NEWS RELEASE

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

February 12, 1998

CONTACT: Mark A. Trainor (850) 488-4676

OUTDOORS EXPO TO BENEFIT FWC PROGRAMS

The 1998 Frank Sargeant Outdoors Exposition has become the official show of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

The seventh annual exposition, the state's biggest outdoor show, sponsored by the Tampa Tribune, is Feb. 27 - March 1 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, east of Tampa.

The FWC, The Tampa Tribune and the Wildlife Foundation of Florida agreed to team up to help raise money for the state's conservation programs.

"This agreement allows the Wildlife Foundation to receive a portion of the profits from the show to use on FWC fishery and wildlife programs," said the agency's director of informational services, L. Ross Morrell.

The FWC received authorization from the 1997 Legislature to enter into exclusive partnerships and seek sponsors to assist in funding and development of key conservation programs.

At the expo, the FWC will have display space and an information booth for its popular "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" workshops. FWC fisheries biologist Paul Thomas will organize a children's fishing derby, which last year introduced 700 kids to fishing in the well-stocked lakes behind Expo Hall. Kids fishing derbies will go on all day Saturday, Feb. 28 and Sunday, March 1.

On Saturday, Feb. 28 from 1 to 7 p.m., FWC wildlife biologists will conduct five seminars on subjects such as small game hunting in Florida (Shane Fuller), duck hunting (Ron Bielefield), hunting Florida's public wildlife management areas (Larry Campbell), reptiles of Florida (Paul Moler) and a falconry demonstration (Brian Milsap).

The FWC will also display "Green Thunder," a law enforcement pursuit racing catamaran. The boat is a 24-foot Aronow, donated by Wildlife Foundation charter member Bill Bostick of Winter Haven. It is equipped with specially modified Mercury V8 outboard motors producing 300 horsepower each. The boat is more than capable of running down high performance bass boats, and can operate under bad weather conditions by using radar system, a high tech navigation system and remote control spotlights.

The expo also will have well-known sportsmen hosting numerous seminars on hunting and freshwater and saltwater fishing. There will be an indoor archery competition and numerous displays from manufacturers.

Expo hours are 1-9 p.m. Feb 27; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Feb 28; and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 1. Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for kids 4-12. Seniors get in Feb. 27 for $3, as do Boy and Girl Scouts in uniform.