Re: 2017 Expo

joesikora

Long Time Member
Messages
3,247
Re: 2017 Expo

Have they set the time frame for the expo this year yet?

Thanks Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
My bad 2018

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
Never mind I found it!
Ok, then who's going to the expo this coming year?

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
Lol Hawkeye, some how I knew that

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
I plan to attend but..... it's still a ways away so plans could change between now and then.

If you're planning to attend, let me know which days and I'll try to see you there.

DC
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-24-17 AT 10:16AM (MST)[p] Sounds good Lumpy!

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
I'll be there!
I'm into having fun and rubbing shoulders with those I like...literally rubbing shoulders when it gets busy. Ha

My daughters and sons-in law like it too and we make an event out of it.

Zeke

#livelikezac
 
Lonestar was a great show last year...
I would recommend anybody who hasn't been to one of the dinners and auctions to go. I went to my first one last year, and it was awesome! Great crowd, good food, and it's crazy the money flying through there... Very entertaining!
And as stated above, Sara Evans!!!
 
Hunt Expo --Feb 8th - 11th 2018
Full Curl Society Banquet in Ballroom on the 10th- Hope to see some of the giants killed this year like Roundys Co Buck, Virostko Giant Muley, DCs Bulls and more. Color Country, Tines Up, MossBack all have had banner years so far. Muley Freak, Epic Outdoors, go-hunt and More!

It's going to be another great show packed with great people sharing great stories. I highly suggest you attend but if you decide to boycott then enjoy your boycott. You will not be missed. I promise!! Maybe catch up on Sex in the city or Orange is the new black "Whatever you're into" the show will go on. There is a kickoff party Wednesday Night that's usually pretty good to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Have heard this year is back to the Full Draw Film Tour with some special guests. It will be a packed house. the event is free and should be fun.
 
Ihunt4200, Thanks for sharing all the great info about the Expo Event, outfitters, booths, and guests. That was very cool. I think the poking the bear thing was a little much though. Lol

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
All true.

I missed it last year, but sure hope I can get there again this year. I mostly go to see good friends, from many different places, home and else where. The comradery and friendships create the great atmosphere for me.

Most years I see a lot of the anti Expo hosts there too, meeting friends, high-fiving draw winners, attended the banquets, enjoying the great meals, and the western themed entertainment. So glad they are having a good time too, they have every right to put in for the drawings as anyone else, it's open to everyone wanting to apply. And........half the cost of applying for the DWR draws, at $5 a pop. Secondly, it's $5 each, for Residents to apply for all the moose, both desert and big horn sheep, bison, and mountain goat tags, whereas you can only apply for one during the DWR draws. And......third, if you have already drawn a Once In A Life Time tag for any of these species, you get to hunt them again, if you draw them on an Expo tag.

Another thing a lot of folks like about the Expo tags is it is a Random draw and not awarded based on the number of points you have accumulated, so if you're an old guy, with no points, you have the same chance as anyone else and if you have children that are just starting to show an interest in hunting, they too have the same chance as a seasoned hunter with 22 San Juan elk or Alton CWMU mule deer points. For those wanting a Utah Random draw, this is it. If you like random systems this is a system you could take advantage of, if you don't like point systems, it seems you're missing a opportunity for your family, if you're not applying at the Expo. And, like I said, it's half as expensive and you can apply for a lot of different units, as well as for most every species of big game in the State.

The Expo draw is kind of an equal opportunity for residents and non-residents, without giving advantage to one over another, if you think the DWR system is unfair, the Expo provides you an alternative.

If the vendor show is of no interest or you're not into Guides, Outfitters, State Fish and Game Departments, Public Land Agencies, Private Ranch owners, Camping Gear, Boots, Hunting Fabrics, Taxidermy, Fire Arms, Optics, knives, GPSs/Maps, Interesting Hunting Discussions, Auctions, Dinners, Country Music Entertainment...........REMEMBER,you don't need to pay for access to the Show, to apply for the draw tags. Just come, pay the application fee at $5 per draw and leave. So, if you want to apply for one draw, it's $5, if you want to apply for a 100 different draws, it's $55, fill out the form, pay, then leave. No one is going to object or even notice, it's designed so that you can.

The number of hunting related vendor booths seems to be increasing in numbers every year. Hotel/motel accommodations with 20 miles of downtown fill up for the event, so if you're planning to attend, especially the first two days, I'll recommend you book your lodging as soon as you can.

Party time!!!

DC
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-17 AT 04:50PM (MST)[p]Hey DC! How do you figure that NRs are on a par with residents for the Expo tags when NRs have to travel all the way out there just to validate our application the way it is set up. That sucks and if you think it's any more fair then you need to rethink the matter! Just face it, most people that go to the Expo are residents and it doesn't bring in anywhere near the NRs that it is supposedly designed to do to benefit the state of Utah.
 
Topgun, your right. Lots of people, maybe 70% are from Utah. There are lots from surrounding states. With the full curl _ group that come it brings lots of out of state people. Last year people came from British Columbia and Canada. With the amount of people that come from Canada they have both the US and Canada National Anthems played and both flags. One point is to bring people in to the community to raise money for the area and according to the State it brought in 40 million. So lots of out of area attend.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-17 AT 06:02PM (MST)[p]As always out comes all the SFW boys and their baloney! I'd bet that 90% of the people that come from other states and Canada are people that have booths and very few of us regular guys that would have to travel any real distance. That's okay though as you can keep your sham Expo that should have gone to RMEF in a fair fight if the entire process hadn't been rigged for SFW & MDF!
 
It is true, all those who wish to apply must travel to the Expo location to submit their application. Residents as well as non-resident. That too is and from the inception, done by design, to bring resources into the City Capital, the State, it's businesses and it's tax coffers. Using a State public resource to generated an increase in State public revenue, while sharing the resource and the revenue generated with all people in the State and from outside the State, that wish to participate. Not unlike our Ski industry or our National Parks and related businesses. Promoting those industries has brought a great deal of resources to our businesses and our tax offers.

While there maybe some non-residents that pay more to travel to the Expo than the residents of Utah, it may not be as discriminatory as it sounds. For example, Utah residents of Cedar City, St, George, Blanding, Moab, Richfield, Vernal, pay more to travel by pick up truck to Salt Lake City than some folks pay to fly here from San Francisco, Phoenix, and Denver. Heck, you can fly from Chicago, round trip for a cheap as $172.00 on some days. It costs a guy from St. George, Utah to drive to the Expo and back about $130. The guy from St. George has to pay the same as the non-resident does for his hotel/motel, his meals and his Expo tags, as the non-resident from Chicago does, the difference in cost is about a $100 give or take a couple dollars.

For a lot of folks that live in Wyoming, Idaho, California, Arizona and Colorado, it cost them less to fly than it does for a guy from Blanding or St. George or Cedar City to drive. If non-residents car poll and drive, it may cost non-resident less, when all is said and done.

So......

Utah Rural Resident
3 nights in a hotel @ $120 a night = $360
6 meals @ $15 each = $90
10 Expo tag Apps @ $5 each = $50
41 gallon Fuel @ $3.10 gallon = $124
Total to submit the apps $624


Non-Resident from Chicago
3 nights in a hotel @ $120 a night = $360
6 meals @ $15 each = $90
10 Expo tag Apps @ $5 each = $50
Round Trip Airfare = $234 or less depending on when and who you book with.
Total to submit $734

If your from closer than Chicago, your airfare could be even less.

Just saying....... it may be a bit more for non-resident to get there but not very much more for non-residents to attend that it is for some of us Utah hill-billies to attend. But......... if your bound and determined to discredit the Expo, it does give you some arguing points. For most it's not the inequity of the travel costs, it's something different for each person that says home. Hell, I don't buy a raffle ticket for every Western State either, but I have my own reasons when I don't.

For those non-residents interested in attending, check rates for the second week of February, cheap seat prices are pretty darn affordable, if you book a flight right now.
 
If you are going to the expo, go for more than the lottery. If I went, my only draw would be the Pauns any weapon. Based on the $624.00 and on the statistics if I have average luck, prices stayed the same, and I continued until I drew, that tag would cost me 1 1/4 million dollars.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-07-17 AT 11:31PM (MST)[p]Hey 2lumpy, how much does SFW/MDF pay you guys to post all the baloney about your great EXPO that should now be in the hands of RMEF if everything in UTAH, including the DWR, was run honestly?!!! Do you really think any of us believe that the EXPO is being run for anything else than for SFW/MDF to pocket millions of dollars from poor smucks that have no idea what is going on?!!!
 
Good question. I was shocked one year with regards to that kind of question. I was the one asking the question back then, during a petition drive, to get the BLM to do a mule deer habitats project they were dragging there feet on. While explaining the project needs to the attendees, I asked them if they were enjoying the Expo, all expressed a great deal of satisfaction and said they were having a great time. I asked if they knew where we were getting the funds from to do the BLM habitats restoration projected, all said they had no idea. I asked iIf they'd ever heard of a grouped called Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife or SFW for short. At least 80% of them said, "Nope, never heard of them." I asked if they knew who as hosting the Expo they had just paid to visit. Again, no idea. I said, have you ever heard of the Mule Deer Foundation? Most said, ya, I've heard of them. I said, were you aware the MDF and SFW are partners for the Expo and they put the event together so you can have fun and maybe draw a tag. Nope, they said they had no Idea. I said. Is this your first year at the Expo? Most said, no they'd been coming for many years.

The point being, most who attend don't care, they come for a good time and chance at the draws. They are just sportsmen who love to hunt and party with their friends and family and don't have any other interest than that.

I used to volunteer to help at the Expo, like hundreds of other folks do every year but the last two years they have not need any help so I haven't been involved at all, last year I didn't attend at all. But I wanted too.

I know everyone isn't going to like the people who hold it, the contract, the fund raising efforts or the methods used to raise the money, nor will everyone agree who spends it or how it's used. But...... a lot do and a lot more are apparently indifferent to all these points folks that oppose it are making. And........ it's not at all as if there hasn't been tons of newspaper articles and television broadcasts, for and against it. If folks wanted to know, they have had ample opportunities to hear all about it and learn more about all the details, for and against. They are free to ask those that don't want to attend why they speak out against it.

SFW doesn't pay or need to pay yahoos like me to stir up trouble on the social mwdia forums. Truth is I think they'd rather I just keep my damn mouth shut.

It is what it is, for anyone that cares to inquire, from me or anyone else.

DC"
 
Lumpy.

I can promise that they would have really appreciated you not stating some of what you said.

Not that it matters now, and I am not going to get into this dead horse debate.

But you stated " most people don't know or care who is hosting it, they are there to have fun and possibly draw something".

That is actually a direct opposite of what the "non-biased" and "honest" wildlife board stated as their reasons for giving it to SFW/MDF.

As I recall, they said the the 100% from RMEF may not be as much money because they did not provide enough detail on how they would attract attendees.

But as I have watched this debate, I have seen numerous SFW/MDF proponents make almost the exact same statement, or along the same lines. That the larger portion of attendees does not know, nor care about the politics behind it.
 
I will be present. I have tried to go on Thursday during the day the last couple years to have reduced crowds, but my daughters wanted to go last year so I went on Saturday. It was a madhouse, but we still had fun.

My feelings on the expo contract, the appearance of shady dealings between the organizations and the DWR, and expo tags in general have been stated many times in the past. To say it succinctly, I hate it all.

That said, as long as there are tags to be drawn, I'm going to put my name in the hat. I guess I'm just not strong enough in my protest, but fact is, if there are hunts to be had, I want a chance at them, even if I hate how they are drawn.

I would be totally okay if they reduced or even eliminated the expo tags entirely. But I'll put in for them as long as they are there.
 
Everyone is entitled to believe what they want about the expo. I am glad I can attend every year without having to travel. If you want to boycott the expo please do. Your presents will be missed by those who would like the visits of friends. It is getting so big, and thats a fact from attendance, that people love to attend and enjoy the friends that have been made. A waiting list grows from people,company's wanting booths.
 
>
>Hey 2lumpy, how much does SFW/MDF
>pay you guys to post
>all the baloney about your
>great EXPO

Really, Mike?
Spoken like a guy who has all the answers for everyone else.
Take a deep breath and get back on your meds!

Zeke

#livelikezac
 
>
>>
>>Hey 2lumpy, how much does SFW/MDF
>>pay you guys to post
>>all the baloney about your
>>great EXPO
>
>Really, Mike?
>Spoken like a guy who has
>all the answers for everyone
>else.
>Take a deep breath and get
>back on your meds!
>
>Zeke
>
>#livelikezac

Bite me Zeke! You and lumpy, along with his boy and Birdman have your opinions of SFW and the rest of us can have ours whether you like it or not! You know what I think of SFW and how they run the DWR in Utah and it's not in favor of the common guys, so if you don't like what I post about them don't read it!
 
>Will the "Blaaam Ram" be on
>display this year?
>
>-Hawkeye-

Hahaha! I hope the blindfolded muley is there too. Did the taxidermist leave the ear tag on?

Grizzly
 
I just hope the big Wy "whitetail", will be there again. Maybe in the Ut/Wy poaching booth? You know what they say about the fool and his $.
 
Will I guess you will have to go and see. You can also see how empty it is with so many that boycott the expo.
Topgun, Love to read your posts and seeing how out of touch with reality.
Hawkeye, Love to see how out of touch with reality you still are.
 
>Will I guess you will have
>to go and see.
>You can also see how
>empty it is with so
>many that boycott the expo.
>
> Topgun,
>Love to read your posts
>and seeing how out of
>touch with reality.
> Hawkeye, Love
>to see how out of
>touch with reality you still
>are.


Says one that has had his head buried in the sand regarding SFW and it's top brass for the last 15 years, LOL! The reality is that a lot of you people living in Utah really fit the definition of why you call each other Utards!!!
 
I'm going, belly aching about who runs the expo won't change anything. It's fun to see the animals and visit with people. And putting all the tags back into the state draw really wouldn't help point creep much.
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-08-17 AT 10:14PM (MST)[p].....and still it grows every year and banquets all sell out.... its almost like most people don't really give a shiiit what Topgun and other "enlightened haters" think...weird.

Top,
You're spending too much time in an echo chamber. Hellll it's even making you believe that me and my pops are more than just interweb opinions. If you spend too much time on an echo chamber you start to believe it to be a reality. BTW are you going to be at the RMEF convention in Vegas next month?
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-17 AT 01:35AM (MST)[p]Is the convention at the Salt Palace and does anyone know the names of the preferred hotels for the Expo?
I'm looking at Expedia bundle package prices for Premium Economy Non stop flights from St Louis to SLC with hotel, taxes and all fees included. I would like to see what hotels are the preferred ones to see what would be best. I want a non-stop flights I'm not a big fan of flying! Lol
If you all have any input let me know.

Thanks for your time
Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 
You people who think boycotting the expo will hurt them make me laugh. The last time I went it was elbow room only. Just a little to crowded for me.
I am sure they would gladly do without your company to make room for a more hospitable crowd.
 
I don't believe that me not attending will have a major impact on their bottom line. I just choose not to support those groups for obvious reasons. Have fun boys and say hello to Don, Wade and Doyle for me!

-Hawkeye-
 
Joe, I hope you can make the trip out here. Everybody knows how I feel about the Expo fiasco and how RMEF should've gotten the bid by all objective criteria, but truthfully, the Expo is very well run and you'll have a great time.

Grizzly
 
LAST EDITED ON Nov-09-17 AT 10:50AM (MST)[p]Nah! I think I'll skip it again. I love hunting, but trophy animals don't interest me that much. Plus I don't like crowds and if this one is gonna be even more crowded than the one I went to with my deceased dad 10 or 11 years ago, it isn't worth the 520 mile round trip. Instead, I think I'll gather up a few friends and we'll carpool 30 miles to Panguitch Lake and go ice fishing for some of those 20" to 25" rainbows, cutthroats, and tigers instead. Anyone care to join us? (Only a few, though.)

Edited: I know I'm not going to hurt them by not attending, but I also know I'm not going to help them.
 
"I'm going, belly aching about who runs the expo won't change anything. It's fun to see the animals and visit with people. And putting all the tags back into the state draw really wouldn't help point creep much." Plus the 5 percent of the LE tags. Hunter apathy at it's best.
 
Joe, absolutely, start at the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, It is likely the most expensive but......... it is directly across the street from the Expo at the Salt Palace. It fills up early with many of the out of town vender people and Expo attendees, because it is so convenient. It is one of the nicest hotels in the city, has an excellent restaurant but :) no free breakfast. It is quite expensive, no doubt, but if you are wanting to stay really close to the show, it is the one to book.

Having said that, most all the large hotels in Salt Lake City are fairly spendy, and there are 4 to 6 that are with in 2 to 4 blocks of the Expo, all will be close in price to the Salt Lake Marriott Downtown at City Creek, such as the downtown Radison, Hyatt, Double Tree, Hilton, or Little America. All are top shelf and close but not quit as convenient as the Marriott.

Do know this however, Salt Lake, in February is a busy place, the Expo may not be the only "event" in town that week, and Utah is in the height of it's ski season, so getting a room, with in 20 miles of down town can be tough, some years. The further you go from the center of town the lower the price of lodging will be, but then you'll will need transportation.

Too bad I live 175 miles from the show, or you'd be welcome to bunk at my place.

Hope this helps a little.

DC
 
Thanks again DeLoss, always great info.

Joe

"Sometimes you do things wrong for so long you
think their right" - 2001
"I can't argue with honesty" - 2005
-Joe E Sikora
 

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