Syracuse.com - Utica Bass Pro Shops store grand opening set for Wednesday evening

HuntingNY-News · October 8, 2013

A number of outdoors celebrities will be present. The event is also being pitched as a fundraiser to assist conservation efforts.

The new Bass Pro Shops store in Utica has its grand opening set for 6 p.m. Wednesday evening.

The event, being called "Utica's Evening for Conservation," will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Afterward, Martin Truex Jr. driver of the No. 56 Toyota Camry and two-time National Series Driver, will be present to sign autographs. Apart from being a race car driver, Truex is an avid hunter and conservationist.

Other outdoor celebrities expected include:

• "World's Best All Around Shooter," competitive shooter Doug Koenig

• RedHead pro hunting team members Jerry Martin and John Paul Morris

• Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine pro team member Ott DeFoe

• 2013 Miss New York USA, Joanne Nosuchinsky

• Legendary angler and television host Jimmy Houston, of "Jimmy Houston Outdoors."

The celebrities will be available to sign autographs from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and visitors are encouraged to receive only one autograph per celebrity..

Others expected include:

• Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris

• Bass Pro Shops Director of Conservation Martin Mac Donald,

• City of Utica Mayor Robert Palmieri

• Bass Pro Shops Store Manager Joe Chaney

The 60,000-square-foot store is a Bass Pro Outpost, which has a smaller footprint than full-size locations. The Utica store is about half the size of the Auburn location. Read more about it.

The opening is also being pitched as a fundraiser to assist conservation efforts. For every dollar spent during the Evening for Conservation, 50 cents will be donated to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation's "More Fish" campaign to conserve fish and their habitats.

Local representatives from the National Wild Turkey Federation, Quality Deer Management Association, Ducks Unlimited, and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation will be on hand.

The store is located at the Riverside Center, 710 Horatio Street.

View the full article on The Syracuse Outdoors Blog