This must be the 8th or 9th year we attended. I have never regretted it although I have regretted not bringing more clothes more than once.

Once again, I think it is good. My guess is the attendance is up.

I am a bit surprised at who is not here. The crossbow manufacturers for example. I am told there is an archery show this week.

Some of the deer related exhibitors are not here. For example, a company that I bought 5 tripods from last year is not here. Personally, I think the deer equipment exhibitors are down in number.

Most people seem happy. I have heard a few bitching about how DSC is handling the Omni.

After a lot of years, I have finally learned in the last couple of years is that one massive benefit of attending the show is the ability to talk straight to the manufacturers/distributors . One can get a hell of a lot of info. This has been incredibly helpful. For example, I spoke to the distributor of my thermal imaging devices. We had spent hours researching the issue. They answered these questions in seconds.

One has to really pay attention. It is easy to walk right by a company you know. It is even easier to walk by a booth that might have something that is absolutely fantastic for the issue one is facing. I walked by a booth twice that had the perfect product to get rid of moisture on the lenses of my trail cams.

Thus far, I have bought a duck hunt in Argentina, a turkey hunt is Mexico and few small items.

Weather was horrendous last night . Quite dangerous actually.

I was surprised at the relatively high attendance Thru and bigger yesterday. Today will probably be a zoo. Having fun, though.

I think it will be packed today. The local economy must be doing well, I have a couple of friends who have never attended showing up today to book hunts.

After long and considered evaluation, winter storm Isaiah caused me to cancel my DSC trip from Northeastern Kansas. Being on the western edge of the front we had both the "spring" and "winter" side of it with heavy rain and thunderstorms which changed to ice and snow with damaging winds. The risk was simply too much, facing a 14 hour roundtrip on the roads.

I was so looking forward to meeting the AR gang and just being at DSC. At least I'm alive to look forward to next year!

quote:

Originally posted by 1BigDeer:
After long and considered evaluation, winter storm Isaiah caused me to cancel my DSC trip from Northeastern Kansas. Being on the western edge of the front we had both the "spring" and "winter" side of it with heavy rain and thunderstorms which changed to ice and snow with damaging winds. The risk was simply too much, facing a 14 hour roundtrip on the roads.

I was so looking forward to meeting the AR gang and just being at DSC. At least I'm alive to look forward to next year!

The weather was pretty rough. Good call on your part.

I’m not there but if bookings are not strong this year they never will be!

Had to cancel last minute. First year I've missed in a long time.

Had a great time. Bought an auction hunt and some art work and booked a hunt.

On speaking to manufacturers, Leupold gave me some info that might be a big help. I told Hornady to make 318 Rimless Nitro Express. Just need a few thousand more to chime in. I have given feedback to companies there before.

It was packed this morning and by the time I left it looked thinner but the garage was still pretty full. The people I asked said it had bee a good show.

As always, I thought the show was fantastic. My wife and young son accompanied me, I became a life member, got to talk with some friends, and finalized plans for Ethiopia next year! This was our first time staying at the Omni and we really enjoyed it.

Well done DSC...a great show as always!

I'm fortunate to live in North Texas and have attended the show for the last 10 years or so. Thursday was busy, Friday not so much, but I chalk that up to the weather. I always avoid Saturday and will be back tomorrow to finalize trips to Tanzania and the Yukon.

As usual, the show was very good. It's always good. My only comments (hoping DSC listens) are three-fold.

First, the periodic PA announcements are still an annoyance. The announcer has a loud, booming voice. He makes it impossible to talk to anyone. Everyone I've spoken to feels the same way.

Second, and I fully recognize I may be on an island here, is that the green stamp applied to your hand when leaving for lunch is excessive. It's messy and gets all over your clothes. I wish DSC would move to a wrist band or something else. The stamp sucks.

Finally, it would be nice if DSC would pre-sell tickets to members so they could avoid the cattle call line to buy tickets. That's not a major annoyance, but it would be nice for members.

Superb as usual. Great effort by DSC and all the volunteers who make it work.

Great show and best of all, no road ice at DSC this year! Met Jason and Nassous Roussos for the first time. Since they had a break, I got to visit with them about Ethiopia past and present. Jason went to the same school as I, only twenty years later. Genuine folk there.

Lots of traffic on Saturday and people seemed very upbeat.

So far, we’ve had a great show. It should only get better, as high volume dove hunts are typically groups with one or two organizing and then scheduling with others.

I spoke with other outfitters and retailers who have said they have done well.

It is crazy in Dallas that the show opened with temps almost 80, then severe storms the second day, snow this morning. However, we haven’t had a total dolce storm like the old Market Hall days.

Excellent show!

Anyone get the lowdown on why Jumbo Moore and his group were not there? They were in the program and not there.

PS - the food was crap as provided by the concessionaires and the PA announcements were off the scale annoying.

PSS - please get the jewelery peddlers and fur coat booths out of there, waste of space and other outfitters could come.

PSSS- why not use the entire area of the convention area? Could get 100 more booths in.

Your misperception about the furs and jewelry is a reflection on your Safari store consortium, in terms of most of our realities.
Either you married a truly exceptional lady or you are not involved with one at all.
Yes, the food is terrible.

Texas winter weather is just that- Texas winter weather.
Don’t like it - wait a minute- it most likely will change.

We’re heading back to Wyoming this morning. We had a great show. I got to see several old friends and paid for my leopard/tuskless hunt which will be this April with CMS with Alan Shearing as my PH.

I bought some gear that I “needed” for the trip. We spent a lot of time looking at different black bear hunts for 2021, but didn’t end up booking one. I’m sure we’ll end up booking at the show next year.

quote:

Originally posted by DCS Member:
However, we haven’t had a total dolce storm like the old Market Hall days.

As I was driving there yesterday in the "snow" with 2 of my daughters I talked about those days...outside parking and ice everywhere. Good times...

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Excellent show!

Anyone get the lowdown on why Jumbo Moore and his group were not there? They were in the program and not there.

PS - the food was crap as provided by the concessionaires and the PA announcements were off the scale annoying.

PSS - please get the jewelery peddlers and fur coat booths out of there, waste of space and other outfitters could come.

PSSS- why not use the entire area of the convention area? Could get 100 more booths in.

There were a number of Zim outfitters who couldn’t get the US embassy in Harare to issue them a visa.

quote:

Originally posted by WBT

Finally, it would be nice if DSC would pre-sell tickets to members so they could avoid the cattle call line to buy tickets. That's not a major annoyance, but it would be nice for members.

They do sell them in advance. We had ours in hand for a while.

My wife’s favorite part, when we went, was the fur. Happy wife, happy life. I strongly suggest letting them stay.

Ok, I am convinced on the furs.
Two years ago my wife and her friend bought 3 coats. I could have shot a buff for that price.....

I was there on Saturday which I usually avoid because of the crowds. Wherever someone had an interesting video playing, people would stop to watch and block the way. I had to ask a group of people to move a bit so my daughters and I could get through(about five guys together, standing shoulder to shoulder, blocking the entire aisle). Apparently that request makes me an asshole...that was said when my daughters were still there following me but out of my hearing. I went back to see what the problem was but they had left.

I know outfitters don't want to have the videos have to point into their booths, but it is hard enough to get around without them...if my daughter didn't have a flight back to school today I would have gone today, much easier to get around. I would have gone Thursday or Friday but I am trying to conserve vacation days.

This was my first time there. My wife and I enjoyed the show. Thursday and Friday were nice, yesterday afternoon it was pretty busy. We got to talk to all of the outfitters on our "hit list" and ended up booking with Huntershill for 2021.
Everyone I met was very pleasant and professional and we enjoyed volunteering. Not sure if we will be back every year, but we will be back.

Great show as always --- been going since what I assume were the early days out at the merchandise mart and we stayed at what I recall was the Comfort Inn .
With regards to that overhead speaker system --- THAT-- is a huge negative !!! Very annoying to say the least and I have no clue what they were saying. It was kind of funny that whenever there was going to be an announcement-- it was preceded by a discernable "crack" --- brings back memories of "incoming" bad stuff.
As to the furs and jewelry-- great to have something for the girls -- this is a positive thing unless you are in the minus category and that would be self explanatory.
Saturday morning weather was a bit like home -- no problem there.

My wife and I have been having a discussion about the convention. I am going to comment on an area most don’t.

Lord knows how many people the convention center employs to keep things going . It has to be large number . I have to say that for the most part , they were doing a good job. There were a few,however, that really stood out. They were busting their backsides.

There was an older gentleman in one of the bathrooms. He was keeping everything spotless. As soon as someone left a stall, he was in there mopping and cleaning after every single use. He was really getting after it. He did a commendable job. Hard to find people like that these days.

I live locally and enjoy the show. I did note some anxiety among those on the forum with a lack of suggested hotel accommodations.
I might suggest DSC look for a second large hotel to tie down that would actively run shuttles too and from the convention.
Personally, I feel like a kid in a candy store at this convention..

EZ

My wife and I went to the convention for the first time this year. We had a wonderful time. There were so many things to see and we spoke to a lot of nice people. The shuttle from the hotel made it very convenient. We booked a trip for 2021 while there. We also got to meet some of the forum members in the AR room. We will be back.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
My wife and I have been having a discussion about the convention. I am going to comment on an area most don’t.

Lord knows how many people the convention center employs to keep things going . It has to be large number . I have to say that for the most part , they were doing a good job. There were a few,however, that really stood out. They were busting their backsides.

There was an older gentleman in one of the bathrooms. He was keeping everything spotless. As soon as someone left a stall, he was in there mopping and cleaning after every single use. He was really getting after it. He did a commendable job. Hard to find people like that these days.

Convention restrooms get ugly quick.

Not sure if it was the same restroom that you are talking about, but I used the same stool three days in a row and the stall was spotless every time, the guy got a tip.

Enjoyed the show.I don't know what the attendance was but it looked similar to last years.I thought the Sheraton was great.I met a few good folks from AR-Karl Evans,Mike "retreever,Frank Beller,wwgreener,Larry Shores,Ernest Gilbert "JudgeG",Dave "snellstrom",470EDDY"and "30-06 king".The weather was better than I had expected and I had a great steak dinner at Pappas Steakhouse.The best part was being among people who are passionate about hunting.I was hoping to see my PH but I guess he too had Visa issues.I did get a chance to see and chat with Blake Wilhelmi who I also hunted with.

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:
Excellent show!

Anyone get the lowdown on why Jumbo Moore and his group were not there? They were in the program and not there.

PS - the food was crap as provided by the concessionaires and the PA announcements were off the scale annoying.

PSS - please get the jewelery peddlers and fur coat booths out of there, waste of space and other outfitters could come.

PSSS- why not use the entire area of the convention area? Could get 100 more booths in.

I did see Jumbo there. I did notice they did not have booth

This was the first year we did not fly in from Florida for the show as we moved back to the DFW area last November. We had a room booked at the Hyatt prior to the move and we kept it to stay in town Fri and Sat nights to spend more time with friends.

Great show. We loved it. All of the outfitters and gun dealers I talked to were very happy this year. The Life Member Breakfast had 2 excellent guest speakers and the breakfast was really good as well.

A note for improvements: With some of the unused space, make wider aisles. Really hard to get around at times. Also, put in some more break/sitting areas.

Safe travels!

Had a great time at the show. Best part was I got to catch up with many old friends as well as make new friends. Booked a hunt, bought optics, books and gear. More rest areas needed as well as a few more food choices. Agree about wider isles ok for Thursday and Friday but by Saturday hard to deal with. Great job by all the volunteers and workers that made it work.

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Enjoyed the show.I don't know what the attendance was but it looked similar to last years.I thought the Sheraton was great.I met a few good folks from AR-Karl Evans,Mike "retreever,Frank Beller,wwgreener,Larry Shores,Dave "snellstrom"and "30-06 king".The weather was better than I had expected and I had a great steak dinner at Pappas Steakhouse.The best part was being among people who are passionate about hunting.I was hoping to see my PH but I guess he too had Visa issues.I did get a chance to see and chat with Blake Wilhelmi who I also hunted with.

Shootaway, who is Blake hunting with these days?

quote:

Originally posted by VPEXP:

quote:

Originally posted by shootaway:
Enjoyed the show.I don't know what the attendance was but it looked similar to last years.I thought the Sheraton was great.I met a few good folks from AR-Karl Evans,Mike "retreever,Frank Beller,wwgreener,Larry Shores,Dave "snellstrom"and "30-06 king".The weather was better than I had expected and I had a great steak dinner at Pappas Steakhouse.The best part was being among people who are passionate about hunting.I was hoping to see my PH but I guess he too had Visa issues.I did get a chance to see and chat with Blake Wilhelmi who I also hunted with.

Shootaway, who is Blake hunting with these days?

I cannot remember the details but he was working at the Adam Clements booth and is hunting with them.I don't know if he is still hunting with Mantheakis.I asked him but cannot remember what he told me.I know Richard Tabor will be hunting in Tanzania.

I thought it was an outstanding show overall.

Something does need to be done about aisle width for Saturdays...might be the heaviest traffic I have seen.

I really loved the speakers at the Life Member Breakfast.

I think bookings were decent...they were up for Nigel Theisen and I at Safari 5 Africa.

Saw lots of old friends but time is always short and missed others hoping to see.

Food as always needs major help!

Should have the National Beer of Texas, Lone Star Beer, at concessions.

"Should have the National Beer of Texas, Lone Star Beer, at concessions."

I think I had one of those at the Pappas Steakhouse!

George,
I was in Pappas Steakhouse most of Saturday evening...first sitting at table by piano in the bar...then at a table with friends. What night were you there?

Blake was at the Michel Mantheakis booth a couple of time's when I walked by, but was busy. I stopped by once and talked to another younger PH that said he was over at the Adam Clements booth, he must be doing some work for both companies now?