LSONews.com
LoneOStar Outdoor News
January 22, 2016
Page 17
DALLAS SAFARI CLUB
Best hunter’s convention For more than a year, we’ve moonlighted from our job of running the business of Lone Star Outdoor News. We’ve also been running the greatest hunter’s convention on the planet, the Dallas Safari Club Annual Convention and Sporting Expo, titled “CONSERVATION.” The convention is run by a force of more than 500 volunteers who helped us achieve our goal: making the 2016 convenCraig Nyhus, left, and David J. Sams. tion the largest and most fun convention yet. won a pair of Zeiss binoculars, The Lone Star Outdoor News’ a custom vest with the DSC staff is made up of seven peologo, and, even better, he can ple. We learned this year how now claim he was the inaugural to work with more than 500 winner of the DSC PH Cup. people, and the emails pouring The next day, an antlerin are proof we succeeded. rattling contest brought more Some of the highlights of this contestants to the Zeiss Victory year’s convention included turnStage, with a white-tailed deer ing the Dallas Omni into DSC’s hunt with contest-sponsor Ratversion of Trump Tower, with tling Forks owner Steven Ray in the DSC logo covering the entire West Texas the top prize. After exterior of the building in bright the noise subsided, Robert lights for several days; adult Blackstock was named the winbeverages were allowed in most ner by the three judges. of the hall, a popular change for As convention chairs, we exhibitors and people attending knew if our goal of everyone the convention; and we kicked having fun was met, the results off some popular contests. would follow. Preliminary Our goal was to make this results showed we were right, year’s convention the most fun according to DSC Executive for everyone involved, whether Director Ben Carter. volunteers, exhibitors or people “DSC sets records again,” attending the event. Carter said. Total revenue was Our idea was a competition almost $7 million, attendance between professional hunters was more than 51,000, and the from all over the world. We banquets sold out with more asked Larry Weishuhn to handle than 1,300 people attending the events held on the Zeiss each night.” Victory Stage, and he and his On Wednesday, the presteam did an excellent job. tigious Weatherby Award It wasn’t quite the usual was presented to Mrs. Barskills of the PH that were bara Sackman, the Thursday tested, although they did relate night Conklin Award to Jim to the normal PH duties. The Shockey, and on Friday night contestants were asked to carry Youth Night, the Educator of a Boyt duffel bag filled with two the Year Award went to Loyd 50-pound bags of corn through Love of Pasadena Memorial an obstacle course of chairs. High School and there were Next, they carried a hot cup of two outstanding young hunter coffee through another course, awards presented to Tucker Ribwith spilling bringing a 10-secman and Garret Davidson. On ond penalty, while emcee Billy Saturday evening, the prestiKinder of the Big Billy Kinder gious Peter H. Capstick Hunting Outdoors radio show provided Heritage Award was presented comic relief as the contestants to the CIC, the International ran their courses. The third Council for Game and Wildlife task was to estimate the score Conservation. Also, the prestiof a large elk (not a usual task gious DSC Outstanding Hunting for an African or New Zealand Heritage Award was given to PH) using Zeiss binoculars. Mrs. Suzie Brewster. The mount was located a few “This is the most successful hundred yards away and slightly DSC convention to date,” Carter obscured by the crowds. said. “The Club anticipates The final task, a shooting granting more than $1 million contest, may have been what this year to directly support separated the competitors. wildlife conservation, outdoor Using a Marshmallow Shooter education, and protecting provided by Beaver Raymond, hunter’s rights!” CEO of Marshmallow Fun Our day job is to run the Company, the PHs took aim largest hunting and fishing at a Cape buffalo target with newspaper in Texas. Tackling a hole in the proper zone. It the DSC convention on a volturned out, the PHs shoot much untary basis was overwhelming better with their double guns, at times, but very rewarding. It but a few did manage to put was an honor to serve the huntthe marshmallow through the ing and wildlife community of target. the world, and we had a blast The winners did indeed doing it. span the globe. A Texan, Doug And once the convention Prichard with FTW Ranch/ ended, we took off our tuxedos SAAM finished third, and New and headed to the mountains of Zealander Greg Maw with Four West Texas to hunt mule deer. Seasons Safaris completed the event in second place. The —David J. Sams and winner, Japsie Blaauw with Craig Nyhus Omujeve Safaris in Namibia,
“DSC sets records again!”
Larry Weishuhn hosts DSC’s inaugural PH Cup, chiding competitors as they score a distant elk, shoot a Marshmallow Shooter at a target and run with a cup of hot coffee. As crowds fill the halls, convention-goers visit with exhibitors. Photos by Lili Sams and Bill Honza.