DSC Dallas summer convention

[wesheltonj]

My report is: today (Thursday) few hundred people.

 

[cash_tx]

Is there a pretty decent display of firearms?

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Is there a pretty decent display of firearms?

Curious about that myself. Was gonna drive up to Champlin’s tomorrow and “play guns” but their air conditioning is out. May drive down tomorrow if it’s worth it

 

[wesheltonj]

Is there a pretty decent display of firearms?

Below is the floor plan. From reviewing the plan I would say no.

2025 DSC Summer Expo & Gala - Event Map

s36.a2zinc.net

 

[K-man]

How is the on-site parking if you just go for the day? Close or a bit of a stroll? $$?

 

[LimbNoMo]

My parking from 1p-7p was $32. The parking garage is directly under the convention center. Not sure how much close parking will be there on Saturday.

As for gun makers:

Bradshaw
Hill Country
Mauser/Blaser/Rigby
Alamo
Ruger
There were a couple of more.

I thought there was a good mix of Africa, Europe, Texas and South America hunting, along with some fishing and other goods.

I’m definitely going to make sure to attend shows on the slow days from now on.

 

[Cowboy777]

It was small. Parking will cost you $30. You can walk the show in an hour. I dragged it out 2 hours with a few conversations and just taking my time. A few international outfits and every Texas deer ranch ever.

 

[K-man]

My parking from 1p-7p was $32. The parking garage is directly under the convention center. Not sure how much close parking will be there on Saturday.

As for gun makers:

Bradshaw
Hill Country
Mauser/Blaser/Rigby
Alamo
Ruger
There were a couple of more.

I thought there was a good mix of Africa, Europe, Texas and South America hunting, along with some fishing and other goods.

I’m definitely going to make sure to attend shows on the slow days from now on.

It was small. Parking will cost you $30. You can walk the show in an hour. I dragged it out 2 hours with a few conversations and just taking my time. A few international outfits and every Texas deer ranch ever.

Thanks That's very helpful.

 

[dogcat1]

Going Friday as I live near there.

Went. It was ok. Saw all I needed in a couple of hours.
The site is convoluted and hard to get into as there are other events going on. Parking is pricy - $25 min.
Mostly USA, NZ and a few South Americans there. A couple to see - Wildhunting - from Turkey and Christian Weth from Uganda are there.

Otherwise, not a show to go out of town to see....

DSC is trying to revive but it will take a big show in Dallas area to make the comeback.

 

[TEXLNGHRN]

It was small. Parking will cost you $30. You can walk the show in an hour. I dragged it out 2 hours with a few conversations and just taking my time. A few international outfits and every Texas deer ranch ever.

There is a table near check-in where you can pay for parking @ $15+tax. I spent 3 hours walking the entire show, and that included four detailed conversations that yielded good info on hunting the USA and Argentina plus a custom rifle build. Yes, there were a lot of Texas ranches, but if you think that show had "every Texas deer ranch ever," then you haven't been to one of the TTH regional shows in August

Otherwise, not a show to go out of town to see....

DSC is trying to revive but it will take a big show in Dallas area to make the comeback.

Pretty much this. The TTH Extravaganza last January was a pretty good show, and they are expanding in 2026. I don't see DSC reclaiming any prominence in DFW with their main show being gone until at least 2030 despite its move to Houston in 2028. For 2026 I'm doing TTH in January and SCI in February - DSC Atlanta isn't even on the radar.

 

[Green Chile]

I will be there Sat morning to look around. It was either mow the grass or go to the Gaylord. Gaylord narrowly wins. My biz partner enjoys looking at the taxidermy so we will walk the floor. If anyone wants to say hello, just text me or WhatsApp.

 

[Green Chile]

Now that I said that, I need to back out...having some tech issues I need to resolve before next week starts. I'm local though so if anyone wants to connect, send me a text.

 

[wesheltonj]

I am hearing attendance is poor today, and was better on Thursday which was also poor. If they don’t make big attendance tomorrow Saturday, it will be another Atlanta without the weather problem. Very sad.

 

[mdwest]

I’m afraid July was likely another poor decision on DSC’s part. I hope I’m proven wrong and they have reasonable attendance tomorrow…

There is a reason hotel occupancy and convention center use is always lowest in Texas in July and August (my wife works in the TX convention center/hotel space as an executive accountant).. it’s hot and miserable and no one wants to travel to Texas those months for conventions and conferences… and it’s the worst possible time for outfitters (peak hunting season for Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, etc)…

I think it would have had a much better chance at success in September/October… although that would be getting pretty close to the Jan/Feb show season and would be getting dangerously close to deer season when a lot of guys are making last minute preps to camp…

TTHA is able to make summer dates around Texas work for their regional shows, because they aren’t relying on travelers… the shows are designed for local markets in the big cities across the state… and it’s “off season” for the North American outfitters and all of the more “deer camp” centric gear providers that are typical vendors at the TTHA regional shows..

I’m going to bet the TTHA show in Fort Worth that’s happening in 3 weeks will be as big of a success as it always is each year…

 

[deewayne2003]

Went yesterday and arrived @2pm

Parking garage was full and shuttle had no midday service so we ended up going with Valet for $50.

We were there for 3 hours only because my buddy is easily trapped in conversation by outfitters and vendors.

We talked to several African outfitters about the buffalo/tuskless for my buddy and his son and leopard hunt for me we’re looking at for 2027 and one outfitter was ok and gave good info but would have to get back to us about available leopard quota.

Another outfitter based in RSA offering hunts in RSA, Zim & Namibia had a twenty something American working his booth who had never been to Africa and was such a poor/over confident salesman that it was rather off putting. We did get to speak to the PH/Outfitter but even then he was more interested in telling us what we wanted than answering the questions we asked.

I talked to the one Australian outfitter present about a Banteng hunt but declined his offer of $20K for a 3 day hunt.

I’m not interested in higfenced exotic hunts in Texas, but out of morbid curiosity I ended up talking to one ranch that offered me 3 day hunts for Kudu $22K, Eland $10K, Bongo $45K+, Black wildebeast $16K & Sable $20K.

I’m glad I attended because the conversations that we had made it clear that I had received better information from the outfitters and members of this forum than anything we got out of the show.

Looking forward to Nashville & TTH but I will not be attending this event again.

 

[wesheltonj]

I am hearing today is much better foot traffic. However, I also hearing lots of lookers and no buyer yet.

 

[Buffalo1]

I am not going to the event. Was wondering if any type of efforts to help flood victims were present?

 

[dogcat1]

Probably not a good idea but DSC had to try something to get the Texans back…. They lost a massive following over to SCI and TT HA.

 

[K-man]

I went friday afternoon and saturday morning. Easily walked the show in a couple hours, depending on how much you stop to visit. Got a hotel shuttle for saturday so not paying the $30 parking for one day. Most of the booths that I had interest in were manned by a "representative" so no real answers and didn't get to see the people I knew. One outfitter I knew was there, also got a line on a promising horseback mountain goat hunt in BC. Overall a disappointing show, but considering the time of year probably the best DSC could put together.

 

[coreydb]

All my hunts are scheduled around the Jan/Feb conventions. Too soon for me....