The Elko Sportsman’s Expo

Article and photos submitted by Julie Gabrielson

Elko Conference Center   //   Free Admission

Friday and Saturday, February 27 & 28   //    9am – 5pm

The Elko Sportsman’s Expo began in 2014 with a local radio station. In 2017, that radio station sold, but prior to the sale, the Nevada Department of Wildlife was given the opportunity to adopt the show.  Seeing an opportunity for conservation outreach and education, NDOW’s eastern region team has kept the Elko Sportsman’s Expo running.  

Hosted in downtown Elko, Nevada with the help of NWTF Ruby Mountain Rios, this is a non-profit show, and we focus on outdoor/wildlife education and outreach. We’re intimate in size, but we regularly see a great crowd each year, and no matter their placement, vendors don’t get lost in the flow.  Outdoor related retail vendors, NGOs, and a free wildlife and conservation-based activity room for the kids are a big draw for the community.  We target the sportsman in the immediate and surrounding areas, but we also aim to keep the admission free so it’s appealing to those that are unfamiliar with the world of outdoor recreation and Nevada’s wildlife. 

2026 is the Elko Sportsman’s Expo’s 12th year and is co-sponsored by 5th Gear Powersports, Riverton Elko, and Muley Maniacs. 

Visitors can expect to see retail vendors with clothing, camo, OHVs, vehicles, archery gear, elk ivory jewelry, optics, tripods, wildlife art, packs, and more!  

The kid’s activity room offers fly tying, an indoor pellet gun range, archery range, hands on with wildlife furs, horns, antlers, and antlers, and a special wildlife education tote they can color and take home.

Whether you’ve never been to this show, or you attend every year, this is a great show to get out of the house on our cold winter days.