The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) is returning to the International Sportsmen’s Exposition (ISE) at Cal Expo in Sacramento from Jan. 21-24. This is the largest hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation show of its kind in northern California.
Wildlife officers, fisheries and wildlife scientists, hunter education instructors, license agents and many other CDFW staff will be available during the show to answer questions and provide information regarding fishing and hunting opportunities throughout the state. A full-service license booth located in the Pavilion Building (space 3700) will sell all licenses, tags, report cards and warden stamps.
For the third year, CDFW’s top leadership will also hold a panel discussion about topics of interest to California hunters and anglers. The open-forum panel will be held in the California Sportsmen’s Theater in the Pavilion Building on Saturday, Jan. 23 from 1-2 p.m. Members of the audience are encouraged to ask questions of the panel.
“We look forward to meeting with hunters and anglers face to face and talking with them about topics of particular interest and concern to them,” said Charlton H. Bonham, CDFW’s Director. “We welcome questions and critique from those who share our passion for wildlife conservation.”
Additional CDFW booths and highlights include:
- Online Harvest Reporting kiosk — Tag holders can log onto their online profile to view and complete all tags that require reporting. The tag holder will receive a report confirmation number that must be written in the space provided on the report card. The harvest report card will not have to be mailed in physically. CDFW encourages all tag holders to use this online service to meet their harvest reporting requirements.
- Wildlife Officer recruitment — CDFW’s Law Enforcement trailer will be on display outside of the Pavilion Building, featuring an impressive display of taxidermy and a free enclosed laser-shot hunting simulator game. Wildlife officers, including statewide recruiting Lieutenant Specialist Chris Stoots, will be on hand to answer questions about employment opportunities.
- Wildlife Officer Jerry Karnow and patrol horse Modoc — On Saturday, Jan. 23, stop by to meet Warden Karnow (from the TV show Wild Justice) and his patrol horse Modoc. Get an autograph, have your photo taken with Modoc and hear stories of their adventures.
- Youth fishing — Bring your child to the Youth Fair Expo Center to fish for beautiful rainbow trout supplied by CDFW. Each child who participates will go home with a California Fishing Passport book, an official stamp and a fish identification book containing pictures and information about 150 different species of California fish!
- Learn How to be “Bear Aware” — CDFW staff will demonstrate how to keep a campsite safe from unwanted ursine visitors.
- 2016 Warden Stamps – At the main booth, CDFW will be offering and promoting this year’s stamp, which features a bighorn sheep. Proceeds from the $5 stamp support wildlife officers and K-9 teams and help fund the purchase of necessary law enforcement equipment.
- Outdoor California — Free copies of CDFW’s award-winning magazine will be available (as supplies last) at the main booth. Yearly subscriptions may also be purchased for $15.
- CDFW’s First Trout Planting Truck — This beautiful 1925 Dodge pickup was the first truck used for planting trout. The fish were transported in big milk cans. It has been completely refurbished and will be on display near the Youth Fair Expo Center. It still runs and it looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor.
- Youth Essay Contest – Sunday Jan. 24 at 3:30 p.m., CDFW and the Wildlife Officer Foundation will be awarding this year’s contest winner, 13-year-old Brian McCoard of Cool, a lifetime hunting license for his outstanding essay emphasizing the theme of “Passing on the Tradition.” Stop by to congratulate McCoard and get information on how to become the next Youth contest winner.
The Cal Expo State Fairgrounds are located at 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento. ISE show hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $15 for adults (door sales are cash only, although tickets may be purchased in advance online). Youths under age 16 are free. There is a $10 charge to park on the grounds.
For additional information, schedules and to purchase tickets, please visit the ISE webpage at www.sportsexpos.com/attend/sacramento/.
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