February 9, 2004

Fish And Wildlife Expo Slated For February 27-29
by James L. Cummins

The annual Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Expo will be held on February 27 - 29 at the Canton/Madison County Multipurpose Complex in Canton, Mississippi. The Complex is located on Soldier's Colony Road and Watford Drive, which is near the new Nissan Plant.

For three days anglers, hunters and outdoor enthusiasts can get the latest information and equipment on their favorite outdoor activity. Emphasis will be on fishing, hunting, camping and other spring and summer outdoor activities. The Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Expo, hosted by Wildlife Mississippi, is one of the largest of its kind in the state.

Jeff Clark, President of Wildlife Mississippi, stated "Even though this is a new location for us, we are expecting a crowd of more than 10,000 people to attend for the wide array of outdoor equipment, supplies and services, all at the right prices. Kids can have a great time and the whole family can learn about conservation through the many exhibits. It's a real bargain. Proceeds from the Expo will go to conservation projects throughout Mississippi."

The Expo will feature approximately 100 exhibitors selling boats, hunting gear, tree stands, game calls, boats, fishing supplies, wildlife art and books, outdoor apparel, ladies gifts, game calls, guided trips, kids exhibits and much more. Government conservation agencies will be on hand to answer your most difficult questions about conservation.

According to Clark, "Anyone who loves fishing, hunting, camping, wildlife viewing or just being outdoors will find something of interest at the Expo."

Along with the exhibitors and the many hands-on events, the Expo will feature the "The Bass Tub," one of the top attractions on the show circuit. "The Bass Tub" is a 42-foot long portable fish tank which holds 5,000 gallons of water. It will be stocked with native fish species. During the seminars, spectators will get a "fish's eye view" of how fish react to lures. They will demonstrate various techniques and what baits to use while fishing. There will be five seminars at The Bass Tub over the 3-day Expo.

If you have wondered about the score of that buck on your wall, you can bring it to the Expo on Friday, between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. and have it scored by the Magnolia Records Program on Saturday. Space will be available for displaying of the mounts. All mounts will need to be picked up by 4 p.m. Sunday. All whitetail deer taken legally within the state of Mississippi during any prior hunting season are eligible to participate in the Magnolia Records Program. All entrants meeting the minimum requirements of the Magnolia Records Program will receive an official certificate from the Magnolia Records Program.

Show Hours are: February 27, Friday, 3 pm - 9 pm; February 28, Saturday, 10 am - 8 pm; February 29, Sunday, 12 pm - 5 pm. Admission is: Under Six - Free; Six to Twelve - $4.00; Adults - $6.00. Anyone bringing a can good to the Expo for Wildlife Mississippi's "Hunt Against Hunger" program can receive $1.00 off of the admission price (limit one per attendee). All can goods will be donated to needy families in Central Mississippi.
James L. Cummins is Executive Director of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation in Stoneville, Mississippi. Known as "Wildlife Mississippi," the Foundation is a non-profit, conservation organization founded to conserve, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and plant resources throughout Mississippi. Their web site is www.wildlifemiss.org.