Nashville - Safari Club Convention (SCI)

Joan and I attended the SCI Show in Nashville this week.  It is the first time that we have come to this show and it was pretty overwhelming.  This is the link for the show. SCI Convention Link  And this is the link for the show floor map and vendor list.  SCI Vendors and Floor Map

It is a members only show and it is not cheap to attend ($150/day).

It attracts a huge audience from around the world. Great people watching.

We spied celebrities like Craig Boddington and Jim Shockey.  I chatted with Larry Potterfield of Midway USA.

I also saw some familiar vendors.  The Afton House (Johannesburg airport lodge for hunters), Hubbard's Yellowstone Outfitter (hunted with them in MT), R&K Outfitters (hunted with them in UT).

We went to a Grand Old Opry show at the Ryman Auditorium.

We had tapas and paella before the show (too much food).

We stayed at the Embassy Suites which was just across the street from the Convention Center.  This is Joan checking out the roof top pool.

I was only really trying to check out red stag options in Argentina and New Zealand.  I didn't come close to speaking to all of them that were in attendance over the two days that we were there.  But I spoke to at least 10 from each country.  I'm building a spreadsheet to compare them.

I prefer free range, authentic hunting experiences.  I'm not opposed to huge trophies but I really am not inclined to hunt "farmed" specimens.  I was very surprised by the New Zealand offerings.  Most outfitters are offering high fence stags with pricing graduated on rack size.  Some are more "fair chase" than others (fenced area size, etc).

One outfitter explained the situation to me this way.  Red stag (and other large mammals like tahr) are not native to New Zealand.  They were introduced there many years ago.  They have adapted so well that they over populate and diminish the native environment.  The government does not regulate the hunting of these non-native species - you can hunt them 365 days a year and there are no bag limits. In some cases, there have been movements to have extermination hunts to remove them. NZ Government on Tahr

So the locals can go out to any public land and shoot a few stag at will for meat or fun.  Therefore, in accessible public areas, stags rarely mature to potential.  In order to regulate the hunting and allow maturity, outfitters erect high fence on private property.  Once you're behind high fence, then controlling nutrition and genetics results in absolutely enormous specimens (1,000" stags are possible).

I spoke to one outfitter who had 86,000 acres of private land that he managed for true free range hunting.  No high fence.  This sounded perfect to me until I discovered that he also prices on rack size - but only two classes.  Grade 1 which has good crown, good mass, and good lowers is $25,000.  Grade 2 that might have small lowers, less mass, or less spread is $12,500.  So free range is now a scarce commodity and is being priced in competition with high fence mega-stags.

Most outfitters offer high fence with graduated pricing on rack size (expensive) or a free range option with trophy opportunities that might be a 200" to 280" stag.  Those are priced about the same as a US guided free range elk hunt but it costs a lot more to get there and do that hunt (and you don't get the meat).  On the elk hunt, you could have an opportunity for a much bigger animal depending on the unit, draw restrictions, and luck. The states control seasons, bag limits and herd size.

Argentina also has high fence mega-stag availability.  But it seems to have much more free range, unfenced, natural hunting acreage available.  I'm still trying to digest everything that I've learned.  I'd like to visit and tour New Zealand but so far I'm disappointed in the hunting options.  Argentina looks like it has some potential.

The SCI show was awesome.  Outfitters, gun makers, taxidermists, furniture, jewelry, furs, leather goods, art, etc.  From all over the world. Tons of people - hard to navigate the aisles and get a moment with the people in the booths.  We didn't participate in lots of other activities - classrooms, banquets, auctions, etc.  It's definitely a happening and we may well attend again.

Since I didn't make it to the farm, I thought that I'd provide some snapshots from my "Bird Buddy" feeder there.  It sends me updates on the activity.

Retirement and Real Winter

After 50+ years of various employment, I finally hung it up at year end.  My co-workers had a very nice send-off for me this week.  Here's some of the stuff that happened as a result.

Some truth in all of that.  Meanwhile, we're having the first real winter in a recent memory.  This snow plowing shot is from muzzleloader season.

Propane delivery for heat - a necessity and expense.

The thermometer on this camera isn't right - I suspect it is influenced by being in the sun.  But notice that the pond is frozen and snow covered.

And this is a couple days later with some tracks across the pond surface.  This camera had 2,000 photos but not one of whoever made those tracks.

We're having another Artic blast this week.  It's 3F as I'm writing this.  And the winter has already been pretty tough.  I decided to give the herd a little boost with one 50lb bag of cracked corn.

I spread it in 4 different spots but this stump is one of my regular mineral (salt) spots.

I did archery hunt this weekend.  I thought that movement might be good just ahead of the chill.  There were nine does out at last light.  I thought it would be better.

This is the brassica field.  They've obviously been digging thru the snow to get to the turnips and radishes.

But they've also been digging to get to the clover under the snow.

From above - you can get an idea of the traffic.

I really like the snow to see where they've been traveling. 

There are some "highways".

The stands of pines are popular.

Travel thru the prairie plot.

Pines for bedding.

They are pretty amazing to survive this weather.

The search for food when it is least available.

And the metabolic demand is the greatest.

This is my mineral stump area - no food in there at this point.

But I guess the mineral demand is still high.

I can't imagine being out 24 hours in this weather.

And they just lay down in the snow - the beds are obvious due to the bare spots from body heat melting snow.

Other animals are out in it too.

Like bobcats.

And coyotes.

The antler shed is just getting started.

It mostly happens between now and March.

Some hang on to them longer than others.

Frustrating shot.

Healthy looking coyote.

An owl arrives.

On watch.

Make it a pair.

Camera tour this week.

And action during muzzleloader season.

I'm planning to attend my first SCI convention this week.  It should be interesting.