Free Booze and Food! January 10th, 2026

[Saul]

I wish I had seen this two months ago. You had me at free booze.

 

[mdwest]

A couple more door prizes added to the pile:

A set of Leupold BX-1 McKenzie HD 42mm Binos (donated by @Mark Biggerstaff .. thanks Mark!)

And a Streamlight Waypoint 400.. also donated by @Mark Biggerstaff (thanks again Mark!)... If any of you hunt MLD program land in TX and have to do deer surveys.. this is the spotlight I use.. its freaking incredible.. holds a charge MUCH longer than my other spotlight, and is crazy bright.. makes getting my headcount soooooo much easier.. awesome light!

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I’m in Dave!
Rearranged schedule today to make it work!

 

[BourbonTrail]

I hope everyone has a great time, this is a cool event that seems to have become quite the tradition

 

[mdwest]

I hope everyone has a great time, this is a cool event that seems to have become quite the tradition

You know it’s a pretty short and easy flight from the bourbon trail to DFW….

Just sayin..

 

[mdwest]

Every kid deserves a set of youth binos!

Another door prize for the party.. this one donated by R&M Firearms in El Campo..

 

[mdwest]

In addition to the signed and numbered prints listed earlier, Candles for Conservation ( candlesforconservation.com ) is donating a set of "Big 5" candles as a door prize as well.. these are 100% all natural, soy, cotton wicked, no chemicals, no additives, etc..etc.. candles with some great scents like Koffie, Hemingways Library (leather and oil), African wildberries, and others... they each have the same artwork from Anet Kruger on them that the signed/numbered/LE prints do..

 

[bowfishoholic]

Looking forward to seeing everyone again this year.

 

[mdwest]

Still adding to the door prize pile..

a handmade/custom drop point hunter... made by Crusader Cutlery (i.e. mdwest / me )...

D2 tool steel.. giraffe bone handle scales.. a mosaic pin in the rear and D2 pins in the front.. the sheath will be an ambidextrous "taco" type sheath that I make for pretty much all of my knives (both my own and any other knife I carry..).. Im sure I'll add a paracord lanyard to it before its over with as well..

still needs a little clean up and some tiny tweaks.. but the pic below gives a pretty good idea of how it looks..

 

[pattesonfamily]

We will be there! Stoked to see you brother.

 

[mdwest]

managed to get the knife cleaned up, tweaked a little bit, and made a sheath for it.. its now ready to deposit into the door prize pile

FWIW the sheath is "universal".. its currently set up for right side, vertical carry.. but remove 2 screws, and you can reposition the lock on the back (that you put your belt through) to the other side and make it left side carry.. or you can cant it so for horizontal carry (left or right side), etc..

Should make a good hard use camp/hunting knife for someone...

 

[Rare Breed]

A couple more door prizes added to the pile:

View attachment 730476

A set of Leupold BX-1 McKenzie HD 42mm Binos (donated by @Mark Biggerstaff .. thanks Mark!)

View attachment 730477
And a Streamlight Waypoint 400.. also donated by @Mark Biggerstaff (thanks again Mark!)... If any of you hunt MLD program land in TX and have to do deer surveys.. this is the spotlight I use.. its freaking incredible.. holds a charge MUCH longer than my other spotlight, and is crazy bright.. makes getting my headcount soooooo much easier.. awesome light!

Your going to have to get either a bigger house or have your lovely wife set up a hotel ballroom for this my friend!!!!!

 

[mdwest]

Your going to have to get either a bigger house or have your lovely wife set up a hotel ballroom for this my friend!!!!!

Funny you say that... We actually talked about the possibility of doing that this year..

My wife is on the executive team for a fairly large hotel management company thats got a couple of nice hotels here in the DFW area.. we could probably get a small ballroom for a very small amount of money.. January is always a dead month for Dallas, and if youre far enough away from downtown, most of the hotels have very low occupancy and are willing to give pretty good room rates and will practically give away meeting space as long as youre willing to let them cater, supply a bar, etc..

My guess is we're going to end up with somewhere between 40-50 this year based on responses and banking on the weather being better this year, etc (last year despite snow and ice everywhere we still had 35 people attend)..

the last year DSC was in town we did 65 people.. that honestly had us at max capacity..

If we get back close to those numbers again in the future, we'll almost certainly be moving to the hotel or some other venue (maybe Gilleys, where the AH dinner was traditionally held for DSC?)..

 

[Altitude sickness]

Mdwest, a possible location for future use. The NRS training facility up in Decatur would be perfect. It has rooms onsite. And much more affordable because it’s :50-:60 north of Fort Worth.

 

[Whit]

Great idea...

 

[mdwest]

@Mountainshadows is the genius behind MTMaker knives..

no.. Im not using the word genius lightly...

Ive been making knives fairly regularly for the last 7-8 years I believe.. Ive probably turned out 300+ at this point (I dont count).. granted, I am still very much a hobbiest maker.. I am FAR from a pro.. but.. I do know the level of skill and craftsmanship it takes to turn out a quality blade (my skills and craftsmanship are just sub standard lol).. AND.. Ive been a pretty avid "knife" guy my entire life.. I designed a knife made by one of the original guild members, Pat Crawford almost 30 years ago.. One of my closest friends in my 20's and 30's (now passed away) was a bladesmith that made knives as a full time source of income in the 80's and 90's.. long before Forged in Fire or knife making was "cool" or anything anyone really thought much about... Ive got several dozen hand made, custom knives in my collection.. some from the more famous makers (Randall, Loveless, etc)... and.. all bullshitting aside, the knife that Steve/Mountainshadows made for me is among the finest quality and best built blades Ive ever owned, or frankly ever handled... the grind lines are perfect, the heat treatment is beyond my understanding (I literally have completely skinned out and quartered up 4 deer with mine and have yet to have to resharpen it).. its super comfortable in the hand, perfectly balanced, etc.. Its about as near to "perfect" for me as a general purpose big game hunting knife as I can fathom...

All of that said for this purpose..

Someone attending the party this year will be leaving with a MTMaker hunter... @Mountainshadows has generously donated one as a door prize this year (Thanks Steve!)

FWIW Steve has a booth at TTHA and does orders/custom work.. if youre not so fortunate to win the one at the party, I'd strongly recommend stopping by his booth and inspecting his wares.. His price point is also WAY TOO LOW... you wont find a better deal...

FWIW his leather work is exceptional as well...

 

[mdwest]

As a reminder... If you intend on swinging by this year and havent done so yet, even if you already know the address, please shoot me a PM and let me know youre planning on coming by...

Im trying to maintain a list of people attending so that we're sure to over do it on food, drink, etc.. we definitely dont want to plan for 30 and then end up needing to feed 50... I'd much prefer we plan for 50 and feed 50.. or plan for 50 and then have leftovers if only 30 show up

Also... in the original post I said doors open at 8... that is incorrect...

Doors open at 7....

I got the TTHA show times wrong... we wont have any problem getting home, getting all of the food out, etc.. and being ready by 7... so... please feel free to come by earlier if you are so inclined..

 

[Mountainshadows]

Thank you again @mdwest. I truly appreciate the kind words and hope that I am always able to live up to your description of me!!!