Anyone going this year?

I am thinking about going next year.

I am thinking about this Saturday or Sunday. Thinking Super Bowl Sunday the crowd may be a little less.

I reckon so.

I'm thinking of going during the week. One of the perks of being retired. Heck I may spend two days there and post "selfies" to irk my old coworkers.

Yes. My wife and I'll be attending.

I will be there, probably this Saturday or Sunday. I would like to chat with a few of the African outfitters.
Let me know if anyone wants to have an informal get together.

I'll probably make it out there....it's only 2 hours drive.

I won't be there. Heard to many stories from my former boss about the show from a outfitters standpoint.

Fourtyonesix,

You can't leave it there! I can see where it might be an outfitter nightmare, but they mostly seem to have fun. What did you hear?

I met a young lad from Zim one year who booked late and ended up in the game call room. Imagine a basketball arena sized room full of nothing but game call vendors. Sounds like Noah's Ark in a bad storm all day long. He looked miserable.

A bunch of young fellows from South Africa kept posting deals on the front of a new guy from Zim's table when he wasn't looking. "10 days, 14 animals safari, $1,200"

And an outfitter from Botswana who looked like Dr Ruth trying to sell elephant hunts.

I did go Saturday(mistake) and will probably go again one day during the week.

Rick R, being in the room where all the turkey and duck call guys are would make you want to shoot yourself. Just passing through is enough for me.

My wife and I were there yesterday. It wasn't horrible and I thought the crowd was light. We didn't attend last year but, this year I noticed a lot of new outfitters (especially from RSA and Namibia). And for those that can't make the 'Shot Show' it's nice to see the new firearms.

I attended Tuesday and went back Wednesday to finish up where I left off. I didn't think the crowd was bad for a weekday but there were a bunch of people in attendance. Since the NRA has taken over it seems to run smoother.

Talked with the guy at Agarob Safaris from Namibia for a while. He had the outfitter shtick down pat. Spoke with two guys from Zim who were here in the US for the first time. They were a bit lost. It did seem like there were some new faces from the last time I attended.

The shooting room was hopping with pretty brisk sales at the ammo manufacturer near the back. Guys carting out cases of ammo like the Hildebeest was still running for election. It's great to get a chance to look at and touch all the new guns. That big loop cerekoted Marlin with the painted stock was just sexy. Jim West of Wild West Guns looked like he's lost a bet and HAD to attend, it's the first time I remember seeing him there. He did have a beautiful $19,000 take down lever gun on display. For a state where hunting with semi auto wasn't legal for years there were sure a lot of AR15 vendors in attendence.

Overall I had a good time.

Is this the show that sucked up to Obama in 2012 and banned anything "black rifle" oriented?

This is the show where the promoter was based in the UK and they banned black rifles. Almost all the vendors dropped out, everyone from fishing lure manufacturers to game call makers. The show was cancelled that year. The next year the NRA bid to promote the show and it's been great every year that I've gone since.
This year there were displays with "black rifles" by Remington, S&W, Bushmaster, Colt, SIG, Daniel Defense, Geiselle, Palmetto State Armory, IWI, and others that I'm probably missing.

I went on Wednesday and the show was as good as ever, IMO. The gun hall was the usual mini-NRA meeting, with all the requisite vendors present and accounted for. The rest of the show was mostly the same as in years past (a good thing) with a lot more outfitters from Africa exhibiting. I cruised past the fishing and boating halls, but they were jammed full of goods and exhibits. The crowd wasn't bad.

I've been going to this for almost 30 years, since I was a little tyke, and I'm glad it's better than ever. Totally worth the visit.