If you have been looking for an excuse to get out of town this weekend, you may want to point your truck south and make the drive to Phoenix, where the Arizona Game and Fish Department will have its annual Outdoor Expo on Saturday and Sunday.

I've heard some good things about this event, and the program appears to offer something for most with an interest in the outdoors.

While more than 100 exhibitors are expected at the event, you can expect to find much more than a collection of tables filled with trinkets and other promotional items. Think "hands on."

One of the fun things about going to outdoor writers' conferences is having the chance to shoot some of the latest and greatest firearms offerings from most of the major manufacturers. At the expo, you will have the opportunity to do the same, and you won't have to be a writer to do it. Smith & Wesson, Sturm Ruger & Co. and Glock are among those offering this opportunity to try their products, but be prepared to pay what the game and fish department calls a "nominal fee for ammunition."

Have you thought about pulling the trigger on a Gatling gun? You'll be able to do that, too, if you're willing to pay for the ammo.

Other shooting activities include trap, skeet, sporting clays and international trap and skeet.

Participants will have the chance to get a few pointers to help improve their scores. For hunters, the input might help when it's time to chase a few birds this fall. And whether you are a beginner or an advanced shooter, you might want to visit the air-gun demonstration area, where you can experience the challenge of Olympic-style air rifle and air pistol shooting.

If you enjoy flipping sticks, you may want to participate in the archery workshop, where experts will be available to help experienced archers hone their skills and help new ones perfect shooting fundamentals.

Other specialty disciplines available include cowboy action shooting, muzzleloading and rifle or pistol silhouette shooting.

If you would rather watch than shoot, two state title youth shooting events will take place Saturday: the Scholastic Clay Target Program Commissioner's Cup and the Arizona Archery in the Schools Program state championship.

While you're in the mood for trying out new products, why not test-drive an all-terrain vehicle on a course provided for such an opportunity? You can't do that at most dealers I've been to. They usually won't let you turn the motor over unless your money is on the table. You also can take a look at quads, sand rails and dirt bikes.

Workshops and demonstrations will cover everything from hunting with bird dogs to the ancient sport of falconry to coyote-calling and using science to catch more fish. Big-game hunting is also on the list.

The event will be at the 1,690-acre Ben Avery Shooting Facility at 4044 W. Black Canyon Blvd., at the Interstate 17 and Carefree Highway interchange at the north end of Phoenix. There is no charge for admission or parking.

For more information, see www.azgfd.gov.expo.

• DRAWING A NEVADA BIG-GAME TAG -- I receive several inquiries every year from hunters who want to know the secret for drawing a big-game tag in Nevada.

Through the years, I've had several approaches to the draw explained to me, but I don't know whether one works better than another.

What I can tell you is you have a better chance of drawing a tag if you use your full complement of tag choices. In other words, don't limit your tag request to one area. By limiting your choices to one area, you are stacking the odds against you.

Here's what I do: For a deer tag, we have five choices for hunt areas. My first choice is always the area I really, really want to hunt. My second choice is an area I really want to hunt, and so on. By the time I reach my fifth choice, my philosophy is "just give me a tag, please."

What I don't do is focus my attention only on hard-to-draw units. I spread my choices around. Some people may think that's a goofy approach, and that's OK. The system works for me. I don't get a tag every year, but at least I'm maximizing my opportunity.

Doug Nielsen is an award-winning freelance writer and a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. He can be reached at doug@takinitoutside.com.