VIENNA - Boats, guns, lions and nonprofits could be found at the first Outdoor Expo sponsored by West Virginia Sportsman magazine at the Grand Central Mall.
About 2,000 people attended the show Saturday, said Mark Goudy, owner of the magazine. He expects about 1,000 more today. The show will be open between noon and 6 p.m.
"To me an expo means you can come to the show and learn," he said. "It's fun for the whole family."
Goudy said he organizes several expos around the state each year, but this is the first time his expo has been in the Parkersburg/Vienna area. The location in the Grand Central Mall - the former Steve and Barry's store - worked well for the show.
One of today's events will be a wild turkey calling contest at 4 p.m. A lion cub, ball python, spider monkey, wolf cubs and grizzly bear cubs can be seen throughout the day. Information on hunting and fishing can be found. Games are available for the kids.
"We used to go to other states to hunt all the time and we wanted to bring that money into the state," said Jim McCallister, master guide of West Virginia Safari's big game hunting. "We've started an exotic hunting preserve near Ripley."
Hunting expeditions are available for different prices, depending on the animals being hunted. Photo safaris are also available.
"If they don't shoot something, they don't get charged," McCallister said.
The business has been open for about six months. The most popular animal hunted is a mountain hog. McCallister said the hogs shot average more than 350 pounds.
A variety of different sheep, bison, blackbuck, water buffalo, emu and watusi are among the animals available for hunting, he said. He is going to try to get zebras this summer.
"They're all guided hunts," McCallister said, adding the animals are free to roam on about 350 acres of property.
McCallister said the Outdoor Expo was the seventh show the company has attended this year.
"This has been a really good show for us," he said. "About 30 or 40 people expressed real interest and about 15 will probably book hunts."
Bobby Winans, of Belleville, said he thought the show had some interesting information, but he hopes more vendors attend if there is another event.
"I think it's a good thing for the community. Usually, people here need to travel to Columbus or Charleston for something like this," Winans said. "This area is full of hunters."
He spoke with a vendor about hunting bear in Ontario and spoke to another vendor about the wild turkey calls, made in West Virginia using West Virginia supplies.
Winans said his kids had fun with the games and the animals.
Buddy Hodge, a state ambassador for Hunt of a Lifetime Foundation Inc., said the nonprofit company was providing information and accepting donations during the expo.
"Hunt of a Lifetime funds hunting and fishing trips for kids with life threatening illnesses," Hodge said.
The trips are completely funded by the organization, from clothing and the guns to the airfare and shipment of meat. The kids can request a trip to anywhere in the United States for the hunting or fishing trip, he said.
