdoors.