I was Thinking about how the SCI Convention is doing.

Anyone on the Floor with an up date?

I have received a few e mails from PH's outlining what they still have availabe for '24 and '25. So it reflects that they are selling hunts, and letting potential clients if you are interested in booking what they have availabe.

It is busy . Everyone I spoke to has done well.

It is busy, several outfitters have told me that they have sold out 2024 and 2025 and are booking for 2026-2027. Lots of folks that I know are here from Texas, booking hunts. I’ve gotten a leopard in Namibia next year, wife has found jewelers she had to have. Lot and lots of people on the floor.

I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

I am glad that you are doing well and able to attend the convention.

yes, getting older is not for sissies.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

Examples

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

Examples

Kebco
Vogt Leathers
Murray Leathers
Louis Mueller
Vaccines to go
A variety of apparel vendors
Thierry LeBat

I am sure there are more.

We went to the concert last night . I am not a country music fan but I thought it was great. I am guessing there were 7,000-8,000 people there . Emphasis on guess .

On the other hand, I thought 38 Special sounded good but could not get the crowd going .

Great show so far. I think check in was more organized than last year. Food options in the convention center are still lacking, but excellent restaurants within 2-5min walk of the convention center.
Attendance seemed great yesterday. Wednesday morning was busy but afternoon seemed light.
Heading to breakfast now and then off for a full day browsing the floor. My son and wife flew in last night and today will be Owen's first experience. I'm looking forward to his reaction.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
We went to the concert last night . I am not a country music fan but I thought it was great. I am guessing there were 7,000-8,000 people there . Emphasis on guess .

On the other hand, I thought 38 Special sounded good but could not get the crowd going .

It was great…I don’t think security was pleased when he told people to come on up and come on down lol…people rushed the stage

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

Examples

Kebco
Vogt Leathers
Murray Leathers
Louis Mueller
Vaccines to go
A variety of apparel vendors
Thierry LeBat

I am sure there are more.

I know that Thierry is in Cameroon hunting LDE.

quote:

Originally posted by Kpoynter:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
We went to the concert last night . I am not a country music fan but I thought it was great. I am guessing there were 7,000-8,000 people there . Emphasis on guess .

On the other hand, I thought 38 Special sounded good but could not get the crowd going .

It was great…I don’t think security was pleased when he told people to come on up and come on down lol…people rushed the stage

You are right . We were near the front. All of a sudden , we had this mass of people around us. Fortunately, security did not let it last long .

It’s been fun here in Nashville
Roaming, looking, gawking, talking to friends and operators and planning next trips and…day drinking a bit…

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana338:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

I am glad that you are doing well and able to attend the convention.

yes, getting older is not for sissies.

Thank you sir.

quote:

Originally posted by miketaylor:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

Examples

Kebco
Vogt Leathers
Murray Leathers
Louis Mueller
Vaccines to go
A variety of apparel vendors
Thierry LeBat

I am sure there are more.

I know that Thierry is in Cameroon hunting LDE.

Wish I was the client on that hunt....

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by mboga biga bwana:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I will say that I noticed that a number of long term exhibitors are not there this year .

Examples

Kebco
Vogt Leathers
Murray Leathers
Louis Mueller
Vaccines to go
A variety of apparel vendors
Thierry LeBat

I am sure there are more.

Kebco is most likely not there due to Beretta buying Verney Carron and selling VC products through their own network. He probably lost the VC dealership.

Ken retired. The business was sold to or taken over by another gentlemen whose name I do not recall. Last I spoke to Ken he was doing fine.

Interesting news. I was thinking about getting Ken to sell my VC 500 NE.

Murray Leathers…Dick’s wife recently passed, im sure that played a role. I hope she rests in peace.

I noticed a few others missing. This was not criticism of anyone. Just an observation.

I have noticed one thing interesting that I have never seen before . There are a bunch of women walking around in red vests . I forget exactly what the vests say. The gist of it is to ask them about any convention questions. I saw quite a few people asking these women questions.

I spoke to a guy in the finance committee last night . He gave me the attendance numbers. They were vastly higher than last year .

My observations, without actual numbers, is that the auctions are bringing a lot of money. Another observation is that many of the hunts being auctioned were for “available dates only.” When the hell is that?

Last night’s even was WAY late. Food sucked .

They need more places to sit . Also , the food situation sucks .

I agree, food sucked
I’d take G&T instead of that chicken any day of the week

I visited with the guys at the Kreighoff booth, they had sold every double rifle they brought with them, including an ornately engraved .470 NE that was priced at $97,000. They had a good show!

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
I visited with the guys at the Kreighoff booth, they had sold every double rifle they brought with them, including an ornately engraved .470 NE that was priced at $97,000. They had a good show!

Wow

I believe FRANCIS LOMBARDI, FOXTROT is the VC US Importer now, also HAMBRUSCH of Austria, and KYNOCH Ammunition.

90% of Zambia's operators could not sell as their quotas have not been issued and as freelancers sell most of the quota then this is a cluster however it may open the door for some bargain hunts

That is what I was afraid would happen.

Lex and Lina Webernick (Rifles, Inc) also skipped Nashville. I know a poster said a lot of Texans were booking hunts, but I am wondering if the "fat cats" on the East Coast were in higher attendance?

quote:

Originally posted by drj:
Lex and Lina Webernick (Rifles, Inc) also skipped Nashville. I know a poster said a lot of Texans were booking hunts, but I am wondering if the "fat cats" on the East Coast were in higher attendance?

In terms of “East Coast Fat cats”
I will say as a local….what we saw were license plates from West of the Mississippi…
I would say Nashville appeals to a broad audience and is a 2 hr flight from the vast majority of the US excluding West Coast fly over world

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
90% of Zambia's operators could not sell as their quotas have not been issued and as freelancers sell most of the quota then this is a cluster however it may open the door for some bargain hunts

Just what we all need is another "bargain" from Zambia.... Give it break and go hunt where you will actually get to hunt....

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
90% of Zambia's operators could not sell as their quotas have not been issued and as freelancers sell most of the quota then this is a cluster however it may open the door for some bargain hunts

Just what we all need is another "bargain" from Zambia.... Give it break and go hunt where you will actually get to hunt....

The only Zambia operator I really talked to at SCI was refusing to take deposits since he wasn't 100% sure of his quota. Pity more Zambians aren't honest and honorable that way.

I visited with 2 Zambian operators at the DSC convention and I asked about options availabe.

they told me that all was up in the air and they were waiting to sort it out. I left my contact information on a hunt we were talking about and I have not received anything. They were not taking deposits as they did not know what they could market.

I did book a hunt to Zimbabwe for 2025 at the convention.

I spoke with two outfitters that “have” concessions in Zambia, neither were booking hunts, just taking interested hunters info pending outcome of govt screw up. Both said they would not try and renew lease of concession.

To those that might be interested, room blocks are open and one can book rooms for next year at 3 hotels, Omni, Westin and J W Marriot.

One has to feel bad for the Zambians. There is a mess not of their making.

Awful situation for the Zambian outfitters... they spend the money to travel and book show booths with nothing definitive to sell. Truly 'no fault of their own.'

As to heavy sales of hunts and double rifles, there is an interesting wealth effect from the Federal Reserve moving rates up... People with cash & no debt are suddenly making 5.5% on money that was making nothing a short while ago. Homes and stock portfolios are the highest they've ever been. Labor market is pretty strong. I knew that international travel for vacation was strong in '23, but I didn't make the connection that African outfitters would be booking up 2025.

That's great news for our outfitter friends. Am I too optimistic to hope for a huge Africa resurgence and Hornady to start loading all the double calibers again?

quote:

That's great news for our outfitter friends. Am I too optimistic to hope for a huge Africa resurgence and Hornady to start loading all the double calibers again?

I posed that very question to one of the top guys at Hornady, he said that they have “exponentially” increased their loading capacity by adding thousands of square feet to their facility. He also said they load what is in demand and that components in excess of ammo orders are sold as components. I was specifically asking about .450/400 and .505 Gibbs, neither are on their schedule…

Karl,

I also asked the different ammo makers on different lines of ammo that I have been looking for.

different makers will be making some select runs and then shut it off again. so be on the look out to purchase when you see what you are looking for as it becomes availabe. they just could not give me a time period for what I am looking for to come availabe. so they said to check weekly and purchase when you see it availabe.

like some I always try to have some on hand, and when what I am looking for comes out I will pick up a case to have on hand. heck I think I am running low when my stock pile get down to 6 boxes.

however with a new rifle on order I will have to be on the lookout for that caliber. and pick up a bunch.

Just a short note... thank you to all AR guys that visited our booth,,, good luck to all PH's and Clients for 2025,, Walk tall and shoot straight .. be safe

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
90% of Zambia's operators could not sell as their quotas have not been issued and as freelancers sell most of the quota then this is a cluster however it may open the door for some bargain hunts

Just what we all need is another "bargain" from Zambia.... Give it break and go hunt where you will actually get to hunt....

That is somewhat negative and my statement is that once quotas are on board and considering the operators have missed the conventions they will be selling at a very competitive price.

Of course my comment is negative. How could anyone book a hunt in Zambia with all of the uncertainty?
Even if this sorts out, why should anyone trust the government?