I got to hold a baby bear yesterday! Pardon me for sounding like a five-year-old, but having the chance to hold and pet a baby bear was one of the main reasons I went to the International Sportsmen's Expo at the Southtowne Exposition Center. The expo started yesterday and continues through Sunday.
The bears come from Yellowstone Bear World near Rexburg, Idaho and were born in captivity about two months ago. There's a charge of $15 plus tax to hold and pet the bears, which includes a photo of the experience. You can include up to six people in the photo for $15, but only one person can hold the bear. There's also a $12 charge per adult for entrance to the expo. Discount coupons are available at all Big-O Tire locations. Children age 15 and under get in free.
Aside from the adorable baby bears, there's a lot to do and see at the expo, especially if you enjoy camping, hunting and fishing. In the children's area, kids can try real trout fishing free, and there are lots of educational exhibits. On the main floor, there are hundreds of vendors offering mainly recreational vehicles, outdoor gear and guided hunting and fishing excursions. The expo also includes fishing, hunting and survival seminars, as well as competitions like elk calling, goose calling, fly casting, dog water jumping and a Dutch oven cookoff. See the ISE website for details.
Read about the five best fly fishing spots near SLC.
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Photo by Johannes Simon, Getty Images
Comments
Thank you very much for such kind words about the show. Glad you had fun, and caught the big picture about some of the things we offer. Again, thanks very much!!
As a wildlife rehabilitator and the only permitted organization in Utah to rehabilitate bear cubs, we teach people that bears are not cuddly creatures. We need to treat them with respect. Bear World is only about the money. You pay them for the opportunity to hold, feed and get your picture taken with them?? How many people have stressed those poor cubs out. At the Sportsmans Expo? Thousands!