OAKS - There is something special about attending an outdoors show and seeing the newest and latest products for the upcoming seasons.

At the Greater Philadelphia Outdoor Sportshow, Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 13-16, at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, attendees can better that. At this year's show they have the opportunity to touch and try the latest in sporting equipment, learn from the experts through seminars and hands-on demonstrations and discover great deals only available at the Expo.Highlighting the Expo is more than 225,000 square feet of state-of-the-art fishing gear, hunting gear, camping equipment, boats, outdoors travel opportunities and paddle sports equipment. In particular, the sportfishing "supershow" features the best names in the business when it comes to tackle manufacturers.Represented will be major companies such as Shimano, Daiwa, Quantum, St. Croix , Okuma, Temple Fork Outfitters, G. Loomis and more. Also on hand are smaller, custom tackle manufacturers whose wares are only found at sportsman's shows - not in big-box retail stores or catalogues.Attending the GPOS is the best opportunity this year to explore these fine products, and at the "boatyard" there are literally hundreds of boats of every kind from bass boats to saltwater fishing boats to pontoons, there is a watercraft for every activity. Those into land adventures will have the same opportunity to explore campers, RVs, and ATVs, or plan an escape with the aid of the many lodges, guides and tourism associations on hand.For hunters there is the "Deer, Turkey and Big Game Expo," where top vendors for firearms, archery and hunting gear are on display. There are also exhibits on hunting camps and resorts, hunting dogs and taxidermists.Seminars and demonstrations from sportsmen at the top of their game will present seminars designed to improve the skills of recreational outdoorsmen. This year's lineup includes legendary deer hunters Roger Raglin, Lane Benoit, C.J. Winland and Peter Fiduccia "The Deer Doctor," and anglers like Lou Consoli and Brian Immekus.Providing family entertainment were be acts like Timber Tina's World Champion Lumberjills, which amaze audiences with their ax throwing, log rolling and sawing competitions. There will also be gun dogs doing retrieving demonstrations and raptors in flight by Baywing Falconry.Attendees can try landing a monster fish at the fishing simulator, take an archery lesson with the United Bowhunters of Pennsylvania and watch the pros demonstrate their techniques for snagging big bass around in the Hawg Trough. Sunday is Family Day with more special activities, plus children under age 11 get in free when accompanied by a paying adult.Show hours are Thursday and Friday, noon-8 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets and information are available online at

www.sportshows.com.