Sorry man. I did not mean to cry. lol. I have never posted anything on MM. I was sincerely curious on what peoples sentiments were about the expo as I am trying to form my own take on it. I did not realize it had been a topic of so much discussion and I that I was beating a dead horse.
As a new comer it’s very possible you would be curious about people’s sentiments. Seems perfectly logically to me.
If you are curious enough and you live close enough where the trip justifies your interest, for or against, why not find out for yourself and go see for yourself.
Here is what I would do, if I were curious. I would go see for myself.
For no access fee…… just walk into room on the main floor and for $5 and a current Utah Big Game license, you can apply for a big game tag, any Utah big game tag, on specific units. (There are a few for turkeys and about 180 other ones, all of which are for big game.) $5 is half the price that it is to apply for the same tag through the regular Utah DWR Draw.
While you are there you can pay $25 (less with a discount coupon)and you can go into the vendor area where, give or take, 600 firearms manufactures, boot manufactures, clothing manufactures, archery manufactures, western furniture makers, outfitters, government agencies, tent makers, saddle makers, knife makers, vehicle makers, sock makers, hat makers, jewelry makers, insole makers, eye glass defogger makers, gun case makers, bullet/cartridge makers, tree stand makers, decoy makers, artist, word cravers, taxidermists, salsa makers, saddle bag makers, cot makers, optics manufactures, back pack manufactures, cook stove/lantern/dufflebag/sleeping bag/camera/booking agents/world wide hunt agents/ as well as the latest outdoor hunting innovations have their products available to touch and feel. Also, enjoy large quantities of last year’s game animals mounted by outstanding taxidermists.
If you choose there are addition raffle tickets being sold for all kinds of additional items such as hunting and camping gear and other big game raffles, including a number of big horn sheep tags that are not part of the 200 $5 tag raffles. They cost more. About $20 as I recall. Lots of seminars and speakers, kids participation activities etc.
There are also afternoon luncheons for the ladies, and evening dinner banquets where auctions for high end hunts, and a lot of other hunting related items, such as a riding mule, or a fancy firearm etc are held to generate money for Utah and other States who send tags to be auctions so the proceeds can go back to those States, for what ever they deem approach to use the funds for. Auction prices can and do go up as high as $200,000 and higher, not because the bidder believes he/she is getting a bargain but because the bidder/buyer has a desire to support hunting conservation and sees the value in the life style. There are about two or three of these events over the four day event.
With the exception of the $5 raffle tickets and the vender area, these auction/meal venues are generally all sold weeks before the Expo opens each February. Planning a head to attend is generally a requirement. Getting a vendor booth location can take a number of years, in as much as those who have purchased a vendor booth in the past get invited back and they have filled all the available space in the Salt Palace for a number of years now.
If you wish to talk to the two groups that host the EXPO, ie; the Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and the Mule Deer Foundation, they each have a booth, just as you enter the vendor area. At either of these booths you can talk with a representative for these organizations and ask all kinds of questions as to their Mission Statements, how they follow their objective, how they generate their revenue and how they spend the millions of dollars they raise, at the EXPO and through other fund raising methods. They will tell you where you can find and study their financial reports and share with you current and past conservation projects they have been involved with.
Thousand of people attend all aspect of the EXPO. From young families pushing baby strollers, sport hunters (like most of us) heavy duty firearms manufacturing personal, and world renowned outfitters, all mixed together enjoying a common interest and life style.
But……. not all of us like the concept, or the individuals the that host it. We all see the world from the prism of our own bias. They only way you’ll really know what it’s all about is to see it for yourself, look into the things they do and don’t do and form your own opinion.
All the best in your search.