The great migration… To the Conventions…

January is the start of what many refer to as Convention Season. The time to wave the African hunting flag. Long flights, many shows, house parties, fund-raiser events and, of course, the major expos – the two big ones being DSC and SCI. It’s a proud time, an annual rendezvous with many familiar faces and, hopefully, meeting many more new ones. But for how long is this model “sustainable” – a word the industry seems quick to use in justifying its existence. The costs are prohibitive and favor the large vendors, or those selling highly priced items. I am not sure that if you were a standalone outfitter, like those of 40 years back, the original backbone of the shows, that you would make it now. Here’s an analogy: It was reported this past year that the wildebeest tended to remain in Tanzania – lack of good grazing so migrating elsewhere was not worth the move. Kenya saw fewer animal numbers. Could be a pure coincidence? Things are definitely changing.