Dallas Safari Club Convention Summary

[Doug3006]

I’m headed back from Atlanta with @Jeff505 at the wheel and thought I’d share my opinions about the DSC convention. It was great to meet up with PHs I’d hunted with and talk to outfitters that I’ll hopefully hunt with in the future. Same as Dallas.

The downsides include:

1. The elephant in the room….the weather sucked! Nothing DSC could do about this, but it snowed then sleeted all day Saturday. As a result, attendance was minimal. I’m not exaggerating when I say the total was less than 1000. It was like having the place to ourselves. My PH friends say it wasn’t any better on Friday when the sun was shining.
2. Atlanta traffic did not disappoint…it was slow moving hell. It took 2 hours to drive the last 20 miles into downtown Atlanta via I75. Admittedly in the afternoon rush.
3. The folks working the ticket counter were clueless. It took the 3 of us 30 minutes to get our admission badges…and we were the only people in line! If they had the number of attendees as in Dallas, they’d have crashed and burned.
4. Based on talking with quite a number of exhibitors, DSC may have a rebellion on their hands. Everyone we talked to said that DSC made the decision without asking for any input. They all complained about the lack of promotion/ advertising. They all feel handcuffed because if they drop out until the event gets moved elsewhere, they’ll lose their their coveted booth locations for the future.

I wouldn’t say to avoid the show next year. The weather most likely won’t be a factor and DSC will learn and make adjustments in how they promote and administer the show. I will say to those who skipped this year….well played!

 

[Trophyhunter01]

Thanks for the write up, glad I stayed out this year.

 

[375Fox]

I think you have your days a little wrong. Thursday was clear and Friday snowed/sleeted all day. I had a great time attending the show on Thursday because it was very empty, but I thought it was very concerning for outfitters. If anyone wanted chance really talk to outfitters and book a hunt Thursday was the day because you could spend all the time talking you’d like. I’m told Friday was a little busier even with the snow. I had my badge issued very quickly, maybe a minute.

I think it’s difficult to judge because of the severe weather. One PH told me on Friday they were unable to make it to show until 2 hours late because they couldn’t get an Uber but they had to get out and push the uber a few times at stops due to snow. I had planned to attend most of Friday too but changed my flight to try and avoid the weather and reach airport before roads possibly shut down. Ultimately with delays and cancellations it took me 27 hours to get home. Thousands of flights were cancelled Friday due to weather in Atlanta and elsewhere, so very unfortunate timing for the show.

 

[K-man]

thanks for posting! I hope others will join in and tell about their experiences as well. Reminds me of some of the SCI conventions at Reno when there was snow and the airport shut down.

 

[Rare Breed]

The outfitters did a great job and were awesome with great setups! I agree about security being clueless helping people get around.
To be clear not because I am an Atlanta homer the once in 10 year weather at the same time of the convention is the main problem at least for the first year

 

[Tra3]

@375er and I were just texting about the show and attendance. Too bad that the weather had a big impact. I’m sure snow down south really slowed down local interest.

I picked Nashville for this year, so maybe I got lucky, although we will see if the crowd pushes there instead.

I’m curious to hear other’s input. Either DSC or SCI are the pinnacle of a shopping center for my interests!

 

[Northern Shooter]

Any new rifles on display this year?

 

[TheGrayRider]

Thanks for the writeup and information. Very unfortunate about the weather in Atlanta. I am driving to Nashville for the SCI Convention in less than 2 weeks and have already started to watch the weather.

I wonder if DSC will return to Texas before the five years is up?? Safe travels to all.

Happy hunting, TheGrayRider a/k/a Tom.

 

[dogcat1]

Matt Roberts, MNR Custom Guns, has some stunning guns.... There are others but he was a standout for me.

 

[Rare Breed]

@375er and I were just texting about the show and attendance. Too bad that the weather had a big impact. I’m sure snow down south really slowed down local interest.

I picked Nashville for this year, so maybe I got lucky, although we will see if the crowd pushes there instead.

I’m curious to hear other’s input. Either DSC or SCI are the pinnacle of a shopping center for my interests!

SCI always

 

[Captain Munro]

Montana Rifle company had a reel on Facebook showing what looked liked a new "safari" style offering. Did anyone see that in person? Guessing it's a 375. Incidentally, they have taken the reel down.

 

[cms62236]

I didn’t see the facebook posting but the safari rifle I saw on display was indeed a .375. Price was not yet determined as he had just finished that rifle the week of the show. If I heard him right when asked he said he thought somewhere between $3200-4000. It was a nice looking setup.

 

[Captain Munro]

I didn’t see the facebook posting but the safari rifle I saw on display was indeed a .375. Price was not yet determined as he had just finished that rifle the week of the show. If I heard him right when asked he said he thought somewhere between $3200-4000. It was a nice looking setup.

Cool. In the zone of Kimber Craprivi then, to a little higher. I have not seen one of their new rifles yet (MRC that is).

 

[K-man]

The show may have been slow but tonight's auction is over a million dollars raised for conservation so far...

 

[Safari Dave]

After going to the show on Thursday, I could see why exhibitors might be disappointed.

The attendance on Thursday was poor.

It may have been even worse Friday and Saturday, considering the weather.



IMO, Georgia (and most likely, other southern USA) hunters like more interaction with safari companies than was offered in Atlanta.

I am fairly experienced with African operations, compared to the average Georgia hunter, and I experienced less interaction with hunting operations at the DSC than I do at more localized events.

Oh, I could have worn my solid gold Rolex, but, I intentionally wore a Seiko.

Because, even the richest Georgia hunters that have class, don't flaunt affluence.

Most of the exhibitors didn't even get up from their chair, or acknowledge me when I was at their exhibit.

That tells me all I need to know...



I own a fishing outfitting operation.

If my service treated patrons of a convention the way I was treated at DSC, I wouldn't have booked anything with anyone.

 

[375Fox]

After going to the show on Thursday, I could see why exhibitors might be disappointed.

The attendance on Thursday was poor.

It may have been even worse Friday and Saturday, considering the weather.



IMO, Georgia (and most likely, other southern USA) hunters like more interaction with safari companies than was offered in Atlanta.

I am fairly experienced with African operations, compared to the average Georgia hunter, and I experienced less interaction with hunting operations at the DSC than I do at more localized events.

Oh, I could have worn my solid gold Rolex, but, I intentionally wore a Seiko.

Because, even the richest Georgia hunters that have class, don't flaunt affluence.

Most of the exhibitors didn't even get up from their chair, or acknowledge me when I was at their exhibit. That tells me all I need to know.

I own a fishing outfitting operation.

If my service treated patrons of a convention the way I was treated at DSC, I wouldn't have booked anything with anyone.

I won’t understand this comment. I’ve worn jeans and a T shirt to my previous DSC shows. This one I wore jeans and hoodie. I don’t wear a watch. I’m also considerably younger than the average African hunter. I’ve only ever had 1 bad interaction from an outfitter very similar to what you described in 3 shows. The rest have all been positive interactions. I think it depends on the questions you ask and how you approach booth. Thursday in Atlanta was considerably easier to approach a booth than any show I’ve seen previously because the low attendance.

 

[Safari Dave]

This was my first DSC show.

I thought it was kind of weird that an employee of Holland & Holland and an employee of Heym went out of their way to be very nice to me, and not a single employee of any hunting outfitter company did.

Maybe a gold Rolex and a fake 24kt elephant hair bracelet would have done it.

I detest suck-ups...


My best lesson was taught to me by an old guy, wearing overalls, and driving an old, beat-up, Ford pickup truck who told that he was looking for a good fly rod.

I showed him several sub-$100 fly rods, then he pulled me close and said, "I'm not richer than God, but I want a decent fly rod!"

He left with a Thomas & Thomas...


Lesson learned!

 

[Safari Dave]

Who knows...

I was willing to buy, and no African safari company employee, would even stand up, after I stood there for a couple of minutes.

Their loss...

 

[375Fox]

Who knows...

I was willing to buy, and no African safari company employee, would even stand up, after I stood there for a couple of minutes.

Their loss...

Again I find this very odd considering many outfitters are standing at their booths. There were also a number of AH sponsors with booths there. If you think you needed a Rolex. I think you created the situation in your mind. Your perception is very different than mine.

 

[swashington]

This was my first time at the DSC and I had a great time and had more interaction with the people at the booths than I wanted. Saturday afternoon showed better attendance.
Going for a few more hours on Sunday before the drive home as we didn't see everything in one day. About 30 percent not covered yet.