ANSWER CALL OF THE WILD AT EXPO
Expo coaches veterans, beginners in all aspects of outdoor life
Experienced adventurers and beginners can learn to handle and shoot a firearm or a bow and arrow, catch fish, hunt for ducks and more at New Mexico Outdoors Expo.
If you’ve ever wanted to learn to harvest your own wild game, a natural alternative to commercially produced meat, the annual New Mexico Outdoor Expo is a great place to start. Participants of all ages can learn to safely handle and shoot a firearm or a bow and arrow, catch fish, hunt for ducks, drive an off-highway vehicle, paddle a kayak or climb a rock wall at the annual New Mexico Department of Game and Fish’s event this weekend at the city of Albuquerque’s Shooting Range Park.
The free event for all ages runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the park on the West Mesa.
“Visit our expo, and we’ll show you how to get the best out of our great outdoors,” says Alexa Sandoval, department director. “Come learn skills that can provide a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment.”
Staffers and volunteers will be on hand to teach fishing basics, such as casting, knot and fly tying and the use of hooks, bait, lures and flies. Visitors can practice catching and releasing live fish from one of three artificial ponds set up on site.
Guests also can watch live sport fish react to fishing lures trailed through the water inside a 5,000-gallon aquarium. Department fisheries biologists will answer questions about fish and angling opportunities available in New Mexico.
Those interested in shooting will find several ranges staffed by certified instructors, where participants can learn to safely handle and fire .22-caliber rifles and pistols, shotguns and muzzleloaders. (Participants in shooting events must be at least 8 years old.)
Visitors will find an entertaining and informative simulated duck-hunting station where participants can shoot blank shells at decoys launched into the air and watch as trained dogs retrieve them. There also will be a clay target shooting range where participants can test their shotgun shooting skills on moving targets.
Guests can try shooting at a traditional bull’seye or three-dimensional animal targets on the archery range, or try their hand at throwing a spear from an ancient hunting tool, the atlatl.
Department wildlife biologists will be on hand to answer questions about hunting for the state’s many different game animals, and visitors will be able to see and feel animal pelts and skulls.
There will also be a rock-climbing wall, kayaking pool and all-terrain vehicles for participants to ride. For a map showing all the stations available, visit the department website, www.wildlife.state.nm.us.
Other vendors include shooting instructors and archery, firearms, kayak and sporting goods dealers. Numerous nonprofit, governmental, sporting and conservation groups also will be on hand to provide guests information about the state’s many outdoor recreational opportunities.
There also will be door prizes and raffles throughout the weekend.