Advocacy Events at SCI Convention
The Freedom to Hunt Starts Here… Advocacy Events at Convention
SCI’s International Government and Public Affairs team is excited to welcome you to SCI’s Convention in Nashville, Tennessee from January 22 to 25, 2025. The grand opening is on Wednesday, January 22, at 9:00 AM. Read on to find all the events from SCI Advocacy as we celebrate 53 years of defending the freedom to hunt! The freedom to hunt starts here!
Wednesday, January 22:
LTF: Want to learn more about one of SCI’s most unique features—its in-house legal advocacy? SCI’s Legal Task Force will meet to discuss new business and receive updates from SCI’s in-house legal counsel. These attorneys represent the voice of hunters in courts and before agencies around the country. SCI is the only hunting club with attorneys on staff to protect hunting access and keep hunting open. The LTF meeting offers a glimpse into SCI’s extensive efforts around the country.
Thursday, January 23:
Wildlife and Hunting CLE: Calling all attorneys! SCI’s Legal Advocacy team will present the 17th annual Current Issues in Wildlife and Hunting Law Continuing Legal Education program. This course runs from 1:00 to 5:15 PM Central and allows attorneys to earn three general CLE credit hours and one hour of Ethics credit. This year’s program forecasts hot issues for the new Administration, explains the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and discusses efforts to restrict predator hunting and control, among other things. Registration is available at https://safariclub.org/2025-wildlife-law-cle-course The course is offered live in Nashville and by Zoom. The best part? Attendees registered by January 18 will receive a half-day admission to SCI’s Annual Hunters Convention for Thursday morning.
Travel with Firearms: From 2:30 to 4:00 PM, SCI presents a “Travel with Firearms” seminar to educate hunters about traveling legally and efficiently with personal firearms. Airlines, the U.S., and range countries frequently introduce new hoops for hunters to jump through. Getting it wrong puts your favorite firearm, ammo—or even your trip—at risk. A distinguished panel will discuss the importance of airline terms of service, ticketing, routing considerations, the Customs Form 4457, whether to employ professional assistance or meet-and-greet service, as well as the vital importance of communications with your in-country guides and more!
Friday, January 24:
GAC: SCI’s Government Affairs Committee oversees SCI’s Advocacy efforts, including SCI’s participation in U.S. elections. During the Convention meeting, the Committee hosts dignitaries from the U.S. Congress, State Legislatures, State Wildlife Agencies, and even Canadian Members of Parliament and African Ambassadors and Ministers. Join us from 9:00 to 11:00 AM for updates and to celebrate SCI’s advocacy successes since the last Convention.
HAF Luncheon: SCI is the only pro-hunting organization with a Super PAC, which invests hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of pro-hunting candidates. In 2024, the HAF achieved a perfect success record for Congressional races in which it invested. HAF efforts directly helped elect pro-hunting candidates to Congress who are champions for SCI in defending the freedom to hunt, and HAF also directly supported constitutional ballot efforts in Florida and Colorado. The HAF is funded solely through ticket sales and sponsorships as well as auctions and donations during this Luncheon at Convention. Join the winning team by joining us at Martin’s BBQ (410 4th Ave. S) from 11:30 to 1:00 PM. Buy your tickets here.
Firearms CLE: New this year! SCI and the Second Amendment Foundation are offering a free Hot Issues in Firearms Law Continuing Legal Education program for attorneys or those interested in firearms issues. This two-hour CLE will discuss hot issues with Second Amendment rights and hunting. Join experts from the Second Amendment Foundation and Snell & Wilmer from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. This program will be live-streamed for those not able to attend Convention. Please contact [email protected] to register.
Trophy Imports Seminar: From 2:00 to 3:30 PM, SCI’s Advocacy team welcomes representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Customs and Border Protection, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to discuss the laws and regulations governing the import of wildlife into the United States. Whether bringing home a deer from Canada, a dove from Argentina, or a warthog, elephant, or lion from Africa, hunters face overlapping regulations and essential paperwork. USDA, CBP, and USFWS personnel will educate attendees on how to successfully navigate these requirements. (Have more questions? Contact SCI’s Advocacy Team or the Hunter Information Hotline!)
State Wildlife Directors Forum: From 2:00 to 3:00 PM, a panel of State Wildlife Agency Directors and Commissioners spanning the country will answer questions about key wildlife management issues and hunting challenges. This is a unique opportunity to have frank discussions with your State Wildlife Agency Director or Commissioners. Even more, attendees get a nationwide view of how States manage wildlife, conserve habitat, and seek to provide hunting opportunities, while balancing the many opinions of stakeholder groups and relations with Federal and Tribal governments.
SCI-PAC: Head over to the SCI-PAC Reception before SCI’s Advocacy night banquet! SCI is the leading voice in the fight to protect hunting freedoms. Our most effective tool to help hunters win on election day is SCI-PAC. Funded entirely by SCI membership, SCI-PAC is the largest sportsmen-led political action committee in America. Join us at 5:00 PM at the Omni Nashville to celebrate SCI-PAC’s success and recognize our allies in Congress that continue to lead the way to defend our hunting freedoms!
Advocacy Banquet: Friday night’s banquet is not to be missed! In addition to fantastic entertainment by superstar Kansas, SCI celebrates “Freedom Friday” by recognizing the Federal Legislator of the Year, Governor of the Year, and more! SCI is honored to recognize former Congressman and now Senator-elect John Curtis as a champion of hunters and hunting. In addition to Senator Curtis, SCI expects a number of distinguished guests including Members of Congress, African, Canadian, and European government representatives, Ambassadors, and more. Great music and great company—this is the night to celebrate our hunting freedoms with SCI in Nashville!
Saturday, January 25:
WGH: SCI’s Women Go Hunting program invites all women attending Convention to a mix and mingle from 9:30 to 11:30 AM. The mix and mingle allows women of any hunting experience level to meet their hunting role models and icons, network with other women hunters, make new friends, and even find new hunting partners. The event will feature Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries and accomplished hunter Madison Sheahan.
For more information on registration, entertainment, seminars, auctions, and other events, please visit: https://safariclub.org/2025-Convention/