Safari Club International last week hosted its 2022 annual convention, celebrating 50 years of protecting the freedom to hunt. This record-breaking event, held at the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas, was nothing short of a tremendous success with more paid attendees than the past two shows combined!
More than 700 vendors from around the world gathered in the convention hall to provide attendees with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to book hunts in exotic locations, as well as areas close to home. The best companies from the outdoor industry brought their newest products, ranging from firearms and accessories to optics, ammunition, archery, gear, and other equipment. The convention-goers that were perhaps more interested in fur, jewelry, furnishings, and fine clothing enjoyed equally outstanding options to choose from.
Those drawn to educational, informative seminars were able to attend presentations that covered the full gauntlet of hunting, fishing, shooting, and outdoor adventure. Seminars on everything from How to Catch Giant Amazon Peacock Bass to Mentoring Youth in the Outdoors took place each day of the convention.
The day spent on the convention floor was followed by an evening banquet with live auctions, which raised over $15 million for SCI/F advocacy and conservation efforts! Attendees heard from top pro-hunting voices Tucker Carlson, Donald Trump Jr., and Edward Byers, and were entertained by Larry the Cable Guy, J. Alain Smith, and Craig Morgan—some of the hunting industry’s greatest champions. Attendees also witnessed the presentation of a variety of prestigious awards and heard from distinguished international guests such as the Honorable Tadeous Chifamba, Zimbabwean Ambassador to the EU, who received the International Legislator of the Year Award on behalf of Zimbabwe Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu.
A special congratulations to all our award recipients, especially our 2020 and 2021 Federal Legislators of the Year Senator Roger Marshall and Representative Bruce Westerman and our Courage Under Fire Award recipient Governor Kristi Noem.
“On behalf of everyone at SCI, I would like to thank everyone who attended and supported the world’s Ultimate Sportsman Market and our 50th Anniversary Convention” said SCI CEO Laird Hamberlin. “Your decision to join us in Las Vegas last week, in record numbers, is the reason we can continue to fight for your right to hunt year in and year out. We look forward to seeing you all again next year for yet another successful event!”
To all who were unable to attend this year’s celebration in Las Vegas, SCI is thrilled to announce the 2023 Convention will be in Nashville, Tennessee on February 22 – 25th. We hope to see you there!
