They call it the “Super Bowl of hunting shows.” Safari Club International’s annual international convention not only comes with more than 1,000 vendors but more seminars and entertainment than you can shake a stick at.
It’s a dream of many, myself included, to one day stroll the miles of aisles at the big SCI show, held this year in Nashville, and rub elbows with tens of thousands of other hunters from across the globe who turn out to lock in their plans for their next big adventure. Speaking of adventure, this year’s event included an auction for a 42-day safari named after the 26th U.S. President and outdoorsman Theodore Roosevelt!
Sadly, due to one obligation or another, many of us never get a chance to hit up the big SCI event, but that shouldn’t discourage you. SCI chapters from across the country hold smaller events during this “safari shopping season” — the first two months of the year — and those can be just as fulfilling as the big show and in some ways better.
You won’t wear out two good pairs of shoes at one of the smaller events, which is great unless you’re using SCI International to get in shape for the next safari, and while the smorgasbord of vendors is reduced, it gives every outfitter and dealer more time to offer you a more personalized shopping experience.
SCI West Texas recently held their “Hunting Extravaganza” event at the Midland Horseshoe Arena in Midland, Texas, and, while compared to the 1,000 vendors at SCI International, the 70 or so in attendance at Midland might seem small, the event felt huge.
I was getting rather hoarse by the end of hour three at the Midland event, swapping stories, comparing notes and checking off names of shared acquaintances with outfitters and vendors alike.
The show certainly had no shortage of deals for the budget-minded safari enthusiast with many package deals on hunts from across the globe offered up by outfitters from Argentina to Africa and everywhere in between. I picked up one flier for one screaming deal on a 10-day cape buffalo safari for just $5,900 with Marupa Safaris.
The event also featured a healthy smattering of “local boys,” Texas-based hunting ranches offering you just about every big game species imaginable without the international travel.
Frankly, I find the travel, while exhausting, part of the experience to be savored, but not everyone can take 10 days off work for a chance at a buffalo, kudu or Spanish Ibex.
While many of the outfitters stayed busy with potential clients, it didn’t usually take long before they’d get freed up and give you their undivided attention — something I imagine is hard to come by with 20,000 other attendees at the big SCI show.
The big international show is probably one of those things every enthusiast should do once, but don’t get locked in thinking it’s the only place to make your hunting dreams a reality.
SCI International may be a huge sweet treat, but the smaller shows are the same cake, just in more manageable bite-sized pieces.
