From Alaska Best Fishing to Zungah Safaris, with a wealth of local and regional attractions in between, the 32nd International Sportsmen's Expo, which runs Thursday through Sunday at the Colorado Convention Center, appears to offer something of interest to virtually every outdoors enthusiast.

More than 500 exhibitors are expected to provide information about products, services, organizations and hunting-and-fishing destinations, and to sell related merchandise.

As usual, the exposition also will feature presentations by a variety of experts and an array of hands-on activities and contests, including a fly-

casting distance competition and an ISE elk-calling competition hosted by former world champion caller Chad Schearer.

Emphasis on fly fishing, always a primary attraction at the show, has been expanded with the "Discovery Fly Fishing Center," sponsored by the American Fly Fishing Trade Association. Featured speakers include Lefty Kreh, Jack Dennis and Bob Clouser, as well as Colorado experts Pat Dorsey, Barry Reynolds and Landon Mayer.

Other fly-fishing highlights include a skins-game casting invitational accuracy contest, a learning center for anglers of all experience levels and a Colorado waters guide night.

The aquarium demo tank, complete with live fish, will be the site for programs by walleye and trout experts and a "Friday Night Bytes" panel discussion with field editors of FishExplor er.com. Local television and radio personalities Terry Wickstrom and Karen Kullhem will be the demo-tank hosts.

Big-game hunters can take advantage of free antler measuring at the expo, sponsored by the Mule Deer Foundation. Guy Eastman, editor of Eastmans' Hunting Journal and host of Eastmans' Hunting Journal TV, will be a featured speaker, and the Journal's trophy display will be exhibited.

Cameron Hanes --- bowhunter, marathoner and host of Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation TV --- is among the speakers, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife will present an update on elk hunting in the state.

Small-game hunters can sit in on seminars, presented by Pheasants Forever, about pheasant hunting in Colorado and South Dakota. Jeff Foils will demonstrate calling techniques for ducks and geese, and Alan Stie will sound the calls for turkeys.

A sporting-dog arena will feature "Grits," the first Colorado dog to be an American Kennel Club master hunter while also holding the title of grand champion through the United Kennel Club, and owner Tom Herman of Highlands Ranch. Trainer Chris Jobman, who competes in the

Super Retriever Series on television, will be present, and search-and-rescue and agility dogs will perform.

A Youth Fair and Colorado Outdoors Pavilion, hosted by the DOW, will offer a catch-and-

release fishing pond, archery range, shooting-safety simulator, live raptors and a staff of wildlife experts.

Virtually every hunter and fisherman can learn something new at the expo, and if proof is in the kitchen, show goers can improve their outdoor cooking through a series of fish-and-game cooking clinics by master cook John Head.

If you go

* What: International Sportsmen's Expo.

* When: Wednesday through Sunday.

* Where: Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th St., Denver.

* Hours: Thursday-Friday, noon- 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

* Tickets: Adults, $15; youth 13-17, $7; Youth under 13, free. (Discount coupons available in Rocky Mountain News.)

* Parking: $5 at Coors Field with free shuttle to Convention Center.

* Information: SportsExpos.com.