Despite the dreary weather, nearly 600 kids and their families attended the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission’s 2009 Wildlife Expo at the John E. Pechmann Fishing Education Center in Fayetteville on Sept. 26.
The sky cleared shortly after the Expo began at 9 a.m., and visitors were treated to activities, exhibits and demonstrations that highlighted fishing, hunting and other outdoor activities. Expo visitors:
- tested archery and air-rifle shooting skills,
- practiced fly-tying and fly-casting skills,
- learned tree-stand and boating safety skills, and
- got a close-up view of some popular freshwater fish species, such as bluegill, trout and largemouth bass in the Commission’s twin, 300-tank mobile aquarium.
The reptile exhibit was literally slithering with an assortment of native snakes, from the beautifully marked and docile corn snake to the fearsome-looking but equally docile mud snake.
At the Sensory Safari, a kid-friendly wildlife exhibit-on-wheels, expo visitors learned about North Carolina’s wildlife by listening to the sounds of birds, seeing animal mounts and handling pelts of some common mammals.
And, of course, everyone got to fish, and what a day it was for fishing! Lots of kids, as well as a few adults, reeled in some nice-sized channel catfish, bluegill and largemouth bass.
50 lucky youngsters walked away with fishing rod-and-reel combos, prizes donated by Embarq and Walmart and given away through a random drawing held at 1 p.m.
Collian Davis, 3, of Spring Lake was the grand prize winner of a lifetime sportsman’s license. He attended the Expo with his mom Lisa. Thanks to the family of John E. Pechmann, who graciously donated the license, Collian will fish and hunt for free in North Carolina for the rest of his life.
First prize winner Bria Bass, 7, of Fayetteville, won a Bass Hunter™ boat, donated by A.K. McCallum Co., located at 715 Ramsey Street in Fayetteville.
The Wildlife Expo was held in conjunction with National Hunting and Fishing Day and was one of seven events supported by the Commission on Sept. 26.
Special thanks to the following exhibitors and sponsors for helping the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission bring the 2009 Wildlife Expo to the residents of Cumberland County.