Editorial
Nashville 2023
Nashville was our 23rd SCI show.
If I did not have children, loved ones back home and a business to run, I’d have stayed!
From flying directly into a small airport, being surrounded with great music, experiencing so much of what is great about America in that wonderful city, I think SCI absolutely nailed it for deciding to move to Nashville. Having hosted boutique African Hunting Shows myself, that started in 2009, I know that selecting a good venue is damn tough. And with SCI facing headwinds as they were in Nevada – this was a master stroke.
We attend both DSC and SCI shows, and it works for us. Unfortunately, the rivalry between the two has been going on longer than 23 years affecting, sadly, the hunting industry, but that’s just the way it is. For the naysayers – those who had written off Safari Club International and opted to not go to this show… here is something for free: You have made a mistake! Big mistake. This is a global and powerful brand, and the ‘pulling power’ of this was demonstrated in one kick-ass four-day bonanza.
I can’t remember being at a better show, and everyone I spoke to felt the same. A compact, all in one hall, killer event. It was overflowing with African outfitters, with very few booths that were not supposed to be there. Behind us were two great Dallas and Nashville events.
The wildlife variety is all here in Africa. The options abound. And when it comes to value for money or the experience – particularly with plains game… I find it hard to understand why one would want to hunt African animals in Texas. It would be like watching a Cirque de Soleil show on a street corner. The performers all look the same, but you just cannot compare the experience or atmosphere of being in the theater. So, if ever there is good reason to decide on an African hunt, the time is now to share this AHG Monthly, even with a minimum of just five email contacts. This is sent to over 21,000 email recipients – and with everyone who opens the mail playing ball – it could get to 100,000!
And if it is value for money that you’re after, I just do not understand the toss-up between, for instance, a moose, red stag, or elk hunt, or experiencing the Dark Continent with half a dozen African animals for the same price – or less. But these are Africa’s challenges, and here at the African Hunting Gazette – and with the African Dawn Program, I relish that challenge. The African Dawn Program is a limited group of African outfitters that we know, and that we trust – across the African continent. We do not necessarily have the privilege of having hunted there ourselves because so much changes in Africa – areas, allocations, lodges, that it would be impossible to have ‘hunted there’ as a criteria AND be current. People come to our booth and ask questions, and while not an agent, we want to be able to help. There are just too many BS types for us to sit back and do nothing. We are not the Hunting Police – nor are we the enforcer of ethics. But we are here to say that these African Dawn outfitters are legal, we know them, and if there is an issue with any one of them, we’ll intervene immediately to address the situation. Worst case scenario – those members will not be on our list next year.
So, as I write this in March, a fortunate few are recovering from their earlier-in-the-year Cameroon or Uganda safaris, while the majority are planning and dreaming of their impending trip. We could not be more excited for you.
I have a few pics of the show, and some of our friends and clients, but did not do a good job because we were just flat out.
Richard Lendrum
