I have plane ticket to Vegas as the same time as SCI.

I have not booked a hotel in Vegas as I was 50/50 about attending SCI or just meeting some people in Vegas and then going to Zion or Grand Canyon.

I am leaning towards attending SCI.

Is SCI much different than DSC ?

This time I plan to see stuff, go to the auctions and do stuff other than drink/socialize.

10 years since I have been in Vegas and I already hate resort fees every hotel is charging.

Mike

It's much larger..it's WAY more expensive to get in. everybody who's anybody as far as Outfitters/Safari companies are there.

I haven't been there in years, but canned-lion hunting seemed to be prominently displayed and all the Hunting personalities are there stroking each others egos.

Food is better but there are still annoying announcements that are too loud

Lots bigger. More to see in terms of variety. It has a different atmosphere. I doubt I would go to one of their functions and watch people get awards they bought themselves.

Sci is bigger because there are more extraneous booths selling indirectly hunting related stuff( furs, jewelry, log cabins, furniture, decor items). All the major and most smaller outfitters are at both. You will see more booth selling canned hunts, especially whitetail deer. Not too surprising, considering the " mine is bigger than yours" SCI mindset. The live auctions are both afternoon and at the evening banquets( DSC only has live auctions at night and for ladies and life members breakfasts). Silent auctions at both are daily affairs. The whole atmosphere at SCI is simply different- and not in a good way in my opinion. I attended SCI for 10 years helping a friend as an exhibitor and another 5 years as a regular attendee. I see no favorable comparison with DSC.

I have not been able to attend a DSC get together for 5 or 6 years, because when they have their show, I am guiding hunters.

JMO, but from what I have seen/heard, SCI in general is pretty snobbish. They really aren't all that welcoming toward middle class hunters. They seem to be elitists on several levels.

Not trying or meaning to offend anyone, but SCI seems to cater toward aa certain group, where as Dallas Safari Club welcomes everyone.

Again that is just my opinion, but having attended DSC shows over the years, they always made an effort to make everyone feel Welcome.

YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT!!!

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Sci is bigger because there are more extraneous booths selling indirectly hunting related stuff( furs, jewelry, log cabins, furniture, decor items). All the major and most smaller outfitters are at both. You will see more booth selling canned hunts, especially whitetail deer. Not too surprising, considering the " mine is bigger than yours" SCI mindset. The live auctions are both afternoon and at the evening banquets( DSC only has live auctions at night and for ladies and life members breakfasts). Silent auctions at both are daily affairs. The whole atmosphere at SCI is simply different- and not in a good way in my opinion. I attended SCI for 10 years helping a friend as an exhibitor and another 5 years as a regular attendee. I see no favorable comparison with DSC.

I am going this year for that exact reason. My wife and I are looking for two antler chandeliers. I always saw several vendors there with them. Wife likes the purses/furs/jewelry/art. Plenty to keep both sexes occupied.

Rent a car and visit the West Rim

Go through Hoover Dam as well. Its a great and historic tour

Yes - or take the helicopter tour.

I have never been to SCI as DSC suits me perfectly.

I can't do Grand Canyon and sci - will do sci and then later fly back for gran canyon.

Mike

I am not so sure that SCI is much bigger then DSC, I looked at Expocad for both and SCI did not look any bigger. But it sure does cost more to attend.

If you get bored, pm me. I'll buy you a drink. It's her birthday, our anniversary, super bowl, and SCI show. I'm good to go!

It used to be snobbish, elite, hard to get into the in crowd...that's all gone now and pretty low keyed...normal dress and not as much eye candy on old men's arms....
Hotels are expensive, Meals more expensive and generally POOR...and beer in the show hall $8.00!!TRAFFIC!!...It is Las Vegas that has changed...and maybe why SCI is moving back to Reno....or are they following the x-Exec Director who is now head of Reno Convention programs??!!
So far, attendance at the big Beinfeld International Antique and Collectors Gun Show last weekend and Grand Slam Sheep Club on now was DISMAL...more exhibitors than attendees...if that is the course for SCI, maybe there will be some deals??!!
Cheers,

I've attended two Dallas shows (enjoyed both) and more than 30 of the SCI shows. Both are worth doing, but I stopped attending the SCI show after its second year at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.

The food was too expensive inside and outside SCI's exhibition hall, and the crowds and distance made it difficult to get from one point to another, even on the mobility carts I rented because of COPD and arthritis. DSC's halls were easier to get around, and the food at the OMNI Hotel's coffee shop was good and reasonably priced. (I ate inside the hall only once, but it was expensive and not good.)

I've also attended the evening banquets at SCI (dozens) and DSC (three). I have no idea of how many people were in the banquet rooms, but it seemed DSC had far fewer than a third of the number attending SCI's dinners.

Crazyhorseconsulting: I never encountered the "snobbishness" or "eliteness" you and others say they've seen at SCI's shows, nor did I ever see any evidence that "middle-class hunters" were not welcomed.

At age 80, I doubt I'll ever attend either show again unless one of my friends receives the Weatherby Award. In that case, I'll stay over for the Dallas show.

The downside for Dallas is that it has far fewer exhibitors, and despite what someone here has said, a good number of my friends who are exhibitors or come from around the world to attend SCI shows neither attend nor exhibit in Dallas.

Bill Quimby

As far as the hunting and fishing booths go, the shows don't seem that different to me. Several of the PH's that I've hunted with in the past, show at Dallas, but not SCI.

I do think SCI has more non-hunting booths.

I'm a 'middle class' hunter and have not seen any of the so-called snobbery. SCI is a different show than DSC-it's a member only show-not a 'y'all' come show. As to food, there's a real food court just outside the show itself and world class restaurants and a very good buffet in Mandalay Bay itself. I've never heard any irritating loudspeakers. Better to get to from any where in the world. Great weather, great people and great exhibitors. Plus I like the efforts that SCI lobbyists and the SCI legal team does for us hunters in Washington D.C. and around the country. I also enjoy the annual SCI wildlife seminar for lawyers that gives us an up to date briefing on their legal efforts and current lawsuits on behalf of and for hunters. They and the NRA are working for all of us in the courts, in D.C. and elsewhere. The show is always first class all the way.

One difference is SCI snubs us here on AR.
DSC gives us a place to meet and likes AR.
Screw SCI. They should hold their covention in Syria.
Cal

I would rather rent a car and take the road trip to the West Rim

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
One difference is SCI snubs us here on AR.
DSC gives us a place to meet and likes AR.
Screw SCI. They should hold their covention in Syria.
Cal

Tell us how you really feel Cal!

Size wise DSC's exhibit hall is 625,000 sq/ft and SCI's hall is 1,000,000 sq/ft.

Vegas isn't my cup of tea but I've been to both shows and I still enjoy SCI show.

quote:

Originally posted by billrquimby:
... and despite what someone here has said, a good number of my friends who are exhibitors or come from around the world to attend SCI shows neither attend nor exhibit in Dallas.

Bill Quimby

But most of the big players do.

I've never attended either one but am going to SCI to form my own opinion. If I listened to some you ceinial old farts I'd be pounding sand in your back yard.

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
I've never attended either one but am going to SCI to form my own opinion. If I listened to some you ceinial old farts I'd be pounding sand in your back yard.

Ceinial? Who's calling who senile?

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
I've never attended either one but am going to SCI to form my own opinion. If I listened to some you ceinial old farts I'd be pounding sand in your back yard.

Ceinial? Who's calling who senile?

Pretty bad when something is misspelled so badly that even spellcheck doesn't fix it.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
I've never attended either one but am going to SCI to form my own opinion. If I listened to some you ceinial old farts I'd be pounding sand in your back yard.

Ceinial? Who's calling who senile?

Pretty bad when something is misspelled so badly that even spellcheck doesn't fix it.

+1

Weather is 60 degrees midday and Clear...wind has subsided....it was MISERABLE during the Beinfeld Gunshow, rain and low ceilings, snow in all of the passes.

We have had AR gatherings at SCI...just takes someone to step up and organize...place and time. I recall Fallow Buck hosting a get together...and another year a dinner at Claim Jumper for 20+...that was in the old Reno years.

Seems to me that snobbishness is a perception that might be a sign of being intimidated??!!...by surroundings, or men dressed up in suit and ties...or dolled up ladies hanging on an ol' guy's arm dripping in jewels??!! Those were the amusing old days at SCI....

Cheers,

Let's meet at the Luxor bar Wed. at 6 pm.Someone say AR and we'll raise our hand.

I'm high from the marajuana I just bought downtown. Like none yous have ever misspelled anything.

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
I'm high from the marajuana I just bought downtown. Like none yous have ever misspelled anything.

. . . might work on "marijuana" and "you" too. At least the marijuana seems to be working.

Damn Mike , you beat me to it!

I've never been more unimpressed with a collective group of people than I was the several years I attended SCI. The ego driven attitudes and arrogance is pitiful to see and be around.

DSC is much more laid back and they make you feel very welcome.

quote:

I never encountered the "snobbishness" or "eliteness" you and others say they've seen at SCI's shows, nor did I ever see any evidence that "middle-class hunters" were not welcomed.

Each of us view things based on our own personal beliefs. You might find something wrong with that concept, and that is your right.

It all depends on Personal Perception, and to me DSC simply seems to be more open to all hunters, while SCI is geared up more toward upper income level individuals.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by #1 of 13:
I'm high from the marajuana I just bought downtown. Like none yous have ever misspelled anything.

. . . might work on "marijuana" and "you" too. At least the marijuana seems to be working.

Did you know that if you have a 'marajuana' card, it is not legal to purchase a firearm? If you don't believe me, check out the newly revised 4473 form. The reason is is that it is a violation of Federal law to purchase it.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
I'm a 'middle class' hunter and have not seen any of the so-called snobbery. SCI is a different show than DSC-it's a member only show-not a 'y'all' come show. As to food, there's a real food court just outside the show itself and world class restaurants and a very good buffet in Mandalay Bay itself. I've never heard any irritating loudspeakers. Better to get to from any where in the world. Great weather, great people and great exhibitors. Plus I like the efforts that SCI lobbyists and the SCI legal team does for us hunters in Washington D.C. and around the country. I also enjoy the annual SCI wildlife seminar for lawyers that gives us an up to date briefing on their legal efforts and current lawsuits on behalf of and for hunters. They and the NRA are working for all of us in the courts, in D.C. and elsewhere. The show is always first class all the way.

I might try the buffet at Mandalay bay.
You don't get much for 10 bucks at subway or from the food court in general.
Anything over 30 bucks is too expensive for me especially with the current exchange rate.

I have gone a lot of years. I am not sure how many. My guess is close to 30.

Yes, I have witnessed a few people with attitudes. I can't say that I blame that on SCI. Anywhere there is that many people one one place, there are bound to be a few no matter where one goes. The overwhelming majority of people I meet are decent down to earth people regardless of their finances .

On the other hand, as far as staffing goes, DSC wins hands down. SCI wins the arrogance prize there.

I have not been to SCI but have been others. I am tired of the shows frankly. I will go to DSC but not as often as in the past.

It all runs together and much is the same just on different scales.

I really hate the dinner auctions - the false feeding frenzy is tiresome and the dollied up ladies selling raffle tickets and the gibberish of the auctioneers gets old. I think I am done.

I would rather buy my hunt via my agent or my tag via the landowner.....

I visited with one donor and he said that his donated hunt would end up in a very average animal being taken. Why donate an upper trophy for a guy looking for a freebie? I was a little taken aback by that but it makes sense.

So, I will go at times, mainly to do research on a new hunt or area or to meet a PH I have not met - but I am pretty much done.

It's still just a tradeshow. Very few get that.

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
One difference is SCI snubs us here on AR.
DSC gives us a place to meet and likes AR.
Screw SCI. They should hold their covention in Syria.
Cal

Remember Cal,

The light blue pill calms your nerves.

Cheers
Jim

DANG GUYS........It is Monday evening and I am at the show this very moment. I am suppose to be helping the boys at Bubye Valley Conservancy get the booth set up - but I am not worth a tinkers damn because all I do is keep talking to the many, many friends I have in Zim, SA, Namibia and Tanz. That I have here.
IT IS 1,000 times better than any school reunion could ever be....So, I guess I don't get it. There is no jealously, no snobbery, no one ups man ship. No nothing but FRIENDSHIP with dear friends from the last 25 years.
Oh, this doesn't even count the guys from AR and Alaska. I guess I just don't get it?
If I am going to book a hunt - well that decision was made months, if not years ago. This goes for DSC also. The only reason I am here is that there are more PH's and people I know here. And, I can be of assistance to Nigel Theisen and John Sharp who are long time friends.
BUT.......I have had the privilege of spending months, and all added up years in Africa. So, perhaps I am here for completely different reasons than everyone else.
Please stop by the BVC booth and say hello! This IS NOT a commercial for BVC!