What was your impression of the TTHA show this weekend in Dallas?

[Philip Glass]

While I enjoyed the show, I thought the parking was unnecessarily obscure, and there could have been more exhibitors. I do wish the show well, and hope they continue to thrive and improve

True it was difficult to park if you didn't get there early. The construction had several parking garages closed.

 

[Philip Glass]

My wife and I went down on Saturday, and spent both Saturday and Sunday at the show. I was impressed with the amount of South African outfitters present, and glad that I wasn't still "shopping" for one this weekend...it would have been a daunting task. Compared to last year, I was pleased to see a significant increase in the amount of exhibitors, and the diversity of the hunts/adventures offered. I am hopeful that this show will continue to grow and that the growth will attract other exhibitors to attend. Absent, or marginally present were artists (sculptors, painters etc...) big name firearm manufacturers (Ruger, Beretta, Winchester....) and Accessory manufacturers. The only tripods I noticed for sale required a trailer to move, and few options for gun slings (except a few made from hides). Surprisingly, I didn't see any upper tier optics dealers (Swaro, Zeiss, Leupold...).
One thing that I did notice was the pleasant nature of the SCI individuals present. They were excited, helpful and wore a smile. I was also pleased to finally meet one of our AHr's there- Dave West and his wife. My wife and I walked away with a few sacks of wonderfully scented candles. I'll be back again next year!

Thank you for your kind comment about the SCI staff at OX. I have noticed the same thing as I have gotten to work with our staff more closely as a D-A-L for SCI. They are a fun group as well!

 

[Philip Glass]

I attended the entire SCI-TTH show. A dramatic upgrade from last year, which was also a very good show. More vendors, bigger names and certainly a very global feel. I know of several big safaris sold in Tanzania, so the right kind of customers were in attending. Most of the companies I work with and operators I talked to were very upbeat. I was told, as I certainly did not attend DSC last year, that board members and management were always 'on the move' when exhibitors I talked to said they tried to flag them down to get some pointed questions answered. Several exhibitors I know well told me that. On the other hand, The TTH CEO was all over the place, and both the CEO Laird Hamberlin and SCI 's President Jeffery Meyerl were up and down the isles greeting members, attendees and of course exhibitors. The same with several SCI VP's. I think SCI is certainly in the DALLAS DRIVERS SEAT from here on out and they have my full support.

It was good to see you there Dave!

 

[Philip Glass]

I didn’t see Swaro or Leupold, but Zeiss had a very nice booth set up… they were near the center of the floor, directly beside the guy that was selling dirt bike tours of South Africa (super nice guy that had a KTM 500 in his booth)…

They weren’t selling their wares.. they were just showing their new scopes that are being released this year along with a few staples that have been in the lineup for years… if you were a buyer they were referring people over to Kenzies Optics a couple of isles over..

Watch for big changes in this regard for next year. More big names will be there

 

[Green Chile]

Sorry I missed you @Philip Glass. I probably walked right by you 3x.

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I think, it was a massive improvement from last year, TTHA/SCI did a great job. I think this show is the next big thing. Thank you to the AH'ers that came to say hi and checked in on us.

I can not see how DSC will get this venue back in a couple years if TTHA keeps growing at the rate they are doing.

 

[KMG Hunting Safaris]

I can not see how DSC will get this venue back in a couple years if TTHA keeps growing at the rate they are doing.

This is the big question. Does TTHA have first right of refusal for 2030 or does DSC hold that card?

 

[TXhunter65]

This is the big question. Does TTHA have first right of refusal for 2030 or does DSC hold that card?

Good question!

 

[Green Chile]

I would say the bigger question is can DSC survive until 2030. I want them to but...they are losing vendors and ticket sales every year PLUS the buyout of the Atlanta contract was significant. You can see how quickly the industry seems to be turning on them. They are not in a good strategic position.

 

[wesheltonj]

This is the big question. Does TTHA have first right of refusal for 2030 or does DSC hold that card?

Supposedly, DSC does.

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I dont know but it sure will make for interesting times.

 

[mdwest]

This is the big question. Does TTHA have first right of refusal for 2030 or does DSC hold that card?

I have heard TTHA.. and I have heard DSC...

But I havent heard anything out of any senior official from either organization..

I do know when TTHA launched its first show in 2025, they announced at the end of the show to the exhibitors that they had secured the facility for "the next 5 years".. simple math would say that means they own the venue for 2026, 2027, 2028, 2029, and 2030.

That said, they could have very easily misspoken and meant to say "for 5 years".. which would have meant 2025-2029.

I know that DSC has publicly announced that they are remaining in Atlanta through 2027 (next year) and then they are supposed to be in Houston in 2028, and 2029.. Its been implied that they will be doing a joint show with HSC.. but again, I havent heard that from any senior official with DSC or HSC.. thats just "people talking" as far as I know...

Its definitely a period of "interesting times" for the international hunting show circuit..

 

[mdwest]

You can see how quickly the industry seems to be turning on them. They are not in a good strategic position.

+1

If you think they get hammered occasionally here by membership, exhibitors, and other interested parties.. you should see the absolute beatings they take regularly on the other forum that international hunters frequent.. for the most part discussions here have some decorum when discussing DSC's shortcomings and problems.. over there its outright brutal at times.. (as it honestly probably should be expected.. that place isnt exactly known for being "friendly" lol.. and many of the old guard of DSC that were personally and very directly impacted by DSC's actions are frequent users)..

 

[Green Chile]

@mdwest isn't it interesting that "not hearing from them" is kind of how this whole thing started? Sometimes I wonder if they have learned anything from it.

 

[Franco]

I always wonder who wins all the stuff I enter!!!

I was able to redeem my hunt at the G2 Ranch this past weekend. I was scheduled to attend a course at FTW starting the 18th, so we planned a stop at G2 starting the 16th.

G2 (https://www.g2ranch.com/) is located in Pearsall, TX - neat San Antonio. The lodge and accommodations are first class, and the staff are professional, friendly, and extremely easy to work with.

This was my first experience with Texas high-fence hunting and I have to admit it felt a bit like going to a Christmas tree lot, but, there was no pretense or attempt to represent it as not being high-fence. In fact, it was very relaxed. There were trophy mounts on the walls of the lodge representing the animals on the property, and I was told to pick whatever I wanted.

I wanted to shoot my double so I chose a bison. Less than an hour later, he was on the ground. A watusi made the fatal error of walking up to see what was going on. Meanwhile back at the lodge - my wife decided she needed a whitetail "head" for her shed/shop/space.

TTHA not only contacted me immediately after the raffle, they coordinated with G2, and called after my hunt.

Here's the trophies:

 

[analog_peninsula]

I always wonder who wins all the stuff I enter!!!

I was the winner of the Zeiss Conquest drawing. Not one of the “big” prizes, but very nice nonetheless. I was contacted immediately after the drawing by phone, and collected my prize without drama.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

I was able to redeem my hunt at the G2 Ranch this past weekend. I was scheduled to attend a course at FTW starting the 18th, so we planned a stop at G2 starting the 16th.

G2 (https://www.g2ranch.com/) is located in Pearsall, TX - neat San Antonio. The lodge and accommodations are first class, and the staff are professional, friendly, and extremely easy to work with.

This was my first experience with Texas high-fence hunting and I have to admit it felt a bit like going to a Christmas tree lot, but, there was no pretense or attempt to represent it as not being high-fence. In fact, it was very relaxed. There were trophy mounts on the walls of the lodge representing the animals on the property, and I was told to pick whatever I wanted.

I wanted to shoot my double so I chose a bison. Less than an hour later, he was on the ground. A watusi made the fatal error of walking up to see what was going on. Meanwhile back at the lodge - my wife decided she needed a whitetail "head" for her shed/shop/space.

TTHA not only contacted me immediately after the raffle, they coordinated with G2, and called after my hunt.

Here's the trophies:
View attachment 741200View attachment 741201View attachment 741202

What did you shoot that monster whitetail with?

 

[Franco]

What did you shoot that monster whitetail with?

Heym 375. Probably too much gun, but it was the easiest to retrieve from my truck without a lot of unpacking. Also, I had no idea of the range or surroundings so I chose a rifle with a scope. I had a 6.5 Creedmore with me for some of the drills at FTW, but after seeing the responses on this forum there was no way I was using it.

(For the record: I shot an antelope at 450 yds with that 6.5 and dropped him where he stood. As for FTW, my buddy's girlfriend shot it - I shot the snap drills with my 500 and 416.)

We looked at a lot of whitetails before selecting that one. There are a lot of them on the property, both solitary and in groups; out in the open and concealed amongst the trees.

Witnessing my wife select a trophy deer is like being there when she picks out a pair of shoes. "I have to think about how it will look on the wall". "Can we look at the other one again?" I have to admit, they have some nice, heavy whitetail on that property.

The one she selected was bedded down with about 8 others in a stand of trees. There was no clear shot so I attempted to walk in and get a better angle. He got up and the group moved with him about 300 yards and turned to ascend a small rise. The guide got us closer, and I saw an opportunity where he was not in conflict with another animal and low enough on the hill to provide backing for the shot.

He was shallow angled left side toward me, slightly up-hill, walking away. I saw a gap between his front shoulder and hind leg and I shot. The bullet hit him behind the left front leg, went through the heart, and exited ahead of the right shoulder - he dropped straight down.

I do not know the weight of the animal, there was way more interest in the antlers. Los Cazadores is just a few miles from G2. The guide brought us to the store and we entered their contest - they scored 300 & 2/8.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

Are there different "classes" of entries in that contest? He has to be way way up there. When is it over?

 

[Franco]

Are there different "classes" of entries in that contest? He has to be way way up there. When is it over?

If you go to the Los Cazadores Contest website you can see the classes and winners of last year. The overall was 308 and second was under 300 so I might have a chance at something. The guide asked the staff about "Mr Heavy" - it's a measure of mass, how much volume in the antlers, he thought mine might place high in that class.

There's high fence, low fence, adult, youth, bow, rifle, etc.

I believe it ended last Saturday when the season was over in Texas.