Arizona is a state that’s all about spending time outdoors. Whether it’s golf, Arizona is home to the WM (Waste Management) Phoenix Open, baseball, Arizona is home to the Cactus League with its 10 stadiums supporting 15 MLB teams during Spring Training, or hiking, there are miles and miles of trails to hike, Arizona is a paradise for the outdoorsy person.

And yes, it’s frequently a very, very hot kind of paradise.

Taking advantage of the cooler morning temps, thousands of people poured into Ben Avery first thing Saturday to visit the numerous vendors and displays. Photo by P. Erhardt

The wide selection of activists for the outdoorsman, or woman, was on display at the annual Outdoor Expo hosted by the Arizona Game & Fish Department and held at the sprawling Ben Avery Shooting Facility.

Not surprisingly for a shooting facility, firearms vendors are a big draw. Companies like Sig, Glock, Kimber, Springfield Armory, Daniel Defense, Walther Arms and Umarex were there. Naturally, Ruger, which has a major manufacturing facility in Arizona, and P.O.F., which is headquartered in Arizona, were both present on the firing line.

The biggest names in firearms are a major part of the Outdoor Expo, giving attendees the opportunity to testfire firearms under expert supervision. Photos by P. Erhardt

Along with guns came optics. Leupold was on-hand as was Riton, which is headquartered a couple hours south in Tucson, Arizona. Stopping by the Riton display was a smart move for those looking for a bargain as the company was significantly discounting certain optics as it made way for newer, upgraded optics that would soon be available.

Arizona-based optics brand Riton was doing a brisk business Saturday morning of the Expo as attendees snatched up scopes at bargain pricing. Photo by P. Erhardt

Venturing beyond the firing line, which in and of itself is a massive draw for attendees, you find vendors for other outdoor activities whose products fuel the passions of Arizona’s vast outdoor market.

Leaving the firing line I took a hard left and made my way to the boats, armed with one and only one question…. How big is the boating market in an arid desert-like state? And the answer is apparently, quite large.

Boating is a much bigger deal in Arizona than you might expect, which explains why Tommy’s Boats out of Mesa had these, and pontoon boats, on display at the Expo. Photo by P. Erhardt

In speaking with the representative from Tommy’s Boats, and Tommy’s Wake & Surf Shop, I learned that recreational watercraft are big business out here in the desert. The greater Phoenix Valley has several lakes which is why I was told that within a 10 mile area you could find every brand of recreational watercraft for sale.

And – this definitely took me by surprise – Arizona had at one time more boats registered per capita than any other state. This has shifted in recent years as the population of Arizona grew due to people fleeing neighboring states like California, but boating is still big business here.

RVs are also a big, big business in Arizona. Many homes feature either an RV gate or an oversized RV garage. And the RV market has grown beyond retirees with those in their 30s and 40s now a huge part of the market. Even young families account for large sales.

When I asked what is driving that growth I was told it was due to the extension of the loan period. Like many, I assumed buying an RV was like buying a car, with a 5, 6 or 7 year loan period.

You’ll see RVs everywhere in Arizona and with greater affordability in the monthly payment structure, more and more people are RVing. Photo by P. Erhardt

Not these days. Mike Carroll, a salesman for Orangewood RV Center explained that loans are 12 years, 15 years for RVs priced above $25K and 20 years for RVs at $50K and above, making the monthly payment very affordable. One RV on display was marked down from $37,659 to $30,900, making the monthly payment just $313.

The RV business is so hot in Arizona that Carroll, who lives in Knoxville, Tennessee, comes into Phoenix January through May for the sales commissions because a dealership can do two-thirds of their annual business in Q2 alone.

The Outdoor Expo isn’t just about selling. There is a huge educational aspect which is where Arizona Game & Fish really shines. Several displays put kids in touch – or close proximity – to all sorts of Arizona wildlife.

Fishing is a big part of the outdoor life in this state and AZG&F is helping introduce the sport to a new wave of young anglers. Photo by P. Erhardt

Young kids were lined up inside the fishing tent to get the chance to land a fish, with the help of state wildlife agents, and the looks on those young faces were priceless.

In another tent the looks were more of awe and inquisitiveness as children came face-to-face (though plexiglass) with some of the state’s more fear-inducing residents – rattlesnakes. As an avowed non-fan of snakes, these kids had a lot more courage than I would have had at that age…and I’m not afraid to admit it.

The Outdoor Expo is at its heart and educational experience, and especially for the kids. Where else can you stare down a rattlesnake or have your photo taken with a bald eagle? Photos by P. Erhardt

The educational experience wasn’t just for the young, either. Stopping by the AZ Fly Shop tent I wanted to find out where one goes to fly fish in the state. The answer was an astonishing “downtown Phoenix” where fly fishing for carp – yes, carp – in the canals is a real big thing, and hopefully a future article here in the Wires.

One of the last vendors I visited was not a major brand or big industry, but a small local craftsman. Jim Miller, and his daughter Kylie, of Piñon Bluff Outfitters, were showcasing their handcrafted leather products. Among their most popular items are their leather handbags, which can be upgraded for handgun concealed carry, and EDC pouches.

Jim Miller and his daughter started the artisan leather business a little over three years ago and are building their part-time business on the kind of craftsmanship and western aesthetic that appeals to a lot of Arizona residents. Photo by P. Erhardt

The annual Outdoor Expo is a great opportunity to explore all that Arizona has to offer the outdoor enthusiast, without having to travel across the entire state. The 2024 Outdoor Expo will take place Saturday and Sunday, March 23 and 24, so mark your calendars now because it is sure to be another fun-filled family friendly event.

–- Paul Erhardt, Managing Editor, the Outdoor Wire Digital Network