2012 hunt expo

J

jbigb30

Guest
So just wondering who all went to the expo and their thoughts on it, for some reason i didnt really like it bought a few things here and there nothing special, just wanted to see what everyone else thought.
 
Buddy and I went on down to check out the event.. Seems like there were fewer vendors then in years past. I too bought a few things, registered up for the Hunts... All in all I would give it an overall 6/10. Just an average show, seems like alot of people have kinda thrown in the flag on the event.
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-12 AT 00:31AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-12-12 AT 00:28?AM (MST)

I was there, lots of impressive mounts to look at, some whopper sheds you could pick up and hold at the Muley Crazy booth, but like the other poster said the vendors were underwhelming at best. They talk about show specials yada yada yada, the prices they were offering were not that much off retail and the same items could be found for less on the net. I bought the backpack I was looking at in one of the vendors booths for almost $50.00 less in a sporting goods store on the way home.

The best deal I found was at the trophy hunter booth, buy a Havalon baracuda knife and get some extra blades, a case, plus a years worth of trophy hunter. They sold out quickly, i think within a few hours on the first day, because they offered a real value. Maybe the deals got better as the show went on, I only went one day so I don't know.

Nevada department of wildlife was there, they were nice to talk to and had some good information. Several people I talked to mentioned attendance being down but again I was only there for one day.

All in all it was not as good as I expected but not a total bust either. The mounts were impressive, some good information from the Nevada guys, and it seemed well organized. It was my first time attending, I don't know if I will return or not, I would rate it a 5/10.
 
I think if you were looking for something it was there. I even scored all the the Bighorns and the only thing I can figure about scoring bighorns is I couldn't score one if I was told the size.

Rutnbuck
 
Some cool taxidermy and ran into a few friends and people I wanted to see.

I liked it.

Lowest number of booths I can remember.
 
Here are the reasons I go: apply for the hunts, see the big bucks and bulls killed from the past year, and hang out with friends. Sometimes I hit one of the seminars or listen to Jeff Foxworthy. It's just fun to get out. Overall, I think it is going downhill while Mossbacks booth keeps getting bigger and fancier.



I don't think there is any other quality
so essential to success of any kind as the
quality of perseverance. It overcomes
almost everything, even nature.
-John D. Rockefeller
 
Seems to be less and less booths every year. I havn't been real impressed the last couple years. Probably just validate my hunts and leave next year.
 
I really look forward to the expo every year. Its fun going with my friends, walking around and seeing all the stuff. I've gone every year, and it gets me excited for the up-coming season..... That being said, I didn't go this year. Figured I'd take a break. Its the same old thing.... A bunch of huge deer and elk that some guy paid big money for, and hunts that I cant afford.
Sounds like I didnt miss much.
 
I spent most of Saturday there. Maybe its not the best show but its certainly worth the cost of entry. Having the KUIU booth there to try on there gear was worth it for me. I think the outfitters booths were down quite a bit, I think the economy has hurt them the worst.
 
Come on FOREMAN!

You ain't takin it all with You!:D

[font color=red size=redsize=18"face"]SHOW THEM TO ME![/font]
If You Love Your Country,SHOW THEM TO ME!




Hot Dog,Hot Damn,I love this Ameri-can
 
Been every year and show special "deals" have gotten worse and worse every year....some booths were pricing was higher at the show then on their own websites!!!! Its still worth it for me to go down and bump into friends and dream a little with the draw hunts.
 
The first couple of years I went to the show, I wandered around with a plastic bag and picked up free bees and giveaways. By the end of the show the plastic bag was stuffed with DVDs, flyers, magazines and whatever else. This year I got the bag...and when I left it was still empty. Attendance definitely down this year.
 
Tons of awesome muley mounts. That totally made it worth while for me. Fewest people at show that I can remember. I actually really enjoyed the show even with the smaller amount of vendors. I heard the govenor was there and is ready to crack some heads if the mule deer herds dont get the attention from the division that they deserve. Lets cross our fingers!
 
I like the show....in my opinion it is a better show than the ISE show thats coming next month. I enjoyed talking with several guys that have hunted Desert Sheep within the last couple of years. It was nice to get their perspective on particular units that I'm considering putting in for, I also talked with a couple of different Brown Bear outfitters...Man the prices seem to go up about 2K to 3K every year. One of them said they would be willing to book out to 2014 for this years prices..I gotta hurry and book now.
 
I wasn't to impressed this year with the show. It was fun to see the mounts but there seems to be less and less raffles and the girls selling them are less atractive every year this year was the worst.
 
ZIM---Thanks for putting the OYOA link up as I was waiting for randy to give the okay. The guys really need to read that entire thread in the link you put up to get the gist of that Expo. Too bad that some are expressing their indignation that the girls were'nt pretty enough when there are a lot more pressing issues at hand!!!
 
A bit disappointing. It used to be cool a few years ago when you would get a sack full of DVD's magazines and even a $10 gift cirtificate from Cabelas which would offset the entry fee. Not anymore. The attendence seemed plenty high to me, plenty of other dumb A**es like myself putting in the Utah's version of the state lottery with astronimical odds and then complaining about it! It's always fun to see the taxidermy.






"99% of the failures come from people who have a habit of making excuses" George Washington
 
TOPGUN, I don't know who has bigger stones walking around the Expo........Corey Rossi or Randy (after his review)! :)
 
Fun event, lots stuff for everybody, met a bunch of friends, missed a few friends who I meant to see.
I had a great time but it's like anything else in life, "you get out of it what you put into it". I went looking for an enjoyable time and found it!
I've been every year and I'll be there next year too. It's too much fun to pass up!

Some of the trophy mounts took my breath away. Wow! It's worth it to pay the price and just look at one end of the show!

Good luck to all, Christmas is coming (applications/drawings)

Zeke
 
it was a bit smaller than years past, but just to get out with friends and check out all the mounts was worth the drive and my time....
 
Went on Saturday with my boys, listened to one seminar, checked out all the big animals, dreamed a little, put in for some hunts that I won't draw and didn't see any real values from the vendors. But, I had a good time with my boys!

PS I spoke with a Vendor that used to go but doesn't anymore. Asked him Why? He said it is a very expensive show. Costs him $2,000 for a small booth for the 4 days just for the rental. Plus he has to pay employees, etc. A guy would have to sell a lot of product to make the profit margins worth it!

Probably why we are seeing less and less deals from the vendors.



"The problem with quotes on Internet Forums is that it is often difficult to verify their authenticity." - Abraham Lincoln
 
I went as always. Threw my name in the hat hoping to get lucky. Met with friends, BS'd, walked around saw some great animals and products I'm interested in. I enjoy it and will go every year they put it on.
 
Got to agree with Zeke about the taxidermy. I come up from NM with a friend that has a booth and I could spend the whole two or three days just enjoying the mounts. Several friends there to visit with and its a good time for me to leave the house and travel a bit. I am amazed at how good some of the novice division taxidermy is! There are some really good artists and great ideas at that show every year! I had a great time.
 
I also thought the taxidermy displays were the hit of the show. Didn't have enough time to do this right, but here's a short clip of a few I got a chance to film. I only had one morning available and just couldn't get to see everything I wanted there.

http://youtu.be/Ypv8TKBvimk?hd=1

Cheers,
Pete
 

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