ADWA ACTION ALERT

Join Our Online Community Receive action alerts, tips, news and special offers via e-mail.

Dallas Safari Club Says 2010 Set Records

DALLAS - As Dallas Safari Club (DSC) begins planning its next convention, Jan. 6-9, 2011, the benchmarks of success have never been loftier. After all, the organization's recent 2010 event concluded with several confirmed and pending new records for expo exhibits, total attendance, gate revenue, auction proceeds-all of which translates to record funding for the DSC mission in the coming year.

"We blew the doors off some previous records, most notably our fundraising totals for conservation and education projects worldwide," said Ben Carter, executive director of DSC. "The economy may be down but it didn't appear so at our convention."

Expo traffic was heavy for much of the show.

Hans Vermaak of South Africa's Coenraad Vermaak Safaris, the longest-operating safari outfit in Africa, said, "People who have money are still booking safaris and buying a lot of things, which is great. It's almost as though they're buying even more safaris right now because there are so many deals to be had as a result of a decline in less expensive, package hunts."

Thormalen and Cochrane Safaris' Anso Thormahlen, also of South Africa, echoed, "We had a very good show after traffic picked up on the first day. We booked several safaris and, as always, thank DSC for the opportunity to be here."

The convention, held Jan. 7-10, 2010, was at the Dallas Convention Center for the first time.

"This was our first year in a big, new facility that gave us room to grow and I couldn't be more pleased with the end result. We'll be at the Dallas Convention Center at least through 2015 so there's also room to grow our event experience and proficiency in our new home. I expect our show to get better and better," said Carter.

Carter added the DSC event will continue to be the first major sporting expo each year, annually offering hunters their first opportunity to shop and book dates with top outfitters.

DSC convention highlights, by the numbers:

$400,000-Gain in auction proceeds over 2009 (estimate, pending new record)
300,000-Square feet of exhibit space (new record)
$40,000-Top bid for an elephant hunt with African outfitter Coenraad Vermaak Safaris
$40,000-Top bid for an Arizona commissioner's elk tag
26,000-Attendance based on sales of day passes (estimate, pending new record)
1,100-Show exhibits (new record)

DSC convention highlights, by the attending celebrities:

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison, Texas-Banquet speaker
Actress Anne Lockhart-Attendee
NRA Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre-Banquet speaker
Actor Gerald McRaney-Banquet speaker
Congressman Pete Sessions, Texas-Attendee
Sgt. 1st Class Greg Stube-Banquet speaker
Actor Marshall Teague-Attendee
Gen. Chuck Yeager-Attendee
Congressman Don Young, Alaska-Attendee

DSC convention highlights, by the awards:

Award of Excellence-Frank Sweeny
Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award-Chase Phillips
J.J. Malek South Pacific Grand Slam Award-Craig Boddington
Outfitter of the Year Award-Peter Thormalen of Thormalen and Cochrane Safaris
Outstanding Hunting Achievement Award-Tom Montgomery, Dallas
Peter Hathaway Capstick Hunting Heritage Award-Hubert Thummler, Mexico City
Sporting Heritage Award of Excellence from Sporting Classics-Dallas Safari Club

About Dallas Safari Club (DSC)
Desert bighorns on an unbroken landscape, stalking Cape buffalo in heavy brush, students discovering conservation. DSC works to guarantee a future for all these and much more. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. Get involved at www.biggame.org <http://www.biggame.org> .