he California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) will highlight fishing and hunting programs and feature its conservation history during 2007's boat and sportsmen's trade shows. New features at the upcoming International Sportsmen's Expositions (ISE) and the Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Shows will be DFG's Fishing Passport Program, the newly designed commemorative hunting license and a slide show featuring the 150-year history of DFG.

DFG plans exhibits during the following shows:

?Ģ Jan. 11-14: International Sportmen's Expo - San Mateo ?Į?Ģ Jan. 18-21: International Sportmen's Expo - Sacramento ?Į?Ģ Feb. 14-18: Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Shows - San Francisco?Į?Ģ March 7-11: Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Shows - Long Beach?Į?Ģ March 21-25: Fred Hall Fishing, Tackle and Boat Shows - Del Mar

"The sportsmens shows offer our staff the chance to meet with our key customers and answer any questions they may have regarding fish and wildlife in the state," DFG Director Ryan Broddrick said. "The ISE and Fred Hall Shows are invaluable opportunities for us to reach out to the communities across the state that we serve."

Broddrick said people who attend the expositions tend to be DFG customers as well, and the shows provide a convenient place for many to purchase their annual fishing and hunting licenses.

DFG will use the first show in San Mateo to officially launch its new California Fishing Passport Program. The passport program promotes California's diverse and unique fishing opportunities throughout the state. Through the program, anglers will be given a California Fishing Passport book when they buy an annual fishing license and will then be challenged to fish their way across the state in search of 150 different fish and shellfish species. For each species they successfully catch, anglers will receive a special stamp in their passport book to mark their accomplishments.

Another highlight at the shows will be DFG's exclusive sale of its special centennial hunting license marking the 100th anniversary of the California hunting license. DFG celebrates the milestone with a special permit designed with images from a wildlife artist. This 2007 hunting license will be the last printed version of its kind as all licenses beginning in 2008 will be computer generated.

During each show, DFG will feature "California Department of Fish and Game: More than 100 Years of Conservation," a continuous showing of historical images highlighting many of the significant accomplishments and changes for California's fish and wildlife over the last century.

In addition to license agents at these shows, DFG fisheries and wildlife experts and enforcement personnel will be available to answer questions and provide informational material on a wide range of subjects.

Information on the sport shows and the special programs in the upcoming months will be posted online at www.dfg.ca.gov/html/events.html.