Sportsman's Expo Scheduled in Coeur d'Alene

The Idaho Wildlife Council has scheduled the seventh annual ANorth Idaho Sportsman=s Expo and Big Game Show@ for February 1-2 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Show hours are Saturday, February 1 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; and Sunday, February 2 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Cost of admission is $3 for adults, persons under age 12 enter free. This is the eighth such expo, and it has developed into a great event. In addition to the North Idaho Wildlife Center, the two large fairgrounds exhibit buildings will be needed to house all the events and displays. Exhibits and commercial booths will include taxidermy, wildlife art, hunting and fishing equipment. Sportsmen's club members will be present to meet with sportsmen. The Coeur d=Alene Bowmen will have a temporary archery range set up so kids can experience to fun of shooting a bow and instruction on how to shoot properly. The Coeur d'Alene Lake Anglers Association will have a fish tank set up and stocked with hatchery trout. Equipment will be provided, and kids can fish for a nominal fee. The North Idaho Hunting Retriever Trial Association will hold retriever demonstrations. A concession stand will be available with food and drinks. If the weather cooperates and enables us to haul a 26-foot trailer from Boise to Coeur d'Alene, we plan to have a large display trailer highlighting Idaho Fish and Game law enforcement activities, projects and seized items. The trailer is in high demand, so we cannot fetch it well in advance. As long as the weather is reasonable good on January 28, we will drive it here for the show. One of the highlights is always the antler/horn display and competition. Current and retired Fish and Game employees and volunteers will be scoring hunter taken animals using the Boone and Crockett scoring system. There is no charge to enter as many specimens as you like. Anyone with an antlered or horned animal is encouraged to enter it into the show, mounted or not, regardless of year taken. Top scoring entries will receive ribbons and plaques. Specimens previously measured by an official measurer will not be scored again but will be placed on display. Antlers and horns may be dropped off Thursday from noon-7 pm., or Friday from noon-9pm. They may be picked up after 3 p.m. on Sunday, after people have had the opportunity to enjoy the display. Trophies will not be accepted on Saturday or Sunday. In past years, we have not taken trophies until Friday. People were very disappointed when they arrived to see we had only scored a few of the entries. We are asking that anyone planning to enter bring their trophy in on Thursday of at all possible. That way, we can have many of the entries measured prior to the opening of the show. Ice fishing opportunities are non-existent this winter, and not much is going on to satisfy the outdoor cravings of local sportsmen. With this event comes the opportunity to meet with others of similar interests to re-live the last hunting seasons, while we consider hunting and fishing outings to come. This is always a very enjoyable event. I hope you can attend.