www.huntingconventions.com
Please direct questions or comments to Ken Wilson at kwilson@sportsmenonfilm.com
Updated 2-1-22

SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL (SCI)
520-620-1220 (Tucson, Arizona); www.safariclub.org

2023: February 22 - 25 (Wed - Sat), Nashville, Tennessee
2024: January 31 - February 3 (Wed - Sat), Nashville, Tennessee
2025: January 22 - 25 (Wed - Sat), Nashville, Tennessee
2026: January 14 - 17 (Wed - Sat), New Orleans, Louisiana
2027: February 3 - 6 (Wed - Sat), Indianapolis, Indiana

DALLAS SAFARI CLUB (DSC)
972-392-3488 (Dallas, Texas): www.biggame.org

2023: January 5 - 8 (Thurs - Sun), Dallas Convention Center
2024: January 11 - 14 (Thurs - Sun), Dallas Convention Center
2025: January 9 - 12 (Thurs - Sun), Dallas Convention Center
2026: January 8 - 11 (Thurs - Sun), Dallas Convention Center
2027: January 7 -10 (Thurs - Sun), Dallas Convention Center

WILD SHEEP FOUNDATION
307-527-6261 (Cody, Wyoming): www.wildsheepfoundation.org

2023: January 11 - 14 (Wed - Sat), Reno - Sparks Convention Center
2024: January 17 - 20 (Wed - Sat), Reno - Sparks Convention Center
2025: January 15 - 18 (Wed - Sat), Reno - Sparks Convention Center
2026: January 21 - 24 (Wed - Sat), Reno - Sparks Convention Center
2027: January 20 - 23 (Wed - Sat), Reno - Sparks Convention Center

GRAND SLAM CLUB / OVIS (GSCO)
205-674-0101 (Birmingham, Alabama): www.slamquest.org

2023: January 19 - 21 (Thurs - Sat), Las Vegas, Westgate Resort & Casino
2024: January 18 - 20 (Thurs - Sat), Las Vegas, Westgate Resort & Casino
2025: January 16 - 18 (Thurs - Sat), To Be Announced
2026: To Be Announced
2027: To Be Announced

Wow. Indianapolis in the dead of winter. What a great choice.."

quote:

2026: January 14 - 17 (Wed - Sat), New Orleans, Louisiana

How many PH's will wake up in an ice bath minus a kidney?

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
Wow. Indianapolis in the dead of winter. What a great choice.."

At least it has a decent airport, Reno is not better.

What exactly s there to see and do in Indy in the winter? Just curious. For that matter, what is there to see and do in Indy anytime other than the Memorial Day race?

New Orleans should be quite the wild time.

Guess I'm done going to SCI for the foreseeable.

Nashville is a great destination.

quote:

Guess I'm done going to SCI for the foreseeable.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Ongwe:
Guess I'm done going to SCI for the foreseeable.

Why do you say that ?

To me, essentially changing Vegas to Nashville is not a great idea.

I thought the idea was to move it around… while I don’t have a strong objection to moving it around some, I don’t have much positive vibe personally re Nashville as a destination.

I would go to Vegas without an external reason to… I can’t say the same re Nashville or Indianapolis.

I know talking to some friends in the business that in the distant past SCI had a convention other than in the west- and it was a colossal failure.

Ease of travel isn’t the only criteria that should be looked at.

For those who haven’t experienced Nashville…the downtown area has great food and great hotels. There is plenty to do in the evenings as well. I spoke at a convention there in December. We had a great time.

Larry: Here are my unabashed feelings. Take it for what it's worth and I do not mean to start a shit show or offend those who emotionally want it back East. Reno was downright awful from the standpoint of weather, airline connections, etc etc. It is my understanding that the last time SCI was there they lost over 1 million dollars. Vegas has ALWAYS been successful for SCI. You can get to Vegas from anywhere in the world fairly easily and its well known. One of the busiest airports in the world. In addition, the weather is great, the food, entertainment and hotels are world class. DSC has always been located in one place and that has made it successful from that standpoint. SCI should have left it in Vegas long term. I have nothing against Nashville, but three years?! Really!? And then to Indiana and New Orleans? What in the hell was SCI thinking? You're looking to over 5 years out before it might, just might come back West. Very poor decision in my estimation. And, that's not considering the fact that vendors have to move their exhibits around and around and around. Crazy.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:
Larry: Here are my unabashed feelings. Take it for what it's worth and I do not mean to start a shit show or offend those who emotionally want it back East. Reno was downright awful from the standpoint of weather, airline connections, etc etc. It is my understanding that the last time SCI was there they lost over 1 million dollars. Vegas has ALWAYS been successful for SCI. You can get to Vegas from anywhere in the world fairly easily and its well known. One of the busiest airports in the world. In addition, the weather is great, the food, entertainment and hotels are world class. DSC has always been located in one place and that has made it successful from that standpoint. SCI should have left it in Vegas long term. I have nothing against Nashville, but three years?! Really!? And then to Indiana and New Orleans? What in the hell was SCI thinking? You're looking to over 5 years out before it might, just might come back West. Very poor decision in my estimation. And, that's not considering the fact that vendors have to move their exhibits around and around and around. Crazy.

Personally , I like Vegas . It is, however , enormously expensive . Vastly more than Reno.

I have questions about the new locations. Vegas has simply become too expensive. They had to do something.

Vegas has become one huge ripoff. Their gambling revenues are down so they are trying to screw their customers every which way they can.

$20 for a bottle of in-room water, $6 for the coffee maker which is free in any one-star motel, $50 to put YOUR sandwich in the fridge, $22 for a shot of Dewar's on the casino floor (not some ritzy lounge), and on and on.

An SCI board member said one of the reasons for choosing Nashville was that it's within an 8 hr drive of something like 60% of all US hunters.

Thing is, what’s it’s gonna do to prices in Nashville
The way I look at it from being from MT , SLC show will start looking better and better

I encourage everyone to have an open mind to Nashville. I think it will be liked.

quote:

Originally posted by ledvm:
I encourage everyone to have an open mind to Nashville. I think it will be liked.

I’m excited, I can drive there.

quote:

The way I look at it from being from MT , SLC show will start looking better and better

Sadly, greed will kill anything that is profitable. Thanks for the information Larry.

quote:

Originally posted by vvreddy:
Vegas has become one huge ripoff. Their gambling revenues are down so they are trying to screw their customers every which way they can.

$20 for a bottle of in-room water, $6 for the coffee maker which is free in any one-star motel, $50 to put YOUR sandwich in the fridge, $22 for a shot of Dewar's on the casino floor (not some ritzy lounge), and on and on.

An SCI board member said one of the reasons for choosing Nashville was that it's within an 8 hr drive of something like 60% of all US hunters.

Vegas and the fleecing of customers is borderline fraudulent.

When they started putting resort fees for use of pool ect I stopped going to Vegas.

Mike

My feelings in brief:

Reno - 100% No. Too hard to get there and the town is gray and boring. Cheapness is overrated.

Las Vegas - 75% Yes, with lots of buts. Easy to get there and the town is jumping (for good or ill). But as noted above, everything, other than nightly rates for hotel rooms, is obscenely expensive!

Nashville - 100% Yes. Easy to get there, the town is jumping and full of southern charm, and hotels, food and drink, and other amenities are plentiful and reasonably priced.

New Orleans - 200% Yes. Easy to get there, the town is jumping like a cat on a hot tin roof, food and drink are by far the best of all of the above. Ever have chickory coffee and beignets in the morning outside on the patio at Cafe du Mond? I've even eaten Gator-On-A-Stick and gone back for more. Hotels are plentiful and middle of the road expensive. Air boat rides through the bayous, blues and jazz players galore, including the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, etc.

Indianapolis - No offense meant to the organizers, but this is some kind of bad joke, right?

The dates for DSC and SCI are still too far apart for every year but 2026.

quote:

Originally posted by Beretta682E:

quote:

Originally posted by vvreddy:
Vegas has become one huge ripoff. Their gambling revenues are down so they are trying to screw their customers every which way they can.

$20 for a bottle of in-room water, $6 for the coffee maker which is free in any one-star motel, $50 to put YOUR sandwich in the fridge, $22 for a shot of Dewar's on the casino floor (not some ritzy lounge), and on and on.

An SCI board member said one of the reasons for choosing Nashville was that it's within an 8 hr drive of something like 60% of all US hunters.

Vegas and the fleecing of customers is borderline fraudulent.

When they started putting resort fees for use of pool ect I stopped going to Vegas.

Mike

Agreed. I liked Vegas better when it was cheap, sleezy and the Mob ran it. Ever since the Indian Casinos stole the low rollers and Corporate America took over it has turned into a high-priced rip off. Nashville and New Orleans sound like fun alternatives.

But, but, but, what about that exciting and reasonably priced Mecca of tourism, Indy??

quote:

Agreed. I liked Vegas better when it was cheap, sleezy and the Mob ran it.

Damn, you haven't been to Vegas since the late 70's or early 80's.

Let me make a few more comments.

The price difference between Vegas and Reno is shocking . The Vegas prices make the end result far worse .

I also wonder about Indy. However , as I recall , the NRA had their convention there. Must be more than meets the eye.

Nashville is far closer to the major population centers than anywhere out west.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

Agreed. I liked Vegas better when it was cheap, sleezy and the Mob ran it.

Damn, you haven't been to Vegas since the late 70's or early 80's.

Yep, but once the mob controlled slipped, the Mob’s mouthpiece/attorney, Oscar Goodman, became mayor and took over running the show!

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:


The dates for DSC and SCI are still too far apart for every year but 2026.

I recall hearing an awful lot complaining among the exhibitors the last time SCI was the weekend following DSC. I'm guessing that was during one of the Reno years??


Breaking down and packing up their booth in Dallas on Sunday evening and setting up at SCI on Tuesday,....That is a really tight schedule.

quote:

Yep, but once the mob controlled slipped, the Mob’s mouthpiece/attorney, Oscar Goodman, became mayor and took over running the show!

I worked as the law clerk for the federal judge that shut the mob down in Vegas at that time. And, then I went to work for the civil firm that split off from Oscar's criminal law firm. I know Oscar very well. He was actually a damn good mayor and he was a very good attorney. Now his wife runs the City.

I think Nashville will be a great city for SCI.

Personally, I'm pretty indifferent on the location as long the flights are easy. When I go to SCI, I'm there to see people and plan hunts, not to play tourist,....not that there is anything wrong with that.

I think flights into Nashville and Indy will be fine. Flights into Vegas were certainly very easy. Air travel into Reno can be a pain in the ass.

There’s definitely a problem with too close together, too.

I wonder what the overseas outfitters would say is the ideal break between the conventions?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
There’s definitely a problem with too close together, too.

I wonder what the overseas outfitters would say is the ideal break between the conventions?

Most of the guys that I have talked with in the past like either, an off weekend between the shows, or SCI before DSC. SCI is Wed to Sat. DSC is Thur to Sun. Breaking down Sat and setting up Wed, has to be easier than breaking down Sun and setting up Tues.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
My feelings in brief:

Reno - 100% No. Too hard to get there and the town is gray and boring. Cheapness is overrated.

Las Vegas - 75% Yes, with lots of buts. Easy to get there and the town is jumping (for good or ill). But as noted above, everything, other than nightly rates for hotel rooms, is obscenely expensive!

Nashville - 100% Yes. Easy to get there, the town is jumping and full of southern charm, and hotels, food and drink, and other amenities are plentiful and reasonably priced.

New Orleans - 200% Yes. Easy to get there, the town is jumping like a cat on a hot tin roof, food and drink are by far the best of all of the above. Ever have chickory coffee and beignets in the morning outside on the patio at Cafe du Mond? I've even eaten Gator-On-A-Stick and gone back for more. Hotels are plentiful and middle of the road expensive. Air boat rides through the bayous, blues and jazz players galore, including the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, etc.

Indianapolis - No offense meant to the organizers, but this is some kind of bad joke, right?

The dates for DSC and SCI are still too far apart for every year but 2026.

+1

I think Nashville will be a very good venue for the SCI convention, I attended the NRA convention there a couple of years ago and it was very good. I think it will be less expensive for exhibitors and attendees alike with plenty of non-convention activities. I was told at SCI (by one that would know) that exhibitor booth space was 95% booked and many, many more were requesting booth space, to the point that SCI might request those with multiple booths (8-10) to give up a booth space or two to allow more exhibitors to attend. Pretty sure that wasn’t the case s couple of years ago.
Only possible issue as I see it is the length of time between the major shows, I’m afraid some exhibitors will have to choose between SCI and DSC due to the expense of flying home and returning or the expense of staying in the US for an extended period,

Any place run by unions is a rip off!

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

Yep, but once the mob controlled slipped, the Mob’s mouthpiece/attorney, Oscar Goodman, became mayor and took over running the show!

I worked as the law clerk for the federal judge that shut the mob down in Vegas at that time. And, then I went to work for the civil firm that split off from Oscar's criminal law firm. I know Oscar very well. He was actually a damn good mayor and he was a very good attorney. Now his wife runs the City.

He was also a damn good attorney for the mob for 10-15 years. I know, I know, every defendant is entitled to a full, effective defense. And he certainly was good at the job of defending mob scum bags and killers. His wife is carrying on the tradition of defending the livelihood of union members- which is the majority of residents of LV. BRAVO, Oscar.

quote:

His wife is carrying on the tradition of defending the livelihood of union members- which is the majority of residents of LV. BRAVO, Oscar.

Actually, not true jdollar. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, union members in all of Nevada only accounted for 13.4 percent of wage and salary workers in Nevada in 2020, down from the high of 20.4 percent in 1996. In the Las Vegas metro area, union members in 2020 were 161,000 out of a population of 2,699,000. But, we digress from the topic at hand. Not all of those who live and work in Nevada (and Las Vegas) work for the casinos and live in hotels. And as to the Vegas mob, their final demise actually ended in a cornfield outside of Chicago when the Spilotro Brothers returned to Chicago to report to their Chicago superiors about their loss of control of Vegas. Quite a nasty ending for those two. The actual story is not for the faint of heart.

quote:

Originally posted by Use Enough Gun:

quote:

His wife is carrying on the tradition of defending the livelihood of union members- which is the majority of residents of LV. BRAVO, Oscar.

Actually, not true jdollar. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, union members in all of Nevada only accounted for 13.4 percent of wage and salary workers in Nevada in 2020, down from the high of 20.4 percent in 1996. In the Las Vegas metro area, union members in 2020 were 161,000 out of a population of 2,699,000. But, we digress from the topic at hand. Not all of those who live and work in Nevada (and Las Vegas) work for the casinos and live in hotels. And as to the Vegas mob, their final demise actually ended in a cornfield outside of Chicago when the Spilotro Brothers returned to Chicago to report to their Chicago superiors about their loss of control of Vegas. Quite a nasty ending for those two. The actual story is not for the faint of heart.

But they do control a lot of business!

Unions have outlived their usefulness.

They are nothing but parasites now!

quote:

They are nothing but parasites now!

Having been one, I can speak with some authority (United Steel Workers of America). But wait Saeed, I'm still a parasite (or worse) in your eyes. . . . I'm a lawyer!

I was helping a friend set up his booth at SCI in Vegas 10-11 years ago. I plugged a heavy duty extension cord into a wall outlet directly behind the booth and ran it about 20’. About 30” later a convention center official walked by and had a shit fit that I had wired the booth- it had to be done by a union electrician. Two hours later the official union electrician sauntered by, unplugged my cord, then plugged the same cord back in the same outlet. Gotta love the union stranglehold on Vegas. BTW, the booth owner was billed $100 for electrical services……..

I'm looking forward to Nashville next year. Vegas is fun, but incredibly expensive for the value rendered. While the shows and venues in Vegas are fun to see once in a while, I've enjoyed Nashville's more from prior conferences I've attended there. Plus I talked my wife into going. Shorter trip was more appealing to her for a weekend away.