Wyoming Outdoor Expo teaches outdoor skills

There is only one event in Wyoming where you can learn how to catch a fish, shoot a shotgun, paddle a canoe and identify birds in one weekend. The Wyoming Outdoor Expo in Casper has these activities and more May 9-11 at the Casper Events Center.

The event is open to the public on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and re-opens Friday from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Wyoming Outdoor Expo is free and boasts over 70 booths featuring hands-on activities and information to learn outdoor skills and explore outside. Participants of all ages and skill levels can visit booths to learn skills like fly casting, using binoculars, rock identification and following a blood trail.

“From fishing and hunting techniques to wildlife watching strategies and everything between, people new to the outdoors can talk to experts to learn how to get started in almost any outdoor hobby at Expo,” said Kathryn Boswell, Wyoming Game and Fish Department hunter and angler participation coordinator.

This year, Expo is focused on helping visitors complete their outdoor goals.

“People can follow four different trails — hunting, fishing, adventure or conservation,” said Boswell. “Trails are categories of booths that cover the how-to knowledge and resources. The goal is to get you ready to try new outdoor activities or improve on the skills you already have.”

The four trails include activities like:

• Hunting: Hunter safety and ethics, shotgun range, hunting dog demonstrations and the Wyoming Game and Fish Hunt planner

• Fishing: Fly tying and casting, and where to fish in Wyoming

• Adventure: Canoeing, snowshoeing and orienteering

• Conservation: Live amphibians of Wyoming, trail building and fish dissection

For an added challenge, on Friday evening and Saturday participants can earn a prize, while supplies last, for visiting at least two exhibits from each of the four outdoor trails on the Trek into Summer Challenge.

Youth 18 and under with ten continuous years of Wyoming residency will be entered into a drawing for additional prizes, including a lifetime bird/small game/fishing license and conservation stamp. Cards to track your trail progress are available upon arrival.

The Expo is an event in partnership between Game and Fish, the Wyoming State Parks and Cultural Resources - through the Office of Outdoor Recreation, Visit Casper and the Casper Events Center. Sponsors include 16 Wyoming outdoor organizations and businesses. More details and a full schedule of events is posted at wyomingexpo.com.