Cabelas, one just opened right by me in hamburg PA.

I am an hour away from a BPS in Auburn Hills, MI and a Cabela's in Dundee, MI. I would go to Cabela's any day. They area both the same basic store as everyone points out, but I've found over the years that BPS can be a lot like Kmart - they have a ton of stuff, but never really what you want.

Cabelas! i have orderd magazines from each place. Still have not gotten one from bps but have gotten 3 from cabelas. lol.

You can throw Gander Mountain n the same category as BPS and Cabelas. Very good selection of hunting, fishing equipment, reasonable selection of camping gear. In addition to the standard outdoor lines, they carry their own line of clothing they call the Guide Series which I have found to be of very good quality and performance. The primary difference is Gander no longer does catalog sales, sold it off years ago. Also their website has not come up to the others standards and they do not offer online shopping. If you do get one locally, watch for end-of-season sales, you can really get good deals.....

I live in Illinois and order mostly from Cabelas and a little from Bass Pro.
Cabelas can get my things to me in 3 days just about every time I order. When I order from Bass it takes at least 6 days. Cabelas comes from Nebraska and Bass Pro from Missouri. Bass Pro should reach me sooner. Bass Pro also uses the USPS as much as possible. Cabelas uses UPS. Maybe the difference there.

we have BPS here but i like ordering out of cabelas mag. better

I will never again darken the doorways to Bass Pro Shops, nor will they ever make a dime off me again.

I'm about 130 miles from Springfield and their headquarters and have been there on a number of occasions. The last time I went there, I actually had money I could spend. About $1500.00 worth. When I got there, I couldn't find one of the things I was looking for. After several salespeople walked past my puzzled self without even acknowledging that I was there, I (after about 30 minutes) walked up to two salesmen, interrupted their conversation about what they did the past weekend, and asked for some help. They seemed perturbed and when I told them what I was looking for they said they didn't have it. If they'd have left it at that, I'd have been happy, but then the jerk lied to me and told me that no such thing was ever made. The item I was inquiring about was an insulated coat, reversible, with orange on one side, and camo on the other. I left fuming. The next morning I drove from Tulsa Ok to Mitchell South Dakota to Cabelas and bought what I wanted, and alot more. I was so happy they put a Cabelas in KC because I'd rather drive 300 miles than 1000. And I love their stores. It is so much fun shopping in person there than by mail order.

Iffin I was to try an' land me a big ol' bucketmouth, or sic my hounds on a big ol'rascal of a buck down by da akern tree, shore as shootin' I'd head me over to unna dem Bass Pro Shops.

However, I live north of the Mason/Dixon line. Therefore it is in my humble opinion that the Cabela's stores cater more to those who deal with colder weather and different hunting and fishing experiences/techniques than it's southern cousin, bass pro. I think Cabelas clothing, especially long johns and sock are second to none. And to clear up an earlier question, Gander Mountain sold all of their catalog buisness to Cabelas about 8-10 years ago.

My wife and I figured out that I have only spent $100 in the past 4 years at Cabelas, yet I have purchased over $1000 worth of stuff. How? We exclusively use our Cabelas Visa for payment of our bills, gas, and groceries (even put the down payment on my truck on the card, the dealership wasn't happy as it cuts into their profit but I said I would just leave if they didn't like it). We pay the card off each month so we don't owe extra, and I get all the points to spend as I wish. It's like getting free stuff. She's happy, I'm happy. The whole trick is making sure to make you pay off the card balance each month. I'm sure you all knew that though.

I have been to 2 Cabelas's and the Bass Pro in Springfield many times. I like the sales people at Cabela's better. They seem more knowledgeable and can help you more. Cabela's also has much better customer service. You can buy something in a store and return it through the online service but Bass Pro only lets you take it back to the store where bought and if that is a ways away it cost you a lot to drive there for a return on something that was faulty anyway. Don't get me wrong I buy plenty at Bass Pro every August at their hunting show. It is a good time and great bargains.

we have a basspro in nashville....and it is great......hunters paradise i could not leave........basspro is a real good store....