Contributed by Joe Doucette

Do you have the mid winter blues? Are you itching to go outside?
Maybe you want to see the latest in outdoor gear?
The Elko Sportsmans Expo has the cure for all your ailments.  

March 7 & 8

For the fourth year in a row, the Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) will host the Elko Sportsman’s Expo in partnership with the Ruby Mountain Rio’s chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).

In 2019, more than 40 vendors joined the Elko Sportsman’s Expo for two days of everything outdoors. Camo clothing, boating, OHV’s, RV’s, taxidermy, firearms and more can be found at the Expo.

Every year NDOW provides the FREE Youth Activity Room where children can participate in archery, fly tying, LaserShot (a shooting skills game), decorate wildlife t-shirts and learn about Nevada’s wildlife with hands on skins, skulls, antlers and horns. This year’s sponsors include Gateway RV Center, Gun World and Archery, 5th Gear Powersports, Riverton Elko and Hilton Garden Inn.  Media sponsors are Elko Daily Free Press and Elko Broadcasting Company.

Visitors walking through the show will see many local businesses with products geared towards the outdoors as well as many non-profit organizations related to outdoor recreation. Besides the sponsors, a few of the companies and organizations include Tshawbitts Metal Designs, Wonrate Gear, Get Rattled, Silver Sage Wildlife Art, Mule Deer Foundation, Nevada Outdoorsmen in Wheelchairs, Nevada Outdoor School, Elko Archery Club and a whole lot more.

NDOW will have a taxidermy exhibit displaying animals that may be seen while recreating outdoors, giving them a close-up look at these beautiful animals. The Operation Game Thief trailer will be there with animals that have been seized by game wardens, often with the help of calls from concerned citizens while in the field. 

“We are in our 5th year of the Elko Sportsman’s Expo, and it just keeps getting bigger and better,” says Julie Gabrielson, NDOW Conservation Educator. “Our goal is not just a great social and shopping event for outdoorsmen, but we also aim to expose and educate anyone and everyone to different outdoor activities and the wildlife that can be found in our great state of Nevada.”

Vendors will also be providing prizes for the free raffle that everyone attending the Expo can participate in. Entrance to the Expo is free of charge.  

Proceeds from this year’s Expo will be used by the Ruby Mountain Rios and NDOW to promote wildlife education programs such as NWTF’s youth group Jakes, NDOW’s Trout in the Classroom, as well as many others.

The Nevada Department of Wildlife (NDOW) protects, restores and manages fish and wildlife, and promotes fishing, hunting, and boating safety. NDOW’s wildlife and habitat conservation efforts are primarily funded by sportsmen’s license and conservation fees and a federal surcharge on hunting and fishing gear. Support wildlife and habitat conservation in Nevada by purchasing a hunting, fishing, or combination license. Find us on Facebook, Twitter or visit us at www.ndow.org.