The 2023 Safari Club International (SCI) Convention is a month away. The event runs in Nashville, Tennessee during the weekend of February 22-25, 2023. In years past, the SCI show was held in Las Vegas, but we think this new Nashville venue is a great choice.

The SCI states: “Join us in the birthplace of country music to see world class musicians, guest speakers, exhibitions, and hundreds of domestic and international hunting guides. Be sure to get YOUR ticket today to the Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market!” CLICK HERE to register or get more INFO.

Key Attractions at SCI 2023 Convention:

Exhibits by Outfitters and Manufacturers

Hundreds of professional hunters and outfitters from throughout the world will exhibit at the Convention. In addition, top manufacturers from the outdoor industry will be there, showing off the latest firearms, optics, ammunition, archery gear, and accessories.

Auctions — Live, Silent, and Online

Over 20 live, silent, day, evening and online auctions will be held during the SCI convention next month in Nashville. Bid on hunt experiences, exceptional firearms, fine art and jewelry, all 100% donated by world renowned outfitters and manufacturers. Proceeds from SCI’s auctions support hunter advocacy as well as SCI Foundation’s conservation and education programs.

Seminars and Speakers
Over 70 seminars, “Meet and Greets”, and keynote speakers pack the schedule at the 2023 SGI Convention. Educational, informative seminar presentations cover the spectrum of hunting, fishing, shooting, and outdoor adventures.

The Safari Club International (SCI) convention returns to Las Vegas after a one-year hiatus due to the COVID Pandemic. The SCI convention will take place at the Mandalay Bay Hotel complex. This is a milestone for the Safari Club International, with the organization celebrating its 50th year. The SCI event, the world’s largest hunting convention, should attract thousands of visitors. Over 70 convention seminars will cover the full spectrum of hunting, fishing, shooting, and outdoor adventures.

Somewhat surprisingly, this year’s SCI convention overlaps SHOT Show, which runs January 18-21, 2022 at the Venetian Expo and Caesar’s Forum in Las Vegas. So both events will be happening the same week. That’s NOT good planning — the time conflict may affect attendance of both shows. CLICK HERE to register for the SCI event.

The SCI Convention has 320+ exhibitors registered currently. These will include gun-makers, optics companies, gear manufacturers, outfitters, and top hunting resorts. Outdoor industry companies will showcase the latest products — from firearms and accessories to optics, ammunition, archery, gear and equipment. Other offerings include furs, jewelry, furnishings, and outdoor clothing.

CLICK HERE for MORE SCI 2022 CONVENTION INFO »

Impressive Selection of Auction Items This Year
The SCI show is famed for its gun, safari, and outdoor art auctions. At this year’s Convention, exotic firearms, once-in-a-lifetime hunts, and fine collectibles will be auctioned. Proceeds from SCI’s auctions support SCI Foundation’s conservation and education programs.

Established in 1971, SCI will mark its 50th year at the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas, January 19-22, 2022. Exhibits and daytime activities will be held at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. The host hotel will be Mandalay Bay, a 43-story luxury resort and casino on the Las Vegas Strip.

This year’s lineup of guest speakers, entertainers, and hosts is something you won’t want to miss. Attendees can expect to see and hear from top pro-hunting political voices Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson. Entertainers include Larry the Cable Guy, Craig Morgan, Edward Byers and Jim Shockey — some of the hunting industry’s greatest champions.

The SCI’s annual Convention, known as the Ultimate Sportsmen’s Market, features the best hunts, firearms, equipment and wildlife art in the world — all in one place at one time. The video below shows highlights from past SCI conventions.

Safari Club International Teams with Buckmasters
Safari Club International (SCI) has entered into a joint venture agreement with Buckmasters to promote intelligent, practical wildlife and habitat management and conservation for future generations. “This venture is part of SCI’s strategic plan to enhance the organization’s ability to protect the freedom to hunt worldwide, including right here in the United States,” said SCI CEO W. Laird Hamberlin.

This joint effort aligns the leading whitetail organization in Buckmasters with the leading advocacy and conservation organization in SCI. The joint venture provides SCI a seat on the Buckmasters Board of Directors along with recognition as a premiere sponsor. Hamberlain believes this collaboration “will introduce new opportunities for members of both groups to continue their support and preservation of hunting and conservation.” The joint venture is anticipated to be approved during the SCI Board of Directors meeting on May 9, 2020.

SCI is a a global leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. The SCI’s 200 Chapters represent all 50 states of the United States as well as 106 countries. Buckmasters was founded in 1986 by Jackie Bushman and is the largest whitetail deer hunting organization in the United States with over 160,000 subscribers.

Both organizations were excited at the new alliance. “Working with Buckmasters will enhance the effectiveness of SCI as we work to defend hunting on Capitol Hill, in state legislatures and in the minds of non-hunters” said SCI President Steve Skold. And Jackie Bushman, CEO of Buckmasters, stated: “Having SCI closely involved with Buckmasters will help us continue to represent and promote a positive image of ethical hunting and an awareness of the essential role of hunting as a necessary conservation tool”.

Photo courtesy Namibia Hunting Safaris.

Safari Club International has announced that the 49th International Hunters’ Convention will return to Las Vegas, Nevada, February 3-6, 2021. The event will serve as the kickoff celebration of 50 years of SCI, the leading hunting advocacy organization established in 1971.

The exhibits and daytime activities will be held at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Exhibits will be set up in the central halls of the facility. Meetings and daytime banquets will also all be held at the LVCC. Evening events at the 2021 SCI Convention will be held at Caesar’s Forum, a new venue in the Caesar facilities that is currently under construction.

“We are pleased to be able to bring the SCI Convention back to Las Vegas in 2021,” said Laird Hamberlin, SCI CEO. “Our exhibitors and members all enjoy the convenience of getting in and out of Las Vegas and the many activities to enjoy there in addition to the Convention. Many people expressed a desire to move the Convention back to Las Vegas with dates in early February. We have worked hard to make it happen.”

The headquarters hotel will be Harrah’s Casino Hotel. Other block hotels will include the LINQ Hotel and Casino, Flamingo Las Vegas, Bally’s Las Vegas, Planet Hollywood and Caesar’s Palace Las Vegas. All the hotels are in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

The 45th Annual Safari Club International (SCI) Convention is underway now at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. The big event opened February 1st, and concludes Saturday the 4th. Over 20,000 hunters and sportsmen are expected to attend this year.

$10 Million in Auction Items This Year
The SCI show is famed for its fund-raising auctions. At this year’s Convention, over $10 million worth of exotic firearms, once-in-a-lifetime hunts, and fine collectibles will be auctioned. Net proceeds from the auctions are used by SCI to promote conservation and game management efforts worldwide. Here’s a past auction item, a Krieghoff Double Rifle valued at $84,000. This ‘Legends of the Hunt’ double rifle, chambered in .470 Nitro Express, is custom engraved by master engravers Michael Oke and Andreas Scholz. The stock is exhibition-grade Turkish walnut with ebony pistol grip and fore-end tip. There are gold barrel bands and gold accents on the express sight blades and double triggers.

Over 1000 Exhibitors from 33 Countries
This is a huge event, with over 1000 exhibitors from 33 countries and six continents. Notably, hundreds of top guides and outfitter services are showcased in the Outfitters Hall. The SCI convention also features many firearms manufacturers and custom gun builders. In the Gun Maker’s village prestigious European gun makers and engravers display their work.

The SCI convention boasts “the largest display of wildlife art at one venue anywhere in the world” according to Ammoland.com. The work of 55 artists and 110 taxidermists will be on display.

Hunt of a Lifetime — What Would You Hunt and Where?

A couple seasons back, Sierra Bullets asked its staffers about their dream hunting destinations. The Sierra techs, all avid hunters, were polled about their favorite hunting venues. Here are their answers to the question: “If you could hunt anything, anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you hunt?”

Photo courtesy Kirabo Safaris, South Africa

Africa topped the list of “dream hunting locations” by a landslide. Canada and Alaska were both picked twice, with other destinations each favored by one staffer:

Africa 6 votes (Kudu, Eland, Cape Buffalo, Leopard, Lion, Plains Game)
Canada 2 votes (Moose, Black Bear)
Alaska 2 votes (Dall Sheep)
Wyoming 1 vote (Antelope)
US Rocky Mountains 1 vote (Elk)
Argentina 1 votes (Doves)
Australia 1 vote (Non-specific)

Carroll Pilant (Ballistics Technician): “Back to Africa for kudu and eland.”

Rich Machholz (Ballistic Technician): “African Cape Buffalo with my longtime friend Lloyd in Zimbabwee.”

Tommy Todd (Chief Ballistician): “Free Range African plains game”

Photo courtesy Namibia Hunting Safaris.