Arizona's Largest Outdoor-Sports Show Grows in 2002

The second annual Phoenix International Sportsmen's Exposition will run February 28 through March 3, Thursday through Sunday, at the Arizona State Fairgrounds. This once-a-year event now offers Arizona’s largest selection of sportfishing boats, plus products and services for travelers, anglers, campers, hunters, boaters, ATVers and recreational-vehicle enthusiasts, also showcasing wildlife paintings, sculpture, photography, leathercraft and log furniture. The show will feature a half-dozen exhibitors offering African photo and hunt safaris.

The leading hunting- and fishing-related publications, websites, television and radio programs will also join the 2002 Phoenix ISE.

New features in 2002 include the Arizona Outdoors Building will be filled with interactive and educational exhibits for the entire family. This special building is hosted by the Department of Game & Fish, National Parks, Bureau of Land Managerment, Arizona State Parks, Tonto National Forest, Maricopa County Parks, and the Arizona Public Lands Information Center.

• Best-Of-The-West Fly-Casting Competition, with Men's, Women’s and new Youth Divisions. Adult finalists will be invited to ISE's Utah event in March for finals: grand prize for each adult division is a $6,000 custom Hyde drift boat. The top three youth champions in Phoenix will take home Scientific Anglers rods, reels, line, flies and other fishing gear

• Lawry's Taste of the Outdoors fish- and game-cooking demos, hosted by chef Lisa Marie Freeman

• Youth events, including 48-foot-long catch-and-release trout pond, open Friday evening and run all weekend

• Arizonans for Wildlife Conservation Pavilion, with more than 20 different hunting and fishing clubs and organizations; these are the experts on what to do, when and where throughout the state

Admission: $8; Youth 12 and under are admitted for free Hours: Noon until 8pm Thursday and Friday, Feb. 28 & Mar. 1; 10am until 7pm Saturday, March 2; 10am until 5pm Sunday, March 3