It was pleasure meeting you Mike, as well as finally getting to meet Martin in person. I had hoped Martin was shorter and fatter ... guess I better start working out if I'm going to keep up!
Great show. Last year was my first time to attend, and it was definitely bigger and better this year. Picked up one of Boddington's new books "Elephant!", which he signed for me. Attended Ivan Carter's "Beasts of Legend" seminar - what a class act. Butch Searcy attended this year, so it was good to be able to talk face-to-face with him.
It was especially nice to see the buses arrive Friday with a large number of young folks who participated in events and attended the show. Ivan was about 15 minutes late to his seminar because he spent time with these kids on Friday afternoon. If we're going to continue to enjoy this great sport and play a key role in conservation around the globe, we better devote some significant time and effort towards engaging the next generation.
The only depressing part of the convention was outfitter after outfitter commented on the ever increasing difficulty experienced in conducting hunting operations. One of Johan Calitz's concessions in Botswana is going away. Taking a rhino will likely remain only a dream of mine, but it continues to get even further away with the restrictions and prices. One outfitter commented that the South African Veterinarian Society (I probably don't have the right name for the organization) is no longer endorsing the darting of rhinos, so permits to even dart one are getting difficult to obtain?
Find an organization that actively advocates hunting, properly educates the general public, is regarded as a credible group and become a contributing member.
