07-23-2010, 02:10 PM
Some would say if you have never had a chance to catch a fish, then you really haven't experienced Oklahoma, but you can at this year's sixth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo slated for Sept. 25-26.
The Wildlife Expo, held at the Lazy E Arena just north of Oklahoma City, provides visitors a chance to fish for free in a stocked pond. Other angling-related opportunities at the Expo include seminars, bowfishing simulations, kids casting games, fly fishing and fly-tying lessons, fish filleting demonstrations and exhibits hosted by Wildlife Department fisheries personnel. Visitors can speak with experts on a range of fishing topics such as the Wildlife Department's paddlefish program, black bass tactics, fishing tackle and more. Visitors can even sample delicious fried fish at the Expo's popular Taste of the Wild booth, where volunteers serve up free samples of wild game snacks.
According to Damon Springer, aquatic resource education coordinator for the Wildlife Department, the event can be the springboard for a lifetime of fishing excitement.
"Oklahoma has thousands of ponds, lakes and streams that are teeming with fish, and several are open to public access," Springer said. "Even with the abundance of open fishing waters, there are so many folks who still have not had the opportunity to fish. The Expo offers those folks with little to no previous exposure to fishing the opportunity to learn basic fishing and safety at the pond."
Fishing only scratches the surface of the activities, events, seminars and other opportunities provided at the Expo. Visitors can shoot shotguns and archery equipment with hands-on instruction from experts, ride an ATV, attend a hunting dog seminar, learn to identify wildlife and even paddle a kayak in an indoor pond built right into the floor of the Lazy E Arena especially for the Expo. While activities at the event are free, visitors can shop for outdoor goods and services at the Outdoor Marketplace, an area on the Lazy E designated for vendors showcasing their outdoor-related products.
The Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma's largest outdoor recreation event, drawing thousands of people to the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, for a weekend of hands-on outdoor recreation and learning. The Expo is hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies.
Designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts, the Expo offers something for everyone to try while promoting and instilling an appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources.
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25-26. Log on towildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year's Expo activities.
The Wildlife Expo, held at the Lazy E Arena just north of Oklahoma City, provides visitors a chance to fish for free in a stocked pond. Other angling-related opportunities at the Expo include seminars, bowfishing simulations, kids casting games, fly fishing and fly-tying lessons, fish filleting demonstrations and exhibits hosted by Wildlife Department fisheries personnel. Visitors can speak with experts on a range of fishing topics such as the Wildlife Department's paddlefish program, black bass tactics, fishing tackle and more. Visitors can even sample delicious fried fish at the Expo's popular Taste of the Wild booth, where volunteers serve up free samples of wild game snacks.
According to Damon Springer, aquatic resource education coordinator for the Wildlife Department, the event can be the springboard for a lifetime of fishing excitement.
"Oklahoma has thousands of ponds, lakes and streams that are teeming with fish, and several are open to public access," Springer said. "Even with the abundance of open fishing waters, there are so many folks who still have not had the opportunity to fish. The Expo offers those folks with little to no previous exposure to fishing the opportunity to learn basic fishing and safety at the pond."
Fishing only scratches the surface of the activities, events, seminars and other opportunities provided at the Expo. Visitors can shoot shotguns and archery equipment with hands-on instruction from experts, ride an ATV, attend a hunting dog seminar, learn to identify wildlife and even paddle a kayak in an indoor pond built right into the floor of the Lazy E Arena especially for the Expo. While activities at the event are free, visitors can shop for outdoor goods and services at the Outdoor Marketplace, an area on the Lazy E designated for vendors showcasing their outdoor-related products.
The Wildlife Expo is Oklahoma's largest outdoor recreation event, drawing thousands of people to the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, for a weekend of hands-on outdoor recreation and learning. The Expo is hosted by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation in partnership with a wide range of other state agencies, private individuals and outdoor-related companies.
Designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for all types of outdoor enthusiasts, the Expo offers something for everyone to try while promoting and instilling an appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources.
The Wildlife Expo will be held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. Expo hours will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 25-26. Log on towildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on this year's Expo activities.