For the avid sportsman there is nothing quite like attending a hunting or fishing expo whether you are showing or just attending. There are expeditions that go on in pretty much every state and to follow are a few of the highlighted expositions in several different states.

In Amarillo, Texas at the Amarillo Civic Center there is a fishing and hunting expo that also features RV’s and Boats. Exhibitors from all around Texas come to participate every year offering seminars, a full line of new boats by the major manufacturers, fishing tackle that is presented from dealers that travel from four other states as well and a kids area that offers a trout tank, an aquarium and martial arts. They also offer everything pertaining to the world of hunting including clothes, different types of game calls and even taxidermy tips.

Oklahoma City in Oklahoma offers a hunting and fishing expo in February that is considered one of the largest of its kind. They have seminars with several different guest speakers, exhibits and all kinds of attractions during their three day event.

In January Denver, Colorado has a great fishing, outdoor and hunting expo put on by International Sportsmen’s Expositions that have 30+ years experience in putting on these types of shows. They offer a complete schedule of contests, presentations and seminars every day of the event that includes exhibits and activities for hunting, fishing, bow hunting, boats and more.

In Jonesboro, Arkansas during February they put on the Arkansas Sport Show hunting and fishing expo that includes many different attractions and some great giveaways (like and ATV). They have a rock climbing wall, the worlds best trout tank, turkey calling championship, a great 3D archery challenge and a fun kids corner.

Kansas City, Missouri has a great Sport and Boat show during January that offers everything from boat dealers making some great deals to an interactive Colonial American Pirate exhibit that can be enjoyed by young and old alike. They also feature and adopt a dog area where mainly hunting and bird dogs, but other breeds as well, can be adopted; a perfect opportunity for the sportsman.

If you are anywhere near Fargo, North Dakota in March you need to check out the Red River Valley sportsman/fishing/hunting expo that they put on. They combine several areas into one that includes boats, camping and RV’s, hunting and fishing, traveling and outdoor education where you will find free seminars, trout ponds and more.

Dove hunting can be a great sport for people of all ages and for many when the season is ready to open (hunting seasons have different start dates depending upon where you hunt) their mind begin to wander and they can hardly wait for opening day.

You may be thinking that it is going to be expensive and truthfully it can be, but there are many ways that even on a shoestring budget your hunting trips can be very successful and quite a bit of fun. If you think this is something that you would like to try there are a few practical things that you can do in order to get started fairly easily.

Obviously you are going to need a gun for dove hunting although there are some more advanced or professional hunters that use a compound bow. There are several different options when it comes to shotguns including a pump action, an over and under and an automatic. When it comes to buying a shotgun the size really does matter; the lower the number the bigger the shell. The 12 gauge is most common with the next one being a 20 gauge and the larger the gauge then the bigger the kick.

Once you have decided on your gun of choice you need to decide where to hunt, which also depends upon the different hunting seasons. This really can depend on what you can and are able to spend; you can go from expensive guided hunting trips to a short day hunt. In Texas there are public land areas where you can go for about $50.00 and have access to thousands of prolific dove hunting acres. If you have some money to spend then you may want to consider renting an established lease, which usually range from about $350 up to about $1100 per gun. Don’t forget that you will also be sure to obtain a hunting license first.

You will also need a few other items such as shells, 8 shot dove hunting load is usually a good one to start with and a case, which is 10 boxes, is normally enough to get you started. You will want to get some kind of a bullet/bird bag and many prefer a camo three pouch style. You should invest in some camo clothes and depending on where your hunting trips take you or when the different hunting seasons starts will depend on what type you will need, such as if warmth is a consideration.

The sooner you start gather what you will need the less expensive everything will be as waiting until the last minute right before the season opens prices tend to go up.

Naturally as a hunter you prefer to get out and do the real thing rather than sit around and talk about hunting; however, when your particular hunting season is not open yet it can be both entertaining and informative to watch some hunting movies or hunting videos or perhaps peruse a few hunting magazines. Here are a few that may be of interest to you:

There is a site called Sunrise Productions that has many different hunting movies and videos, they were the first to develop the Eyecam which is specially mounted enabling the person watching to see everything that the hunter sees looking down a gun barrel. This means that you are able to see the gun mount down the barrel, the correct way to site the lead and then, of course, the shot that is taken. They combine it with very slow motion so that you can also learn what the hunters/instructors are doing.

Some of their hunting movies/videos include Wingshooting which is one of the best comprehensive videos produced that shows you how to hit the birds, not how to best hunt for them but how to actually shoot them once you find them. Another good one is the Art and Science of Duck Hunting that completely understands the American love affair with hunting waterfowl. It takes you along with two great outdoorsmen, Bruce Scott and Marty Fischer, as they travel to some of the greatest waterfowl locations that can be found.

If reading is more your style there are several hunting magazines that will provide you with some great tips as well as entertain you with different hunting stories. Buckmasters is considered on of the best in Whitetail hunting magazines as it offers how-to’s, different gear reviews and reports is the largest of the deep hunting publications in the US and Canada.

Of course you can’t talk about hunting magazines without mentioning Field and Stream as it is considered the number one sportsman magazine in America. This magazine contains conservation and fishing news, in-depth articles written on several different topics including many different types of hunting and some great fiction stories as well. It has been in publication for more than 100 years and you will be completely satisfied with every single issue that you read.

You may have heard horror stories from friends or read about it in magazines the ones where someone hired one of the elk hunting outfitters who turned out to be much less than they expected, or worse, the whole deal was a fraud. Unfortunately those are the elk hunts that most people will remember as everyone remembers a bad experience. While you may not be able to completely avoid disappointment there are some things you can look for in an outfitter before taking off on your next elk hunting trip.

Many hunters will select elk hunting outfitters based on some conversation that they had with one at some type of a sport show or event; but this is the time that they are just going to tell you everything that they think you want to hear. Such as a 95% success rate, trophy class animals and they will very likely show you a bunch of pictures of satisfied customers from their last elk hunting trip showing off these huge bulls or bucks. So, they will hand over their hard earned money and go home happy as can be waiting for the elk hunts.

You should always have some kind of list of questions ready to ask the elk hunting outfitters before you even go to the sporting event or show as this will help you to remember everything you wanted to ask. For example, how much do the elk hunts cost, do you specialize in any particular type of elk hunting such as bow hunting and how long have they been doing business are always good questions to ask. If they appear to get annoyed because you are asking so many questions that is a good indication that you may want to move on to the next one.

One of the best ways to find one is to contact a booking company that screens elk hunting outfitters and actually goes on elk hunts with the potential outfitters before they will refer any customers to them. Word of mouth is also a good form of referral, perhaps you can check with family or friends to see if they have had a good quality elk hunting experience with any particular outfitter.

You should also contact whichever state wildlife department issued the license to the outfitter as they will be able to tell you of any past or existing problems that they may have had helping you to avoid a bad elk hunting experience.

If you have an outdoor enthusiast or hunter on your gift list there are several ideas that you can use to choose the perfect one for them. Below is a list of hunting gifts that anyone would definitely appreciate.

Cabela Bullet Vacuum bottles are perfect for keeping whatever hot beverage your hunter drinks nice and hot. They are double walled and made of stainless steel; various sizes, as well as different finishes (like cammo) are available as well. The Jackal makes some great hunting gifts like their cammo gloves that are insulated for extra warmth. They also have a fleece collar, a “hot shot” finger sheath and have a hook and loop cinch strap on the wrists.

Hunting DVD’s are also a great idea that is not that expensive; there are several sites online that you can order from and most carry a variety of titles. Sportsmen on film offer a good selection and they are one of the largest producers of hunting DVD’s anywhere. Their videos have won many national and international awards for things like best nature and/or wildlife productions and best hunting productions. They travel to some amazing locations for these productions including Africa where they show hunting the lion and Cape buffalo and even film some great safaris.

Still more great hunting gifts include getting your favorite hunter a subscription to a hunting magazine. There are several great ones available such as Big Buck magazine which is one of Canada’s top magazines relating to deer hunting. If you know a bow hunter then you may want to check out Bowhunter Magazine; many people feel that this is one of the best magazines relating to the subject as it is run by bow hunters. Outdoor Life is another one that is top notch as it covers everything from fishing, hunting, boating and sports medicine to sports vehicles; definitely one for a serious sportsman. And last on the list as a great hunting magazine is Field & Stream; an amazing magazine that features all that the sportsman ever wanted to know about the great, wide outdoors. It features articles on dogs, fishing, hunting, guns as well as containing letters and stories from the readers and book reviews that are always helpful. If you have an avid outdoorsman on your list this is the magazine for them.

Feeling a little bloodthirsty and have a few bucks to spare? If so, big game hunting may just be the perfect hobby for you. This is different from regular hunting as the focus is on much larger animals and it is normally done with the intention of bagging some kind of a trophy rather than for food.

Big game hunting is legal in many countries like Canada, Italy and Croatia and is very popular in many states like Alaska, Texas and the Dakota’s. The animals that fall into this category may include boar, buffalo, lion, bear, deer and antelope. Those against the practice take exception to the fact that the fur, skin or antlers are often kept by hunters as trophies, branding it immoral. But, for those that do enjoy the sport sometimes suggest that some of these animals benefit from being culled to help limit their population.

Whether you loathe it or love it there is no question that big game hunting is indeed big business. To follow are a few suggestions on which animals are fair game and where to hunt them.

For grizzly or brown bears then you really should head to Alaska; you are required to buy a big game license. Since there are so many different and strict game hunting laws here your best bet is to go through a guide or a registered agency that can organize the trip for you.

If Cape buffalo is something you may be interested in the Zimbabwe, Africa would be the best locale.  Although not an endangered species there are some countries that have it listed as protected so be sure to check with the local authorities before starting out.

If a wolf trophy sounds appealing then head to Russia where wolf season is open year round but the best time to practice big game hunting is in January through February. If you go in January you can also combine some wild boar hunts in with your wolf hunting.

Due to its very controversial nature and so much opposition against it be sure to adhere to all laws, rules and regulations to avoid giving big game hunting a worse name.

It is a fact that if you have never been duck hunting but would like to go you should never hold your breath waiting on an invitation from a seasoned hunter. Why? Well, it has been said that it may because some view it as an almost religious experience and it just doesn’t seem right to share that experience with a newbie.

Ok, so maybe that is not entirely true and actually unlike deer hunting where you can spend days upon days sitting up in a tree all by yourself, duck hunting lends itself more towards the chance of being a social event, with a few people hunting together. However, for those of you that really are new to the whole thing there are some basics that you should be aware of and items that you will need.

Waders are definitely a duck hunting must have item; hip waders may work fairly well but a pair of chest waders makes sure you can get where you need to go. If possible, forego the cheap pair and opt for a good set of well insulated chest waders or you may just decide that duck hunting is for the birds.

Speaking of birds, you will need several decoys, mallards will usually work well no matter where you are and you may decide to add more later when you have truly become an adept seasoned hunter. Now however there is a rage among some duck hunters using a “robo-duck” which is a battery operated decoy that has wings that move.  Some of them even dive and dip in the water making ripples like the feeding ducks. There has been a little talk about banning these decoys because they have become so very effective.  But, don’t worry; if you have done the homework and found a good area you will have no need for a robo-duck.

You do want to make sure that you are properly camouflaged, meaning that you blend in with your surroundings, anything brown when it comes to clothing is usually fine. And the one thing that veteran duck hunters do suggest is wearing a face mask. They claim that the ducks can spot faces from miles away and it is like a blinking neon sign telling them to say away.

Above all, when it comes to duck hunting, there is just no way around patiently sitting in the damp cold and waiting for the ducks to come; but they will come so be ready.

There is nothing quite like the thrill of the hunt; seeing the game, tracking it down and then coming home with a trophy to hang on your wall. And, a good class hunting location has the ability of turning an ordinary trip into an experience you will never forget.

Texas happens to have some of the best hunting areas in the country; it has a wide expanse of premium hunting grounds unsurpassed in character and beauty abounding with game, both small and big. Here are three places you should visit when in Texas:

Stasney’s Cook Ranch in Albany, Texas – it has over 25,000 acres with plenty of vegetation ensuring that there is always available game. It also possesses limestone deposits in deep valleys and craggy canyons so you are surrounded by beauty as well. The accommodations are great as well including king size beds and working fireplaces in each room. Hunting in this area is always an unforgettable experience that you will want to repeat over and over.

Next on the list is the Rancho Caracol located in Brownsville, Texas; well hidden among the foothills that overlook Mexico’s Lake Las Alazanas and next to the largest white wing nesting colony on earth. Guests can stay in luxurious beach resort type of haciendas with maid service, a roof top bar and hot tub, with gourmet food available as well. With different species of birds including quail and dove every hunt includes seasoned guides, well trained dogs and they will provide the Berettas, you can even take two with you for a truly Tarantino type inspired experience.

And for a truly “big and posh” Texas experience you have to visit the LaFonda Ranch in Brackettville, Texas. You will begin by landing on the illuminated airstrip and have free rein over 8,000 rugged acres of good Texas countryside. It does not matter if you are hunting quail, whitetail, Rio Grande turkey or anything else you will definitely return to the 27,000 foot lodge with a huge smile on your face and some kind of game in your hands. The lodge has a full time in-house chef and a swimming pool for relaxing; of course for even more relaxing you can head over to their lake stocked with fish between your reloads or check out the rifle range to hone your aim even more.

Hunting is one of Americas oldest pastimes, deer hunting, upland game birds, big game are just a few of the specialties in a centuries old activity

Many individuals have an interest in becoming hunters but don’t know how to get started; here are a few short cuts in getting you to join in one of America’s favorite outdoor pastimes. One, Find a friend, ask around for people you know if the hunt, you would be suppressed at how many people hunt yet don’t broadcast it to their friends! Hunters are a select group, they keep their activities to and among other hunters who understand the nuisances of the sport and appreciate it for its natural beauty. Finding individuals who already posse the knowledge of hunting is a great short cut on the learning curve of a relatively complex sport.

Hunters who have the knowage and experience in most cases want to help promote the sport and are more than willing to help new comers. As a processes, the first thing any good hunter will teach you is safety first, from handing a firearm, loading and maintain one, caring one, getting fitted for the right gun, and handing oneself around others when hunting in groups. After safety, the new hunter can pick up tips on apprpeate gear, ideal weather conditions, seasonal strength and weaknesses that all have an impact one the overall successes of the hunt.

Once you have crossed the introduction bridge now its time to hunt. Many state offer public lands to hunt on and that may be your first choice. Depending on what your hunting, deer, small game, upland birds, exotic game will determine the availability of land and land use. Public lands depending on where you live can often time be limited or crowded, but will normally be your least expensive route. Hunters who like the convinces of viability and more guarantee outcomes will often turn to private hunting establishments. These private getaways try to maintain a natural supply of outdoor wildlife so that hunters can enjoy a hunt that has the highest degree of success, obliviously these type of hunting experiences are the most costly and can run into the thousands of dollars.

After you have learned some safety, figured out the necessary gear, found a suitable location you can begin to share with friends one of the funniest outdoor activities for individuals and groups. Sure there is always the opportunity to pick some hunting literature and start reading about various hunting opportunities, but the fastest way to get started is to find a friend and start enjoying the great outdoors.