Safari Club International 2012 Hunters’ Convention Sets Records

Safari Club International’s 40^th Annual Hunters’ Convention this year was the biggest and best ever. It has once again solidified its place as the premier convention in all of hunting.

The international hunting community recently concluded its largest everconvention in Las Vegas, Nevada, as Safari Club International (SCI) wrapped up the 40^th Annual Hunters’ Convention at Mandalay Bay. With a record 23,267attendees, the contributions of SCI members and event donors will ensure that SCI can continue fighting for hunters’ freedoms and expand conservation efforts around the world.

“Every year, SCI works to build the greatest hunting show on earth,” said SCI President Kevin Anderson. “With over 1 million square feet and 2,200 vendor booths on the convention floor, SCI collected record receipts of $16 million from members and donors attending the Convention which will help protect our freedoms to hunt!”

“SCI’s record breaking success for the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention is a credit to the dedication of hunters around the world and to corporate partners like Bob Allen, Boyt Harness, Browning, Cabelas, Fauna & Flora Customhouse Brokers, Global Rescue, Hornady, Midway USA, Outdoor Channel, Trijicon, Stealthcam, Swarovski Optik, Walker’s Game Ear, Yamaha, and Zeiss,” added SCI Executive Director Dr. Bill Moritz.

Safari Club International’s 41^st Annual Hunters’ Convention will be held at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center in Reno, Nevada, January 23-26, 2013. Enjoy the best that Reno can offer: 2013 Video.

Highlights of the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention

$16 million gross reciepts for Hunter Advocacy and Wildlife Conservation.
Donations to Safari Club International’s Political Action Committee (SCI-PAC) raised over $150,000 for protecting hunters rights in the 2012 election cycle.
$125,000 raised for the Pathfinders Program that benefits physically challenged hunters with the help of a very special donation from Donald Hill and the Oak Creek Whitetail Ranch.
$150,000 raised for Education on the dedicated SCIF auction sale of the “Dream Hunt” at the Sanctuary II, Inc.
Record-breaking auction sales top nearly $5.2 million.
Record sales for outfitters and exhibitors during the 4 day convention.

Notable Guests of the 2012 SCI Hunters’ Convention

Larry and Brenda Potterfield, President, Midway USA
Richard Childress, Richard Childress Racing, NASCAR
Shawn Michaels, Retired Pro Wrestler
Tom Selleck, Actor
David Keene, President, National Rifle Association
Wayne LaPierre, Executive Vice-President, National Rifle Association
Jeff Crane, President, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation
Jim Shockey, Hunting Celebrity, Jim Shockey’s Hunting Adventures

Recipient of SCI’s International Hunter of the Year Award

Mike Rogers Jr., Hunting Celebrity, Expedition Safari Television
Craig Boddington, Hunting Celebrity, Tracks Across Africa

Attending Political Officials

Lt. Governor Brian K. Krolicki, Nevada
Martin Andjaba, Namibian Ambassador to the United States
Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia

Recipient of SCI’s International Legislator of the Year Award

John Barrasso, Senator, Wyoming

Recipient of SCI’s Federal Legislator of the Year Award

Don Young, Representative, Alaska
Lisa Murkowski, Senator, Alaska
Jeff Miller, Representative, Florida
Dr. Paul Broun, Representative, Georgia
Joe Heck, Representative, Nevada
Denny Rehberg, Representative, Montana
Cynthia Lummis, Representative, Wyoming
Billy Long, Representative Missouri
Mark Amodei, Representative, Nevada

Safari Club International

Protecting hunters’ rights and promoting wildlife conservation, SCI’s two areas of focus, historically has been the interest of hundreds of individuals long before SCI was established. But how did SCI as an organization begin?

Forty years ago, there were many safari clubs across the country made up of local, unaffiliated groups of hunters. One such was Safari Club of Los Angeles, which was formed in April 1971 by forty-seven individuals. In early 1972, an out-of-towner from a similar club in Chicago attended one of the monthly Wednesday night meetings, and it was decided that the L.A. club should attempt to combine with the one in Chicago to make it an affiliated chapter. The founder of Safari Club of Los Angeles, C.J. McElroy, went to the Windy City and instituted the new chapter.

Eleven months after the formation of Safari Club of Los Angeles, on March 9, 1972, the name was changed officially to Safari Club International. SCI continued to reach out to other independent safari clubs throughout the United States in an effort to combine them into a single overall organization.

Today, interest in SCI’s two primary missions has grown a worldwide network. Subsequent involvement and promotion of these missions is rooted in each of our 55,000 members, supported through each of our 190 membership chapters found across the globe, and put into action by government representatives and personnel both nationally and internationally.

In this way, we can encourage an appreciation for nature and wildlife so that conservation efforts remain strong, while also fighting to protect our rich hunting heritage. Big changes can be achieved through the endeavors of many who are united in a mission – the mission of Safari Club International.