Tuesday, October 2, 2007

Outdoor Outfitters Retail Stores

There are so many outdoor outfitters available to us that it can be difficult to make up our minds where to go to find all our hunting needs. Specialty outfitters and local farm /hardware stores all vie for our consumer dollar; whether it be in person, catalog ,or catalog online. The opportunity to travel a few weeks ago gave me a chance to "kick the tires"of the different retail outlets, figuratively speaking. A lot depends on where you live and what is close by. Then again, planning a special trip isn't a bad idea to checkout that gun, bow, fishing pole or canoe that is on the "want list". Leaving Jamestown, N.D. on Tuesday, September 25th, we headed east on I-94. The next major city we stopped at was Fargo. We discovered in January that the Scheels chain had built a 196,000 square foot(4 acre) site. Absolutely the biggest free standing establishment of this chain store I have seen. It opened this summer on July 1st, so we stopped to check inside.Fargo Scheels I found it very bright and inviting inside. Spacing between clothes racks, very nice and the racks not so packed the clothes might fall off if you brush by to closely. It is a fact I like "Bright and Neat". Back to S 45th Street, heading south over the I-94 bridge, we found another outfitter - GanderMTN. I was not enticed to stay and browse very long by my surroundings, not to say it isn't a good supplier...I just like atmospheres that are brighter.Gander MTN Traveling on down the road passing other outfitters we made our way to Owatonna, MN. I had another stop to make;) May be you already know where I'm headed. Ah YES!Cabela's...One of the closest stores to home associated with this company.Cabela's Sign at OwatonnaCabela's Owatonna,Mn.Cabela's In door Mountain It was very exhilarating. Running from the clothes,shoes ,guns, archery and binoculars etc...just like a child in a toy store. Time went by to quickly before the need to be back on the road arrived. Reading some fellow bloggers - such as Dana over at "The Wild Woodswoman" she referred to the Cabela's Master catalog Fall 2007 on August 11th,2007 ( I am among the group to have one too ;) ) Was able to follow along. Preach IT Dana! Jody posted on September 20th ,over at "thehunterswife.net" that they are looking forward to the opening of a new Cabela's store over at Hammond,Indiana in a few weeks, October 19th. All of us know where she will be shopping for some important Christmas gifts. There are many others who have posted as well on their shopping preferences. Bet you can literally feel a connection to what they are sharing. I know I can... POST UPDATE : You may have caught the comment by Kristine...She said that over at "skinnymoose.com/tailsandtrails", Rick ,was able to get a media tour. He got to wander around the East Hartford, Connecticut Cabela's that will be opening on October 19th. I think you would enjoy seeing all his pictures. Click the link over in the side bar so you can get over there!

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rick over at Tails and Trails did a great post about an advance preview of a new Cabela's store that he was able to get. Can you imagine being in the store before it was full of people? What fun! He has some great pictures.

CDGardens said...

Kristine - Thanks for the 411 about the Cabela's post over at Tails and Trails. It makes my heart skip ;) Think I will add a P.S. to send the folks on over to visit Rick.

Gives me some ideas about the Rapid City Store next year.

Anonymous said...

Very gut..

CDGardens said...

Pipe - Thanks / Muchas Gracias for stopping by to check-in.

No one said...

I do wish I could do more shopping at any of those places! Our closest store is Gander, then Cabela's. I don't even know where the closest Scheel's is actually. We do have an REI within 90 minutes drive. The "Ski, Bike, Climb" wear can be good for the "Hunt, Fish, Camp" women too. As long as you don't need it to be camo, try some of the brands more commonly known to skiers, or hikers. "Ski, Bike, Climb" vendors been selling specific products for women, much longer than the hunting-related companies have been.

CDGardens said...

Dana - Thanks for your in-put on what to look for in clothing.

So far I have used only the winter clothes I have available to me, nothing special. However, my work boots get awful heavy going through snow and pretty noisy on dry leaves. Need a change!

We have a big Scheels store in a mall located about an hour away. They have a log home type setting I really,really,
like very much.

I feel like I sound pretty silly , becoming excited about getting to shop...;)