Who's ready for the 2020 SCI Hunters' Convention in Reno? We are attending, and here's hoping you can be there too (or at least follow along with us).
With trade show season in full swing, the Safari Club International (SCI) is preparing for their turn to take center stage. The SCI Convention, which returns to Reno, Nevada for 2020, starts on February 5th and runs through the 8th at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
And if there's a way to get yourself registered and attend, you'll thank yourself for the rest of your sportsman life.
Many inside and out of the organization refer to it as the Ultimate Sportsmen's Market, and it's a great moniker. If you've dreamed of visiting a foreign land to hunt an exotic species, always wanted to connect with a Rocky Mountain elk hunting outfitter, or just want a chance to shake the hand of Jim Shockey, the SCI Convention is the place to do it.
You'll still fund top-of-the-line guns and new hunting equipment at the convention, but the opportunities to find yourself in the ultimate hunters' heaven at the only show of its kind in the United States are unmatched.
I've been to the SCI Convention before, and it's without a doubt one of the coolest experiences and outdoorsman or woman can have. It sets itself apart from other hunting shows by focusing on less shooting products and hunting gear (though there's still plenty of both), and instead centralizing the occasion around things that get hunters closer to completing their bucket lists, be it through booking amazing trips, seeing incredible taxidermy, or listening in on a beneficial and educational seminar.
2020 SCI Convention in Reno, NV: What to Expect
Safari Club expects upwards of 24,000 international hunters to attend the show, which is the largest and most successful event when it comes to raising crucial funds for advocacy to protect hunters' rights. Auctions and other money-raising efforts go a long way in the international work being done by SCI.
Here's how SCI has referred to the Convention, and you can't help but agree:
The annual convention of Safari Club International is unequaled in every respect. It is the world's most important gathering of hunters, a showcase for the finest taxidermy, art and firearms one can imagine, and the paramount marketplace for professional hunters and outfitters from all points of the globe.
I'll be one of the lucky attendees once again this year, and hope to show readers the annual hunters' convention in a way they've never seen before. With more than 452,000 square feet of exhibit space and almost 1,100 exhibitors, there will be plenty to cover. But we want to do as much as we can, in a way we haven't done it before.
Watch for live video segments on our Wide Open Spaces Facebook page, stories shared through our Instagram account, and photos and posts covering the most interesting parts of the show.
Upwards of 70 seminars are taking place during the Convention, making it tough to narrow down so many choices for interested hunters, retailers, and others connected to the outdoor industry. An SCI Official Measurers Seminar will be offered, helping folks understand how to properly measure wild game animals as it pertains to the SCI record books.
And of course, when the days stretch into evenings, some of the top entertainment acts in the country will be there to keep the party going. The Beach Boys and the Charlie Daniels Band will headline an evening each, and the keynote speaker on Saturday, Feb. 8th will be none other than Donald Trump, Jr.
Safari Club International likes to refer to themselves as "the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide." If that's not a movement worth getting behind, we don't know what is.
It's easy to say stuff like that, but not always so easy to execute it. In this case, SCI is doing a pretty dang good job of following through.
And remember, joining Safari Club International is the best way to be such an important advocate for continuing our hunting heritage and supporting worldwide sustainable use conservation efforts, wildlife education, and humanitarian services. The accomplishments of the organization are dependent on membership and support from hunters just like you and I. Go to SafariClub.org/Join to find out how to get it done.
As a final reminder, you can follow along as we swing through show season with our coverage of the SCI Convention, ATA Show, and SHOT Show.
NEXT: EDITORS' PICKS: OUR FAVORITE GEAR FROM ATA 2020
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