Personally, I am not going . I have a conflict .

For those who normally go but are not going this year , I would be interested in hearing why. Did the move play any part ?

I won't be going because of the move

Larry, I will not be going. I do not plan to attend either show this year; however, if I did, I would have gone to SCI. Since attending either show would have involved air travel, etc., my thinking would be why not attend the bigger show (SCI) in a nicer venue (Nashville). I still find the DSC move from Dallas (and Texas) a bit puzzling and certainly aggravating. My $0.02.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Larry, I will not be going. I do not plan to attend either show this year; however, if I did, I would have gone to SCI. Since attending either show would have involved air travel, etc., my thinking would be why not attend the bigger show (SCI) in a nicer venue (Nashville). I still find the DSC move from Dallas (and Texas) a bit puzzling and certainly aggravating. My $0.02.

I hear you . Plus DSC flat out lied about the availability of the venue.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
Larry, I will not be going. I do not plan to attend either show this year; however, if I did, I would have gone to SCI. Since attending either show would have involved air travel, etc., my thinking would be why not attend the bigger show (SCI) in a nicer venue (Nashville). I still find the DSC move from Dallas (and Texas) a bit puzzling and certainly aggravating. My $0.02.

I hear you . Plus DSC flat out lied about the availability of the venue.

Are the guys who gave themselves prizes still running the show??

I mentioned it in another thread, but I’ve attended every DSC show for more than 15 years in a row, but not this year. If I’m going to travel, it’s not going to be to Atlanta. DSC’s inexplicable decision to leave Texas finally pushed me to join SCI.

Would be into see the attendance.

Both for visitors and exhibitors.

Like many others, I am really unhappy with the move to Atlanta as well as the circumstances surrounding the “necessary” change in location. However, I will be attending the show in Atlanta. I’m trying to keep an open mind and look forward to talking with many of the exhibitors!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Would be into see the attendance.

Both for visitors and exhibitors.

I hear rumors which I have no idea if they are true or not . If true , they are not positive . Emphasis on if true . Considering that I do not know with certainty, I won’t repeat the details here .


Time will tell.

quote:

Originally posted by PAGuardian:
Like many others, I am really unhappy with the move to Atlanta as well as the circumstances surrounding the “necessary” change in location. However, I will be attending the show in Atlanta. I’m trying to keep an open mind and look forward to talking with many of the exhibitors!

Great!

Obviously you have been to previous shows.

Please give us your opinion after you have been there.

I will be going, taking 3 guys who have never been. I can make a day trip out of it and have a great time. Plan on booking a trip with Bruce Martin, Lake Albert Safaris in Uganda.

If I didn’t have the conflict, I am not sure if I would go or if I would go to TTHA. TTHA has a lot of things that would be of interest for my ranch . I have always wanted to go. It has never worked out .

Love going to Dallas. No interest in going to ATL.

I’ll be there and am bring a buddy who’s never attended a big hunting show. I’m looking for a US-based hunt where my 88 YOA father (he’s my hero - Silver Star in Vietnam)
can hunt easily, my buddy can fill his freezer, and I can hunt as well. We’ll see what can be found.

I'm going but I'm not really thrilled about it. I had planned to skip Dallas and attend SCI, but I have a work trip to Brazil that conflicts with SCI. I'd like to book an elephant/buffalo hunt for 2025.

I haven't missed a DSC show in probably 30 years, but I'm guessing I'll miss the 2026 show. In 2026, I'm planning to attend SCI and skip Dallas.

I have a conflict this year also and can’t attend either show. I’m a lifetime DSC member and have never attended SCI and am not currently a member. My plan going forward is to join SCI as a lifetime member and attend their convention. I’m disgusted with the way DSC lied to their members.

Don’t normally miss many DSC shows. Will miss them all while in Atlanta. We don’t care for that city. Doing Nashville with SCI instead.

I've gone to DSC every year for years except the year I had covid. But I figured if I had to fly to Atlanta, I might as well just fly to Nashville, so going to SCI this year. I must say, the tickets at SCI are a lot more expensive, so I may go to DSC in Atlanta next year. We'll see if I like SCI. Haven't been before.

quote:

Originally posted by Lhook7:
My plan going forward is to join SCI as a lifetime member and attend their convention. I’m disgusted with the way DSC lied to their members.

Exactly!!

I'm going Thursday afternoon and Friday. The timing was more convenient than SCI. I've been flying to DSC from Stillwater, OK - flying to Dallas early in the morning and flying back that evening. Atlanta is a bit more complicated and I'll stay overnight.

Does anyone here go to the banquets? I bought a ticket for the Thursday night banquet.

Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

First year I've missed DSC in 14 years, but I ain't going to Atlanta.....

Will be at sci though.

Not going, don't have the spare energy to travel anymore.

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

I hear that as well. However, I also hear that many booths have been sold to companies that normally would not be allowed to exhibit.

TTHA has a contract for several years . I forget the number .

I will be at DSC Thurs-Sun.

Life Member and Volunteer for the last 10 years,,I will not go to Atlanta ,,I cant believe it is not being held Somewhere in Texas ,,at the least in Oklahoma ,I would think most Texans would have come to Oklahoma as its only about couple hours from Dallas . I am going to miss it as I normally look forward to seeing all the friends I have met over the years their..

Presently on one of our mega-roadtrips and planned to attend in Dallas. Not willing to drive further east to Atlanta.

So the move is our reason for not going.

We are not going to Atlanta, will be attending the TTHA show in Dallas and SCI. It was truly an ill advised move on the part of DSC, I think there will be a lot of floor traffic from locals, just to see the show, likely won’t be booking a lot of hunts (this year). I’ve been told that banquet sales are not very good, they even had a promotion that if you bought a table for all nights that you would be entered in a drawing for the presidential suite at a hotel. I hope the DSC President is planning on attending . I’ve heard from several exhibitors that they are very concerned about sales since they have heard from their longtime customers that they will not be attending. One large jeweler called me last week asking if I could help him get a booth at TTHA in Dallas, little bit late on that. There looks to be quite a few African outfitters that will be at TTHA, I suggested to a couple of outfitters I’ve hunted with to exhibit in Dallas, neither are and I think they are missing out on possible bookings.
To Saeed’s question, yes, pretty much the same few guys running the show at DSC, except the CEO left for greener pastures and time will tell if the new guy falls in line or is strong enough to make changes (or leaves).
Like Larry, I’ve heard some not-so-good stories about DSC leadership but haven’t seen proof positive so won’t pass along.
They did lie and no one appreciates being lied to.
On a positive note, the City of Dallas has finally hired a Construction Manager at Risk for Phase 1, which is the Academy of Black Arts and Letters, believe that is the current name, and auditorium on SE corner, so some sort of construction should begin in the near future.
I was told by a reliable source that DSC has signed a contract for 2030 at Dallas convention center, I also told that TTHA has a 3 year contract and a 3 year option, which would include 2030.
Some sponsors aren’t happy with the move and one major sponsor told me last month that if the show in Atlanta isn’t a really good show that he felt like the “fat lady would be warming up”.

I will be there Friday and Saturday

We, as in Miles & Miles Argentina, will be at DSC and also TTHA. I’ll be manning the both here.

As Karl mentioned, there are many fairly well known African outfitters booked. Dallas is just too close to our main client base. I also have no desire to go to Atlanta, except maybe see some old friends. I also like my own home and bed.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

I hear that as well. However, I also hear that many booths have been sold to companies that normally would not be allowed to exhibit.

TTHA has a contract for several years . I forget the number .

Any idea why they were not allowed previously??

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

I hear that as well. However, I also hear that many booths have been sold to companies that normally would not be allowed to exhibit.

TTHA has a contract for several years . I forget the number .

Any idea why they were not allowed previously??

As I hear it , they were low end retailers .

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

I hear that as well. However, I also hear that many booths have been sold to companies that normally would not be allowed to exhibit.

TTHA has a contract for several years . I forget the number .

Any idea why they were not allowed previously??

As I hear it , they were low end retailers .

Do they sell sashes??

Might be where they got them from!

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Wesheltonj:
Not going to Atlanta. But not going to SCI either. Given the choice between Nashville and Atlanta, no contest Nashville.

I’ve heard that DSC sold out the floor. Attendance will be interesting, assume they tell the truth. I’ve look at the TYHA floor map, they took up all the space that DSC took except the gun area. It will be interesting to see if DSC can get back the KBH convention center if TTHA is successful. What a stupid decision on DSC part, to leave a year early because of construction.

I hear that as well. However, I also hear that many booths have been sold to companies that normally would not be allowed to exhibit.

TTHA has a contract for several years . I forget the number .

Any idea why they were not allowed previously??

more then a few going were outfitters on waiting list in the past years. When places dropped out new outfitters did not care were show was they wanted in so they got there foot in the door for future shows

Larry and bcap are both correct, quite a few “new” outfitters will be there, which might be a good thing for competition, some of the regular outfitters are complaining about no vetting of some of the new exhibitors, that some don’t meet association membership requirement, no idea if that is true.
We’ve been invited to a reception near Dallas for one of the “new” outfitters next week, brand new hunting area and PH in SA, planning on going.
I’ve seen adverts from a couple of the established SA outfits advertising 6-7 day all inclusive plains game hunts for about what my first SA hunt cost in 2005. Might bring in some new hunters from the new attendee pool.
Be interesting to hear if the “sash crew” shows up, I’m betting they do…whole new crowd to impress !

Are the sashes people into the RAINBOW crowd?

Will they display their newly acquired RAINBOW sashes?

I'm going Friday for the day. We're coming in a group of 9-10 guys from SC/GA - I am the only person who has been before.

I know two retailers who are east-coasters participating for the first time this year. They are decidedly high end.

Looking forward to it.

I heard that there are more hunters based on license sales in the Atlanta catchment area when compared to Dallas. We shall see!

We're cruising all the way around Africa during both shows, prospecting all the way!!... Leaving out Egypt and Red Sea, obviously!! So, we won't be into UAE either to invite Saeed to dinner...

I really have enjoyed going to Dallas for DSC. I would NOT have gone to DSC in Atlanta!! Actually, I have let my membership lapse since the Atlanta decision, and I had really lost interest in the Magazine too.

I have attended SCI for more than 40 years, first in Reno, then Las Vegas. I have not made Nashville yet due to travel schedules, we were booked in 22 and 23 ...then I had the back surgery!! Walking is an issue... surgery when we return from Africa again!!

Happy New Year!!