Familiar faces and a few new ones highlight the ninth Southern Outdoorsman Expo which opened its doors Friday at the Natchez Convention Center.

One familiar display is the Monster Whiteheads of Arkansas, who have been to Natchez on three different occasions. &uot;We have deer from all over the state, but most of them are from south Arkansas,&uot; said Ken Young.

Among the deer on display is the world record deer harvested by a crossbow in 1986 – one weighing 223 1/8 pounds. Another world record buck is an 8-point from Prairie City, Ark.

Making his first appearance in Natchez is Ernie Reams of Columbus with his Otis Technology, Inc., booth. &uot;I do extravangzas all over the world and I heard about this one from another vendor and asked them to send me information,&uot; Reams said.

Reams, who spent 28 years in Europe who has been in the United States for two years, proudly said Otis Technology is the largest gun cleaning company in the world.

Otis Technology uses a cable instead of a rod to clean guns, which prevents scratches and nicks and does a much more thorough job.

&uot;We sold three million dollars worth at a show in Atlanta,&uot; Reams said

Expo coordinator John E. Myers said he believes this year’s show has more to offer than past shows.

&uot;We’ve had to steadily keep making room for more people,&uot; Myers said. &uot;We’ve got a lot of people here who haven’t been here in a long time.&uot;

Other featured highlights are the Mississippi-Louisiana Big Buck Display, Whitetail Collection of Mississippi, the Adventures of Ed and Fred and the South Texas Snake Handlers.

There will also be a turkey calling seminar, duck calling seminar and a Labrador retriever hunting seminar. The Illinois Trout Pond is back for the first time in three years.

Youngsters can fish from the pond, and the fish will be tagged and prizes awarded.

A wildlife art village is on display, as well as four-wheelers and a boat display.

And, of course, vendors from all over the country will be displaying their wares.