CONSERVATION CORNER
Expo Features Top Seminar Speakers
by James L. Cummins

The sixth annual spring Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Expo, which will be held on February 25 - 27 at the Canton/Madison County Multipurpose Complex in Canton, Mississippi, will feature several top attractions and seminar speakers. According to Billy Van Devender, President of the Mississippi Fish and Wildlife Foundation, "Everyone will enjoy the many seminars. We have scheduled some top seminar speakers and are very fortunate to be attracting such talent."

Paul Meek, a twenty-nine year veteran turkey call, fishing lure, deer lure and scents manufacturer, will be presenting a unique seminar for kids and beginners on turkey calling titled "Hands-On Turkey Calling For Kids And Beginners." He will have a short discussion on how to make turkey call sounds then each participant in the seminar will have the opportunity to put different calls in their hands and work with them making turkey call sounds. This is a seminar every parent with a beginning turkey hunter will want to bring their son or daughter to. Seminar times are: Saturday, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm.

Due to the popularity of his seminars, Terry Vandeventer, a professional herpetologist, will be at the Expo each day with his live snakes. Vandeventer has hunted and studied reptiles throughout the world. His snake demonstrations are seen by over 70,000 people annually. He will discuss their life histories, habits and their effects on people, good and bad. Seminar times are: Friday, 7:00 pm; Saturday, 3:00 pm; and Sunday, 3:00 pm.

Anyone interested in dogs will want to come see Bill Matney so he can teach you "How To Talk Dog." Bill will take you on a journey into the mind of your dog to help better understand how they learn. No lofty ideas, just a plain and simple straight forward discussion on how to talk dog. Bill shows you how to communicate with your dog with practical principles and positive displacement that teaches you how to teach your dog to behave and also do neat tricks. Bill will teach you how to make life with your dog happy and safe for year of loyal companionship and faithful obedience. Bill has appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman and Pet Stars in California. Seminar times are: Friday, 5:00 pm; Saturday, 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm; and Sunday, 2:00 pm.

Michael Musgrave will be at the Expo discussing falconry and showing his hunting partners. As Michael will explain in his seminars, these birds are not "pets," they are hunting partners. Even though there is a strong devotion to the birds, they are free to go anytime they enter the field to hunt. If you have any questions about falconry, ask Michael at his seminars or stop by his booth at the Expo. Seminar times are: Friday, 6:00 pm; Saturday, 11:00 am and 4:00 pm; and Sunday, 1:00 pm.

Show Hours are: February 25, Friday, 3 pm - 9 pm; February 26, Saturday, 10 am - 8 pm; February 27, 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.