Children listen to a musket demonstration at last years Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day. OQUOSSOC — The 14th annual Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day Hosted by the Rangeley Guides’ and Sportsmen’s Association will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 at the clubhouse on Old Skiway Road.

“A celebration of Maine’s outdoor sporting life,” is what members of the RRG&SA call Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day. Modeled after an old time sportsmen’s rendezvous, it features fishing, hunting, trapping with over 20 sporting and conservation exhibitors, educational lectures and demonstrations, contests and games for youngsters and archery and shotgun demonstrations.

There is no charge for admission to the event or for parking.

Featured this year will be a young man who is a rising star among fly tiers, Sam Kenney. Kenney is only 11 years old and already an award-winning fly tier. “I became interested in tying flies when my dad and I were walking in the woods,” explains Kenney. “My dad picked up a feather and said, ‘I wonder if people tie flies with this kind of feather?’ I asked him what a fly was and he said it was a type of lure for fishing. I went home and tied all the feathers I could find onto worm hooks. I tied all the flies without a vise.” Kenney’s flies and fly tying skills will be on exhibit during the day along with other expert fly tiers and fly-fishing displays and demonstrations.

Fly-casting contests are scheduled for both youth and adults. Prizes will be awarded with several winners possible. Some of the best fly casters in the region are expected to exhibit their skills.

The day will include demonstrations and hands-on instruction in both archery and shot gunning.

The Rangeley Trap and Skeet Club will host a demonstration of trap and sporting clay shooting at its nearby range. Qualified club members will provide hands-on instruction for youngsters in gun handling and safety.

RRG&SA archery director “Fletch” Dudley will demonstrate current archery and bow hunting techniques as well as provide hands-on instruction for youngsters.

Additional entertaining events for youth will be a fishing contest held on the Club’s fish pond and a hands-on pond safari where youngsters capture and observe insects. Youngsters will also have the opportunity to carry fish and help stock the pond.

The Maine Primitive Skills School will demonstrate a variety of survival skills including fire starting and construction of birch bark baskets. Dog handling and retrieving skills will be demonstrated on land and water.

Game meals will also be available continuing the day’s theme. Buffalo and elk burgers will be offered as well as sausage sandwiches and Canadian bacon egg muffins.

Two trailer displays will be on exhibit. The IF&W’s Operation Game Thief Trailer will be in attendance and an exhibit trailer will show the process of making maple syrup. Harold Porter’s antique Coleman collection will be on display and a working bee hive exhibited.

Many new vendors will be present offering custom snowshoes, wood turnings, pewter wildlife designs, outdoor sculptures, wildlife jewelry and antique sporting goods. Other vendors include sporting art work, honey, solar art glass, decoys, hunting knives, Buffalo products, and boat and canoe restoration. Many outdoor oriented Rangeley organizations will be in attendance.

Beginning at 4 p.m. the new RRG&SA shooting range will be holding an open house and will be available for use. Inquire at the RRG&SA desk for directions.

All these activities will be accompanied by the lilting sounds of the bagpipe.

The current schedule of events is as follows:
* Pond Ecology Safari, 9-10 a.m.
* Survival skills, on-going
* Youth Fishing Contest sign up, 9 to 11 a.m.
* Release of trout to fish pond, 9 a.m.
* Sign up for Trap Shooting, 10 to noon
* Archery Demo & Lessons, 10 to 1 p.m.
* Lunch-Game meals on Sale, noon
* Hunting Dog Field Trail, 12 to 3 p.m.
* Open Fly Casting Contest, 10 to 2 p.m.
* Create-a-Critter & Nature Crafts, 2 to 3:30 p.m.
* Adult Fly-casting Contest, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.
* Open House RRG&SA Shooting Range, 4 p.m.