Results of the 40th Annual SCI Convention

Safari Club International 2012 Hunters’ Convention Sets Records, Helps Save Hunting For Future Generations

SCIF Stock Photo (Matt Eckert)

Tucson, Arizona – Safari Club International’s 40th Annual Hunters’ Convention this year was the biggest and best ever. It has once again solidified its place as the premier convention in all of hunting.

The international hunting community recently concluded its largest ever convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Safari Club International (SCI) wrapped up the 40th Annual Hunters’ Convention at Mandalay Bay. With a record 23,267attendees, the contributions of SCI members and event donors will ensure that SCI can continue fighting for hunters’ freedoms and expand conservation efforts around the world.

“Every year, SCI works to build the greatest hunting show on earth,” said SCI President Kevin Anderson. “With over 1 million square feet and 2,200 vendor booths on the convention floor, SCI collected record receipts of $16 million from members and donors attending the Convention which will help protect our freedoms to hunt!”

“SCI’s record breaking success for the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention is a credit to the dedication of hunters around the world and to corporate partners like Bob Allen, Boyt Harness, Browning, Cabelas, Fauna & Flora Customhouse Brokers, Global Rescue, Hornady, Midway USA, Outdoor Channel, Trijicon, Stealthcam, Swarovski Optik, Walker’s Game Ear, Yamaha, and Zeiss,” added SCI Executive Director Dr. Bill Moritz.

Safari Club International’s 41st Annual Hunters’ Convention will be held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada, January 23-26, 2013. Enjoy the best that Reno can offer: 2013 Video.
Highlights of the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention

• $16 million gross receipts for Hunter Advocacy and Wildlife Conservation.
• Donations to Safari Club International’s Political Action Committee (SCI-PAC) raised over $150,000 for protecting hunters rights in the 2012 election cycle.
• $125,000 raised for the Pathfinders Program that benefits physically challenged hunters with the help of a very special donation from Donald Hill and the Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch.
• $150,000 raised for Education on the dedicated SCIF auction sale of the “Dream Hunt” at the Sanctuary II, Inc.
• Record-breaking auction sales top nearly $5.2 million.
• Record sales for outfitters and exhibitors during the 4 day convention.

Notable Guests of the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention

• Larry and Brenda Potterfield, President, Midway USA
• Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR
• Shawn Michaels, Retired Pro Wrestler
• Tom Selleck, Actor
• David Keene, President, National Rifle Association
• Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice-President, National Rifle Association
• Jeff Crane, President, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
• Jim Shockey, Hunting Celebrity, Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures: Recipient of SCI’s International Hunter of the Year Award
• Mike Rogers Jr., Hunting Celebrity, Expedition Safari Television
• Craig Boddington, Hunting Celebrity, Tracks Across Africa

Attending Political Officials

• Lt. Governor Brian K. Krolicki, Nevada
• Martin Andjaba, Namibian Ambassador to the United States
• Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia

Recipient of SCI’s International Legislator of the Year Award

• John Barrasso, Senator, Wyoming

Recipient of SCI’s Federal Legislator of the Year Award

• Don Young, Representative, Alaska
• Lisa Murkowski, Senator, Alaska
• Jeff Miller, Representative, Florida
• Dr. Paul Broun, Representative, Georgia
• Joe Heck, Representative, Nevada
• Denny Rehberg, Representative, Montana
• Cynthia Lummis, Representative, Wyoming
• Billy Long, Representative Missouri
• Mark Amodei, Representative, Nevada

Contact: Media@safariclub.org



About the Hunters’ Defense Fund:

Safari Club International Hunters' Defense Fund supports the important advocacy, conservation and legal work keeping hunters afield and promoting hunting worldwide. Donations to the Hunters’ Defense Fund have a direct impact on our freedom to hunt, wildlife conservation policy and important legislative, regulatory and legal issues. DONATE NOW:www.safariclub.org/hunterdefense



Becoming an SCI Member:

Joining Safari Club International is the best way to be an advocate for continuing our hunting heritage and supporting worldwide sustainable use conservation, wildlife education and humanitarian services. JOIN NOW: www.safariclub.org/Join.



Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home pagewww.safariclub.org or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.

SCIF Stock Photo (Matt Eckert)

Grand Canyon Country

My recent flight to Las Vegas went right over the Grand Canyon! I was able to snap a few pictures.

Delegates from Africa

This week SCIF hosted Ministers, Directors and other Delegates from multiple African countries to discuss wildlife management policy. Meetings were coordinated in DC following their attendance of the SCI Convention in Las Vegas with US Government representatives as well as other NGO's.

In between meetings we had a social and showed them around the area so there were opportunities for photos! The Delegation was here to present how important sustainable-use of wildlife (otherwise known as wildlife conservation) is to the economies of African nations.

40th Annual Safari Club International Hunter's Convention - Las Vegas

I had a wonderful trip to Las Vegas for the SCI Convention. It was a hectic week with many meetings after much preparation. I delivered a report to the Canada Committee about my trip to British Columbia in December. Later in the week, we had the Conservation Committee meeting and associated seminars. The Conservation Committee meeting went well and the seminars were well-attended. The seminars highlighted select on-the-ground research and managment supported by SCIF. Intermingled throughout the entire week was coordinating discussions among visiting dignitaries from multiple African countries. I feel like we really accomplished a great deal for the advancement of international wildlife conservation at the SCI Convention.

The show itself had great entertainment for the banquets and is easily the largest gathering of hunters and the most comprehensive outdoor show I have ever attended!

 I have a lot of pictures from the trip but may use them down the road for additional blog posts!

Some photos from The Shark Reef Aquarium and the Sigfried & Roy Secret Garden at the Mirage in Las Vegas

International Wildlife Management Symposium - Managing Wildlife in the Next Century

Traditional art in Vancouver, British Columbia

On December 8th and 9th, I had the opportunity to travel to British Columbia to attend the International Wildlife Management Symposium held by The Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia. There was a great line-up of presenters from all over Canada, the United States and beyond! I met with hunters and wildlife biologists from several Canadian provinces, US states, Kyrgyzstan, Zimbabwe, Norway and many others. The underlying theme of the symposium was comparing The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation to other systems in the world today. The system of conservation forward-thinking people created over 100 years ago has been deemed the greatest natural resources success stories in human history. Through wise-use of natural resources, particularly regulated hunting of wildlife, managers have saved dozens of species from certain extinction.  

Ron Thomson, a noted Game Ranger from the former colony of Rhodesia was in attendance to speak about the practicality of managing sub-populations of a species independently rather than at the collective species level. Other presentations covered sustainable-use and science-based management of a great variety of species including seals, polar bear, grizzly, the famed Porcupine Caribou Herd, elephants and more! We heard from wildlife biologists, First Nations representatives, economists and others to learn how we might tackle impending wildlife conservation issues in the future.

The keynote speaker was none other than the renowned Shane Mahoney. Keep an eye out for a Proceedings document from the Symposium as well as videos of the wonderfully informative presentations!

HERE ARE SOME MORE PHOTOS FROM MY TRIP TO CANADA

Harbor from my hotel window

Mayo for my fries!

Prominant Wildlife Conservationists and other folks were out in full force!

The organization I represent for work
(Safari Club International Foundation) was a sponsor of the event.  

Gray Wildlife Management

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