Caretaker,
maybe you could answer a question for me?
Does the Dallas show ban exhibitors that have a lot of complaints about them?

What I am getting at is that at the SCI show--I know for a fact of several safari operators that are scumbag thiefs IMO. And also, I heard that one such safari company was told that they are no longer welcome at the Dallas show. DSC wouldn't let them have a booth. ---if true that is way cool!!

If the DSC does screen the exhibitors for ethical companies only----my hat is off to you!!! good way to be-- and that would speak loudly for the quality of the show!

I have always attended the SCI show in the past --this year I will be at DSC show --not sure if I will go to Reno.

Quickshot,
We do have a black list for exhibitors (albeit a small one). To be black listed you must have run afoul of our ethical standards which are maintained by our ethics committee. We have this list to protect our guests. Remember, it's best to police our own before "the others" become involved.

If anyone has a complaint or question regarding the ethics of an exhibitor, ask to speak to one of the board members at the convention. All of the board members are present pretty much 100% of the time. Just stop any person holding a 2-way radio and ask to speak to a board member. You can expect to have one with you within 60 seconds.

I'm glad you've decided to come to Dallas for our convention. I am certain that you'll enjoy the experience and hopeful that our paths will cross.

Caretaker

Bisonhunter1,

My vote is for Reno.

They are all a long way from Aussie!

I think everyone is missing something here, this kind of "taking sides" bothers me to no end! Here we have two very large and powerful organizations "PRO HUNTING" and everyone is cutting up one to spite the other! Without both of this Org. we won't have the hunting we do! Fighting with each other just makes the antis happy.
I'm so sick and tired and pissed off at the fighting Dallas - National! National- Dallas!!! Damn it! we're all hunters! Were all SCI! I wish you guys would put the energy into making both organizations better than you put into spitting on each other!

I have to say I have never been to the Dallas show, but I will go one day. I go to Reno every year and will continue to.

Why not patronize both! Go to both! If you can't, do one one year and the other the next, let's not cut each other up! They are both excellent conventions!!!!!

Well said, Ron.

Havent heard of wives must be members yet but Im not suprised. SCI has been a money grab from the begining. They wouldnt need as many volanteers if they just charged twenty bucks at the door and didnt give away free briefcases for 125 bucks. I support SCI but I believe the attendance would go up alot if they became more reasonable and encouraged spouses to attend. Its like raising taxes you doent always get more money. DSC has proved that with their show.

I agree with Widowmaker416's main point that as hunters we all need to support the cause. I do not want to be associated with SCI, however, and my decision to discontinue suporting them does not make me less of a hunter.

I will support NRA, RMEF, MDF, and DSC, but I do draw the line at SCI. Others, I'm sure, have a different set of conservation organizations they support. For me, NRA is at the very top, and SCI does not make the cut. Check threads under my log-in and you can quickly see why.

I propose a variation of the "Let's get along" theme. I suggest that people find the conservation organization, or organizations, that most closely align with their philosophical beliefs, and support those groups. Research carefully, as some groups do not really support the causes you would expect from their name. But do support "the cause". Whining that no group is perfect isn't an excuse. Choose the best available, and work to support and strengthen those causes. Those that don't make the cut in you informed opinion, feel free to say so. Pledging blind obediance to all "officially labeled" hunting groups dilutes and diminishes those really doing the yeoman's work. One can still further the cause while pointing out the flaws in less deserving groups.
Good Hunting,
Bill

"I will support NRA, RMEF, MDF, and DSC, but I do draw the line at SCI. Others, I'm sure, have a different set of conservation organizations they support. For me, NRA is at the very top, and SCI does not make the cut. Check threads under my log-in and you can quickly see why."

It is interesting to find your comment in this African Hunting forum. I'm curiious? Can you name one instance when the NRA defended your rights to hunt outside of the USA -- before SCI identified the problem and became involved? I'm sure there must be a couple, but none comes to my mind quickly.

The missions of RMEF, MDF, DU and FNAWS are similar: to improve and protect habitat to increase their signature species. They do not get involved in protection of hunters.

Bill Quimby

Bill,

If you want to question NRA, or any of the other groups I mentioned, go right ahead. As I said, be informed. That is not a defense of SCI. I'm not even here to bash SCI, just counter the arguement that you have to support all hunting groups unquestioningly. (I can bash SCI in other threads!)

Your last sentence, "They (RMEF?) do not get involved in protection of hunters", is demonstrably false on many fronts. Aside from NRA, RMEF amongst others, have contributed to the Sportsmen Alliance, Orion Institute, etc. Groups that support Hunter's rights. I would posit that NRA is THE sportsmen's rights group in the US. Notice the "America" in their name, and you will see that don't generally focus on Africa. You conveniently left DSC off your list, while you can see it was on my list of groups to support.

Yes, this is the Africa forum. So what groups should people support (other than DSC or SCI) that direct their actions to Afican Hunting? I'm curious to learn what other groups members here support. I am always happy to learn. I personally believe that SCI is so internally corrupt that it cannot be saved. I do lament this development. It wasn't always so.

Reread this thread. SCI has a decent convention, as does DSC. They are differnt, however, and it is noticeable that as DSC's star continues to brighten and shine, that SCI board members and supporters increasingly become more strident. After all, isn't their a need for multiple groups supporting African hunting?

Bill

I take exception to your statement about those of us supporting SCI doing it unquestioningly. I don't, and I support SCI. That doesn't make me stupid or unquestioning. I also support NRA, and am a member of FNAWS and RMEF.

As to the statements others have made that it is all about money, you are absolutely right. Those who are opposed to sport hunting have very deep pockets to which we add when we go to their movies and patronize their businesses. It requires vast amounts of money to combat them, simply because they have vast amounts of money to spend attacking our way of life.

I am not trying to tear Dallas Safari Club down, which makes me somewhat different from those of you who are trying to tear SCI down at every opportunity. Whether you support SCI or not makes no difference to me. If there were to be no SCI, could the Dallas club take their place? Does the Dallas club do anything close to what SCI does in support of your and my right to hunt? Sure, those things take money. I am happy to pony up to that cause, and to NRA as well. I don't hear you griping about all the mail you get from NRA begging for more money. The NRA is about money too. So are the other organizations you mentioned.

Get on board and try to do something to make the organization better, or pay your dues to the Dallas club. It matters not much to me, but don't try to make me believe that because SCI raises lots of money that is somehow more evil than the NRA that also raises lots of money. Obviously you have issues. Enjoy them.

Well said George!!!!

Llamapacker:

I have not knocked any of the groups you mention. However, except for DSC, their PRIMARY missions simply are not the protection of hunting and hunters.

This includes the NRA, which does a wonderful job of following its unique mission, which is protecting our ability to own and use firearms in America. The NRA is the only gun owners' group with clout in that arena, but I definitely would not call it the No. 1 SPORTSMAN'S group.

I saw too many instances when I was SCI publications director when NRA's leaders joined local and national anti-hunting freys AFTER seeing which way the wind was blowing, and then taking credit for all the work other groups and individuals had done until then.

I admire and am impressed with how Gray Thornton and others in DSC have been able to expand a local organization into what DSC is today.

However, DSC does not have lobbyists, biologists, lawyers and offices in Washington D.C. It also does not have chapters in every state with influential and wealthy members ready to help defend hunting and hunters, nor does it have the large membership needed for credibility in legislative issues.

I am glad there is a Dallas Club, however. If SCI were to collapse, which it neady did in the late 1980s (read my "History of SCI), DSC is standing in the wings, ready to replace it.

All sportsmen's-based conservation groups as well as all shooting and hunting groups do wonderful work, especially the NRA. Without SCI, however, I would not have been able to import the lion that appears with my signature.

What other group had the influence to change the U.S. Marine Mammal Protection Act to allow us to import legally taken polar bears?

Wanna hunt wild sheep in Asia or the Big Five in Africa? Forget it. Without SCI, you can kiss goodbye your ability to bring your trophies home.

Bill Quimby

Bisonhunter
I recommend you come to Dallas as your first Safari show.
The Dallas Show is laid back and friendly. Plus as an AR Member yiou can hang out with the DRSS. We get together Fri and Sat night after the show.

Here is a related link:

Lodging in Dallas

The discussion regarding “which safari convention?†on the excellent accuratereloading.com Forum was brought to my attention and I read with keen interest the numerous comments. I would like to indulge you all with my thoughts.

Collectively, the “safari clubs†(SCI, DSC, HSC, Shikar, Mizuri, African Safari Club of South Florida, Washington, DC, etc.) have less than 100,000 members worldwide. Admittedly, a drop in the bucket from a pure numbers scale when compared to our very good friends at the NRA. Of course, our collective memberships are typically very influential hunters and members of their communities. The point here is that there is room to support all of these fine organizations and their events – I personally am a Life Member of most. Each have their own strengths and we each have opportunities to improve and better serve the industry, our missions and our members and convention guests. I suggest that we all do our best to support all the organizations that play important roles in globally conserving wildlife and habitat and preserving our hunting and shooting heritage. Our foes are not each other but rather those warped few who want to eliminate hunting and the shooting sports.

Dallas Safari Club will continue to strive to be the finest hunting show for our valued exhibitors and attendees. We are and will forever be a work in progress – always looking for ways to improve our show, and our organization to achieve our mission to conserve wildlife and promote ethical hunting worldwide. We will also continue to support the other fine organizations in our industry and wish all of them equal success.

Thank you for your support of Dallas Safari Club, our convention and for your support of the other fine organizations that make up our community. We look forward to welcoming all AR members to our January 12-14, 2007 convention in Dallas.

Good hunting,

Gray N. Thornton, Executive Director
Dallas Safari Club