The Game Commissions Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center and Middle Creek Wildlife Center will host Waterfowl Expos on September 17-18.

The 2005 Pymatuning Ducks Unlimited Waterfowl Expo in and around Linesville, Crawford County. A highlight of the two-day event is the selection of the Pennsylvania Waterfowl Management Stamp from entries by many of the Commonwealth's most accomplished wildlife artists will be held at 1 p.m. on September 17, at the Linesville High School, 302 West School Drive.

Exhibits by woodcarvers, crafters, hunting equipment vendors and others will be featured on Saturday and Sunday. In addition, hunting dog demonstrations and duck calling contests will be held Saturday and Sunday.

The Learning Center activities and exhibits will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on September 17 and 18. Exhibits on the grounds of the Learning Center include those from: the Purple Martin Conservation Association; the Conneaut Lake/French Creek Valley Conservancy; the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources' Bureau of Forestry; the Natural Resource Conservation Service; and the Northeast Ohio Loggers' Chapter.

Additional activities at the Learning Center include: at 11:30 a.m. on September 17, a waterfowl information and banding program, with the opportunity for children to assist in the release of wild ducks; a tree identification tour will be conducted by Mark Lewis, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources service forester, at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 17; and a soils program by the U.S. National Resource Conservation Service at 1 p.m. on September 17 and 18.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission's Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area will host its 19th Annual Middle Creek Wildfowl Show. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Admission is free, but donations are graciously accepted and benefit the Wildlands Preservation Fund to preserve wild lands. Middle Creek is along Hopeland Road, two miles south of Kleinfeltersville, on the Lebanon-Lancaster county line.

The show features wildfowl carvings, artwork, collectibles and carving supplies from over 60 vendors.

Retriever demonstrations will be at 10 a.m. and noon on September 17, and at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on September 18. Two different retriever clubs will display their dogs' abilities, both with water retrievals, and upland retrievals.

Decoy competitions will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, and winners will be announced at 4 p.m.

Pennsylvania State Duck and Goose Calling Championships will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday. Food vendors will be selling throughout the show.

For further information or directions, call 717-733-1512.

9/2/2005