Fifth annual Wildlife Expo draws tens of thousands

 Fifth annual Wildlife Expo draws tens of thousands

            An estimated 42,000 visitors to the fifth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo Sept. 25-27 show that Oklahomans love the outdoors, and officials with the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation are calling the huge event an equally huge success.
            The Expo's visitors included 16,000 who attended the event Friday, which was also School Day when students across the state took field trips with their schools to the event, held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City. The event also drew families, friends and individuals with all levels of outdoor experience.
            “It was a huge effort that resulted in getting our message out to so many people,” said Richard Hatcher, director of the Wildlife Department.
            Additionally, guests enjoyed their time spent at the Expo, many of whom came for the first time.
            “Preliminary survey results showed 95 percent of attendees rated their overall Expo experience as good to excellent,” Hatcher said. “It is also great to see that 55 percent of those surveyed on Saturday and Sunday reported that it was their first time attending the Expo.”
            Hatcher also noted that it is obvious that the Wildlife Department and its partners in the Expo are making a difference in the lives of thousands of Oklahomans through the event.
            Visitors tried outdoor activities ranging from shooting sports to kayaking and received hands-on instruction from volunteers at each activity. More than 5,000 shooters participated in shotgun shooting, firing off more than 25,000 rounds of shotgun shells. Additionally, more than 73,000 pellets were fired at the air rifle range set up for Expo guest.
            The Expo also offered fishing opportunities at a stocked pond on the Expo grounds, where nearly 17,000 hooks were baited with worms so that guests could catch their own fish.
            Additionally, thousands of arrows were shot at the Expo's archery area, and visitors consumed just as many pounds of wild game meat at the popular “Taste of the Wild” booth. Dutch oven demonstrators also served samples of camp-style food and provided seminars on the basics of Dutch oven cooking.
            Other activities at the Expo included ATV rides, birdwatching and more in addition to booths and seminars about dog training, game and fish management, wild game cooking, mountain biking camping, backpacking, furbearer trapping and calling and more. Additionally, visitors were able to shop at the Expo's Outdoor Marketplace, a large area where vendors provided outdoor gear and services ranging from small gifts to all terrain utility vehicles and chainsaw carvings.
            Held at the Lazy E Arena, just north of Oklahoma City, the free Oklahoma Wildlife Expo is hosted by the Wildlife Department in partnership with a range of organizations, other state agencies, individuals and outdoor-related companies. The event is designed to perpetuate an interest in the outdoors and conservation through hands-on education and learning opportunities and to promote and develop appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources.
            Wildlife Department officials say plans are already underway for the sixth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo, slated for Sept. 24-26, 2010.