Western Hunting and Conservation Expo Expands in Salt Lake City Feb. 9-12, 2012
OutdoorHub 01.08.12
Salt Lake City, UTAH – Families are making plans now to attend the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo (WHCE) here Feb. 9-12 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. On pace to set records with 235,000-square-feet, new hands-on activities, world class entertainment, special big game tag drawings, outdoor celebrities and more than 400 exhibitors, WHCE has become “the outdoor show to attend,” according to organizers Miles Moretti, President and CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation, and Byron Bateman, President of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife.
Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with hundreds of exhibitors, including guides, outfitters, manufacturers, conservation leaders, wildlife agency staff, lodge owners, artists, hunting VIPs, clothiers, jewelers and others. Adults and children will enjoy acres of world class taxidermy displays.
A highly anticipated new attraction for 2012 is the “Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience.” Throughout the Expo, youngsters will participate in interactive outdoor and conservation-related activities like laser, air gun and archery shooting ranges, plus wildlife identification and CSI habitat scavenger hunt. There will also be free gifts and a youth gun drawing.
Adults and youngsters can enter the indoor archery competition sponsored by Rick V Hunt Adventures and Stickflipper Archery. And they can attend free seminars, like Official B & C Scoring by Rusty Hall and Bow Hunting Tricks and Techniques with Shawn Monson and Anthony Dixon of Full Moon Productions. Comedian Jeff Foxworthy will be Talkin’ Huntin’ on Sat., Feb. 11, at 3 p.m.
Ladies won’t want to miss the Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on Fri., Feb. 10, at 11:30 a.m., featuring Dueling Pianos and a “Most Unusual Hat Contest.” This fun-filled afternoon of female camaraderie is sponsored by Sisel and Barrick North America.
Hunters can apply for 200 ofUtah’s Premiere Big Game tags through a unique partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. Non-residents ofUtahcan apply for all the tags, and as a special incentive, five of the 200 tags will be available for non-residents only. There will also be at least 15 sheep hunts given away. Additionally, the WHCE boasts the largest collection of State Auctions (Governor’s Tags) gathered together in one place!
In the evenings, the WHCE features gala dinners with celebrity speakers, awards, entertainment and thrilling auctions. This year’s entertainment will include Jeff Foxworthy and country music stars Craig Morgan and Daniel Lee Martin.
The WHCE combines the very best in hunting expositions with a joint national convention between two major North American wildlife conservation organizations – the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) and Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. MidwayUSA is the official sponsor for the Expo.
The WHCE is the main fundraiser behind MDF’s mission to conserve mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. Other goals supported through the WHCE include recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation, and MDF’s support of regulated hunting as a viable component of wildlife conservation.
Daily admission is $20 per person, and multi-day discount packages are available. Save $50 on the WHCE Full Registration Package by registering by Feb. 1, 2012.
Don’t miss this exciting and important event for conservation. Get more information or register for the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo at www.huntexpo.com.
