Phoenix 12th Annual Sportsmen's Expo to Host First-Ever Gathering of the Tribes and Hunting the Rez Auction

Glendale, AZ...Hunters and outdoor-sports enthusiasts will have a chance to bid on art pieces and hunting and fishing packages--some fetching perhaps six figures--at the "First Annual Indian Country Big Game Auction." Showcasing big-game hunting and fishing opportunities available on U.S. and Canadian Indian Reservations, the auction will be conducted during the Phoenix International Sportsmen's Exposition, which runs February 23-26 at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale.

Coordinated by Hunting The Rez Magazine, the auction will take place on Friday, February 24, from 3p-6p on the show's main Adventure Theater stage. Auction items are listed online: http://bid.huntingtherez.com/auction.aspx?as=22110

ISE Phoenix will also feature the first-ever Hunting The Rez Pavilion, in which the following North American tribes will spotlight their outdoor opportunities:

- Blackfeet Nation, Browning, MT
- Blood Reserve, Stand Off Alberta, Canada
- Chippewa - Cree, Rocky Boy, MT = Gros Ventre
- Assiniboine, Fort Belknap, MT
- Hualape Game & Fish Dept., Peach Springs, AZ
- Jicarilla Game & Fish Dept., Dulce, NM
- Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule, SD


Mandan - Hidatsu - Arikara (MHA Nation/Three Affiliated Tribes), New Town, ND Pueblo of Acoma, Acoma, NM Pueblo of Zuni, Zuni, NM

Quinault Nation, Taholah, WA San Carlos Apache Recreation, San Carlos, AZ White Mountain Apache Tribe, Whiteriver, AZ

Jason Belcourt, co-founder and editor of Hunting The Rez Magazine, and fishing opportunities and this auction is a way to showcase what's available to a very large audience of sports enthusiasts.

"Other expos have featured auctions, but Hunting The Rez's event is the first where all of the hunting and fishing packages up for bid are exclusively from Indian reservations," said Belcourt. "Tribes and tribal outfitting businesses will be able to meet with anglers and big-game hunters who may have never hunted or fished on Indian Reservations."

Another motivation for this special event, says Belcourt, is the amount of misinformation in the hunting community. "Each Tribe has its own laws and regulations for hunting and fishing on their property. Many of the tribes are in the early stages of developing their fish-and-game departments. This auction and the HTR Pavilion is a way to educate the market about what hunting and fishing is available today in Indian Country."

About International Sportsmen's Exposition
"The International Sportsmen's Exposition is Arizona's largest, most-diverse gathering of fishing, hunting and outdoor products and destinations all year," said John Kirk, ISE's Director of Communications. "With hundreds of exhibiting companies, free seminars throughout the day every day, free parking, giant Youth Fair plus free entry for youth under 16 and active military, the ISE is also a tremendous family value."

DETAILS: $15 adult admission. Hours: Thurs-Fri 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sat 10:00am - 6:00pm; Sun 10:00am - 5:00pm. INFO: www.SportsExpos.com, info@SportsExpos.com or receive special offers at www.Facebook.com/SportsExpos

I would be real careful bidding on a hunt on Rocky Boy Rez outside of Havre,Mt.They do have a small bighorn herd that the state has donated excess sheep,they are confined to a small butte,so if your into that type of hunt go for it.Their deer and elk are found off the rez most of the time and the indians have no problem with trespassing.Fort Belknap donated a sheep tag years ago to fnaws, there is a small herd in the Little Rockies with small curls and mass.The hunter got one but there was an investigation as it was suspected that it came out of the Breaks due to its size.Hunter couldn't recall where he was taken to hunt.Belknap is good for praire dogs and maybe antelope,except last winter it was estimated a 70% die off along the hi-line for antelope.Careful dealing with them

Only one thing scares me more than booking a hunt with an unknown African outfitter...and that is booking a res hunt. I used to look really seriously at the Ute or Crow tribes' bison hunts but when an acquaintance of mine lost his $1500 deposit when his tag bacame "invalid" I lost interest in that and many other hunts.