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Good People, Good Times at Western Hunting & Conservation Expo

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - In its fifth year at the Salt Palace, exhibitors and consumers alike keep coming back to the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (WHCE), which was held Feb. 3-6, 2011. The WHCE is organized by the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW). While raising millions for conservation, the WHCE is also about family and fun and face to face interaction amongst customers, hunters and friends.

Some of hunting's biggest names said it best. Jim Shockey, host of a top-rated program on the Outdoor Channel, said, "I love coming to Salt Lake City because the hunting fraternity here is so strong. I love the energy that I feel around the floor. It's refreshing, and I think it's the future. I know it's the future. I see so many youngsters around here, and young ladies interested in hunting. To me, it fills me with hope. That's what I like best about this show."

Browning has been coming to the WHCE since day one. Public Relations Manager Scott Grange said they come to the WHCE for a number of reasons. "Naturally we hope people come to look at our new products and get excited about them." He went on to say, "But this is more than just your regular consumer show. This is a conservation show, and we hope people come here and want to join MDF and SFW, and get involved. Our hope is that people come here and become enlightened, catch some of the seminars, find out what's going on out there. Learn a little bit more about the wolf issue, what's really threatening down the pipe and become active, become involved. That's our desire, our goal, for this show. More than anything else - that people become aware and involved."

CJ Buck came to the WHCE in 2010 for the first time. This year Buck Knives had a booth in the exhibit hall and was a sponsor of the MDF Member Awards Brunch. Buck stated, "We're building brand relevance so people know and understand that Buck is a family-owned company, it's an American company, and we're focused on preserving the outdoors. That's really why we're here."

Mossback's Doyle Moss has attended the WHCE since its inception. He said, "We like the good, quality people that come to this show, and we enjoy what the show has to offer." Moss continued, "It's actually been one of the best shows we've ever done. Sometimes we do up to four or five other shows per year, but by far, we probably book more hunts and sell more product at this one."

Roy Davis of Davis Tent and Awning said, "We like coming to the WHCE because of the qualified buyers who attend this show. We also like that it's kind of a 'do-it-yourself' crowd." Davis ended up selling 27 tents during the four-day event, and they plan to return to the Expo next year. He concluded, "I'm an introvert, and it was a lot of hard work. But it was nice visiting with so many good people, they're down to earth - it's our kind of crowd."

Jim Giles, President of King's Camo, said they had their largest booth space ever at this year's WHCE. Last year they raised almost $24,000 at the show to donate for conservation, and this year their goal was to double that amount. Giles said, "We really enjoyed the show and once again having an opportunity to interact with our great customers and also help raise money for wildlife and conservation."

MDF's Artist of the Year Tony Adams has attended and shown his work at the WHCE for the past five years and says sales have always been good. Adams said the "trend for sales this year was for higher end items." He also said that a number of his previous buyers came through, as well as new buyers and people from out of state.

MDF President and CEO Miles Moretti concluded, "An unbelievable team of volunteers, wildlife experts, exhibitors and conservation partners worked to create an event that brings together all parties concerned for the future of wildlife, sportsmen and hunting."

The Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife will again be hosting the WHCE in Salt Lake City Feb. 9-12, 2012. If you are interested in participating, please contact MDF's Director of Special Events Shawna Huckabey at 1-775-530-6967.

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About MDF (www.muledeer.org)

The Mule Deer Foundation is a national non-profit 501(c)(3) organization with over 15,000 members. MDF's mission is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. MDF is dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations; encouraging and supporting responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners; promoting public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management; supporting and encouraging responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer; and acknowledging regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.

For information about the Mule Deer Foundation or to join please call 1-888-375-DEER (3337).