McALLEN - For the outdoors enthusiast, the 18th Annual Texas Hunters & Sportsman's Expo is akin to Christmas in July. And there are more presents than anyone could ever hope to open.

The expo, which is 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday at the new McAllen Convention Center, features hunting and fishing equipment direct from the manufacturer, as well as guns, ranch supplies, boats and even furniture and jewelry and a number of other items. Safari trips are also available.

There's also something for the children as Joe Martin returns with his live rattlesnake pit. Martin is expected to handle up to 40 snakes this year and is bringing other snakes in aquariums for viewing.

"If you're a hunter or a sportsman or a sportswoman, the hunter's expo and sportsman's expo gives you one place to talk to the vendor and the distributor," said Justin Curl, vice president of the Texas Hunter's and Sportsman's Expo. "These big companies that come down, they're the actual distributors themselves.

"If you want to talk to someone about a product, you're talking to the actual person that built the product and produced the product and they can tell you everything you need to know about it so you can buy direct and get better discounts.

"Anything you're looking for hunting and fishing, we have a lot of stuff here."

With the expo making an annual pilgrimage to the Rio Grande Valley, it has grown a fan base. Robert Martinez of San Juan estimates he's attended "four or five" expos and insisted he will be on hand again this weekend.

"I'm always there because I'm into fishing and hunting," Martinez said. "The rattlesnake pit for the kids and stuff, it's really nice. It's a true sportsman's show. A lot of the vendors really, really try to reach out to you and they have a lot of neat stuff you can buy."

Admission is $9 for adults and $8 for senior citizens. Admission prices are good for the entire weekend. Children 12 and under are free.

For more information, contact (956) 664-2884 or visit www.texashunterassociation.com.

Todd Mavreles is the Deputy Sports Editor for The Monitor. You can reach him at (956) 683-4451.