Give your trigger finger a workout at AZGFD’s Outdoor Expo
From BB guns and .22 rifles, to shotguns and bows, hands-on fun awaits
PHOENIX — If you’re interested in firearms but don’t know where to start, or just want to take a few shots with the latest firearms from some of the biggest manufacturers, then don’t miss the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s 2017 Outdoor Expo.
For two days – 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 25, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 26 – Arizona’s largest free outdoor recreation expo will take over the Ben Avery Shooting Facility and provide all kinds of fun, hands-on activities and demonstrations, including opportunities to watch, learn and sample everything “shooting.”
The best way to get started would be to head over to “Introduction to Shooting,” located in Area 1 (Family Adventure), where after a brief safety presentation adults and children 9 and older can do some target shooting using .22 rifles. Adults with children 8 and older are encouraged to give BB gun shooting a try in Area 2 (Main Area).
If shooting with a bow and arrow sounds like fun, learn all about it at “Family Archery” in Area 1 (Family Adventure). This activity is geared for families with children 8 and older.
Other shooting opportunities will include steel target, black powder, air gun, practical pistol, clay target, benchrest, rimfire steel challenge, cowboy action and an archery field course with 3D targets. While most of the shooting opportunities are free, some require a nominal fee for ammunition.
A few of the organizations that will be sponsoring shooting opportunities include Hassayampa Rod and Gun Club, Arizona Cactus Cappers, Desert Christian Archers, Honeywell Sportsman Club, Shoot Right, Arizona Cowboy Shooters Association, Dillon Aero, Shooter’s World, Cactus Match League and Ben Avery Benchrest Shooters.
Expo-goers also can test firearms (for a nominal fee for ammunition) or check out displays from some of the biggest names in the firearms industry, like Daniel Defense (Shooter’s World), FN America, Ruger & Co., Glock, Walther Arms, Patriot Ordnance Factory (POF), Robar Companies, Heckler & Koch (HK), Sig Sauer, American Spirit Arms, Nemo Arms, Dillon Aero and Precision.
If sitting back and watching accomplished shooters in action is more your speed, be sure to catch the shotgun shooting demonstrations Saturday and Sunday in Area 3 (Outdoor Recreation, Shotgun Area). Exhibition shooting begins at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days. There also will be cowboy mounted shooting competitions Saturday and Sunday (main matches begin at 9 a.m., with finals in the afternoon) at the Royce W. Anderson Family Arena in Area 3 (Outdoor Recreation, Shotgun Area), as well periodic fast draw demonstrations both days at the “Cowboy Action Shooting” venue in Area 2 (Main Area).
For the third straight year, the presenting sponsor of this year’s expo is Shikar Safari Club International. Gold sponsors are OneAZ Credit Union and Shooter’s World/Daniel Defense. Silver sponsors are Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation, Sportsman’s Warehouse, FN America, Cabela’s and Target Factory.
Game and Fish conducts the expo to promote wildlife-related and other outdoor recreation activities. The public’s participation in these activities supports the department’s mission and funding. The department receives no Arizona tax dollars, and no tax dollars are used in conducting the expo.
Did you know?
The Arizona Game and Fish Department has trust responsibility for managing more than 800 native wildlife species – the most of any inland state – for current and future generations of Arizona citizens.
The Arizona Game and Fish Department prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, or disability in its programs and activities. If anyone believes that they have been discriminated against in any of the AZGFD’s programs or activities, including its employment practices, the individual may file a complaint alleging discrimination directly with the Director’s Office, 5000 W. Carefree Highway, Phoenix, AZ 85086-5000, (602) 942-3000, or with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Attn: Civil Rights Coordinator for Public Access, 5275 Leesburg Pike, MS:WSFR, Falls Church, VA 22041-3803. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation or this document in an alternative format by contacting the Director’s Office as listed above.
Arizona Game & Fish Dept. · 5000 W. Carefree Hwy, Phoenix, AZ 85086
(602) 942-3000 · www.azgfd.gov
