San Mateo Exposition is set for Feb. 2-6

The annual San Mateo International Sportsmen's Exposition is scheduled for Feb. 2-6 at the San Mateo County Expo Center in San Mateo, Calif.

San Mateo is located approximately 30 miles south of San Francisco, about a five-hour drive from the Carson City area.

The exposition is one of the largest and most popular outdoor sports shows on the West Coast and it is located next door to the world-famous Bay Meadows Race Track.

Although primarily known as one of the world's premier fly fishing shows, the expo also showcases a full range of quality fishing, hunting and shooting products, accessories, clothing, etc.

The five-day show will feature a wide variety of hunting and fishing services offered by guides, outfitters, lodges, etc. Those services book travel to a large number of fishing and hunting destinations in all of the western states, Alaska, Canada, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Hawaii, Mexico and as even as far away as Australia, Scotland, South Africa, and Switzerland.

In addition to all of the exhibitors and vendor booths, there will be many different things to see and enjoy including:

All-new world record bull elk mounts.

An African outfitter gathering.

A British Columbia Sportfishing Pavilion.

Displays of more than a dozen live game birds.

Fishing tackle repair clinics.

Game-cooking tips.

Llama-packing demonstrations.

Presentations by world champion elk caller Chad Schearer.

And there will also be thousands of new products to try and buy at show prices.

You'll be able to watch sporting dog demonstrations and try your hand at fly-casting or bass-casting.

For some unusual fun, you will have the chance to participate in virtual fish catching, a fish-fighting simulator which uses an actual fishing rod and reel in conjunction with a huge video screen.

Other activities include the Ducks Unlimited Third Annual Northern California Calling Contest, hosted by Trey Crawford, a three-time world champion duck caller, a unique pop-up target archery shooting range and a fly tying theater featuring many of the West's top fly tiers.

Show hours will be noon until 9 p.m. on Feb. 2-4, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Feb. 5 and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Feb. 6.

Admission is $9 for adults, $5 for seniors (65 and over) and youths, ages 12 and under, will be admitted free.

So, if you are a hunter, fisherman, boater or someone who is interested in the Great Outdoors, you might want to plan to travel to the San Mateo International Sportsmen's Exposition.

Remember those dates: Feb. 2-6.

For information, call the International Sportsmen's Exposition at (800) 545-6100 or visit their website at www.sportsexpos.com