Archives: Hunting Expo
Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Crushes Previous Record Raising $9.7 Million for Wildlife Conservation
The 2022 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed February 13 after four busy days with nearly 47,000 people walking the 460 booths on 680,000 square feet of the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), the Hunt Expo is a primary fundraiser and the record-shattering $9.7 million raised from show passes, auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers will be a significant boon to conservation.
“This year’s Expo was an amazing showcase of how great things can happen when sportsmen and women come together for to the benefit of wildlife,” President of SFW Troy Justensen commented during the event. “It’s a great thing to witness this show and the gathering of such a diverse group of hunters and industry competitors who each support the same cause. There’s simply nothing like it.”
The 2022 Hunt Expo featured evening events that offered camaraderie, as well as opportunity to raise significant funds for Utah wildlife conservation. The evening events raised $585,000 through ticket sales with a new Thursday night Super Banquet engaging a crowd of 800 people in games and drawings, and the Friday and Saturday auctions attracting sold-out crowds of nearly 2,000 people each night. There was heated bidding for auction items with 12 tags being sold at record prices. The top sellers included the Arizona Statewide Mule Deer Tag that sold for $400,000, Utah’s Antelope Island Mule Deer tag that sold for $310,000, and the Utah Statewide Elk tag sold for $250,000. The Utah 9-Mile Gray Canyon Rocky Mtn. Bighorn Sheep sold for $220,000, the Utah Book Cliffs Rocky Mtn. Bighorn Sheep tag sold for $195,000, and the Utah Statewide Desert Bighorn Sheep tag sold for $125,000.
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Final Banquet and Auction
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Conservation Banquet and Auction
Some of the weekend’s major and unexpected highlights happened during the Friday Conservation Night event when Mr. Justensen presented two of SFW’s key conservationist volunteers with bronze SFW Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Awards. Steve Sorenson was recognized as SFW’s Conservationist of the Year and Paul Niemeyer given SFW’s Lifetime Volunteer Award. Both men were praised for immeasurable support of SFW’s wildlife conservation mission and contributing greatly to Utah wildlife.
2022 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – SFW President Troy Justensen
Then during the Saturday night banquet, Justensen surprised everyone when he called to the stage MDF’s Director of Field Operations Mike Laughter and presented him with a bronze SFW Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Award for his efforts in helping protect the 8,100-acre Cinnamon Creek critical wildlife property in northern Utah’s Weber County.
“I wish we could recognize each of the many dozens of SFW and MDF volunteers who take leave from work and family to help pull off our biggest event of the year,” Justensen added. “Steve, Paul and Mike are among so many who give so much and do whatever it takes. We thank them.”
SFW’s Sheep Camp (formerly Full Curl Society) held its biggest event ever giving away 15 fully guided sheep hunts valued at over $500,000. The crowd of nearly 2,000 watched with excitement as names were drawn and called out in the Grand Ballroom. Exhibitors also noted the brisk sales on the exhibit show floor, suggesting significant pent-up demand after the two-year pandemic. Most outfitters booked hunting adventures or Expo attendees into 2024 and beyond. Outdoor manufacturers of rifles, optics, technical gear, and clothing also sold quickly.
“Congratulations to SFW and MDF for taking the Hunting Expo to the next level and making the 2022 show the most successful yet,” said Ryan Foutz, Managing Partner with King’s and an annual exhibitor at the Hunting Expo. “It’s noticeable that attendees and exhibitors are now coming from all over the Unites States and the world making this show one that we would never miss.”
The 2023 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 2 – 5 at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Next year’s event will expand by 130,000 square feet offering even greater access to nearly 100 additional exhibitors. Stay tuned to the Hunt Expo website at www.huntexpo.com to plan your travel for next year’s event.
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2020 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Raises $8.7 Million for Conservation
Salt Lake City, Utah- The 2020 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed Sunday, February 16 after over 60,000 people passed through the Salt Palace Convention Center to enjoy the show. The show raised a whopping $8.7 million for wildlife conservation through three auctions and applications for the Utah 200 limited entry tags, as well as through show passes. The majority of those funds will be directed to Utah wildlife conservation efforts. Attendance once again broke records with a 10 percent increase above last year’s already record-setting numbers.
Hunt Expo, hosted by Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife and the Mule Deer Foundation, boasts over 500 exhibiting companies on more than 600,000 square feet of exhibit space, a dramatic increase over the show’s 14-year history. This year’s event also featured a “fireside chat” and keynote address by Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt as well as remarks by novelist and former Navy SEAL, Jack Carr.
“We’re proud of the success that Hunt Expo has become in its 14 years,” commented Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “This event provides a great place for people who are passionate about hunting and the outdoors to gather together, find the best new products, and book future hunts. We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this event!”
2020 Hunting and Conservation Expo
2020 Hunting and Conservation Expo
2020 Hunting and Conservation Expo
On Friday, the ladies celebrated and raised money for conservation at the Fabulous 50’s themed Ladies Luncheon, and on Saturday 1,100 of Utah’s top youth archers competed in the state championships of the National Archery in the Schools Program. In addition, the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience kept kids who attended the show busy with an indoor pellet gun range, sensory trailers, the Armscor rock climbing wall, and many other interactive experiences. At the event’s auctions, almost $4.6 million was raised for conservation including the Utah statewide mule deer tag selling for $250,000 and the Arizona Governor’s mule deer tag selling for $260,000; 100 percent of funds from the Arizona tag goes back to the state’s mule deer conservation efforts. After the evening events, the crowd was entertained by country music star Chris Janson and the iconic band Little Texas.
“The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo provides the Mule Deer Foundation with the chance to showcase the incredible work that our staff is doing for mule deer and black-tailed deer – but more importantly it’s a good time for anyone who is passionate about hunting,” said Mule Deer Foundation president/CEO, Miles Moretti. “It’s bittersweet that this will be my last show at the helm of MDF, but I’m proud that in the 14 years I’ve been involved with Hunt Expo it has grown to become one of the biggest consumer hunting shows in the West.”
SFW recognized Miles Moretti during the Hunt Expo’s Friday evening banquet with a Teddy Roosevelt bronze symbolizing Mr. Moretti’s lifetime of contributions to wildlife conservation. Of the unique partnership SFW and MDF have forged through jointly hosting the Hunt Expo, Troy Justensen commented, “The great success of the Hunting Expo and the phenomenal strength of Utah’s wildlife conservation and management model simply would not be what they are today without Miles Moretti. We all have benefitted from and will truly miss our daily association with him.”
The 2021 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 11-14 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Information about this year’s Hunt Expo and details about next year’s show will be posted on the WHCE website at www.huntexpo.com.
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SFW Commits $882,000 for Wildlife Conservation Projects in 2020
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife (SFW) has committed $882,056 in 2020 big game captures and transplants, research studies, habitat and watershed improvement projects, and other projects that will benefit big game species throughout Utah. SFW’s funding of these projects comes from two sources:
1. Utah Conservation Permit funds raised through SFW’s live auctions at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo and its 17 fundraising events held throughout Utah in 2018 and 2019.
2. $5 Application Revenue from the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo during the 2018 and 2019 Expo events.
Read the entire report here >>
What’s SFW been up to lately? Watch, and see.
SFW has spent the last 12 months raising money for wildlife and putting it to use in partnership with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources on the ground, across the state, and for multiple species in Utah. All sportsmen and all wildlife benefit.
SFW Brings More Pheasants to Utah
Using money raised through the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo $5 application fees, SFW recently purchased thousands of adult pheasants and pheasants chicks. Some adult birds have already been released, and thousands of chicks have made their way to SFW brooding facilities in Central and Northern Utah where they will grow until being released into WMAs across the state to provide opportunity for young hunters and to help bolster state pheasant populations.
Podcast with Bair
SFW Vice President John Bair sat down with Austin Atkinson of Huntin’ Fool and talks Hunting Expo and Utah’s unmatched wildlife conservation model.
2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Saturday Night Auction and Dinner
2019 Hunting Expo Attracts 54,000 Hunters and Raises $8.1 Million for Wildlife Conservation
Salt Lake City, Utah: After four busy days, the 2019 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed on Sunday February 17 after over 54,000 people passed through the Salt Palace Convention Center to enjoy the show, a nearly 9 percent increase in attendance. Hunt Expo, hosted by the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, is in its thirteenth year and all who attend agree that it is the premier show for the western hunter. The show boasts over 500 exhibiting companies on the expanded 530,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as evening events that featured keynote speakers Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill and former Congressman Jason Chaffetz. The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo also is a critical fundraiser for conservation efforts around the West and more than $8 million was raised at Hunt Expo through show passes, auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers.
2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Friday Night Auction and Dinner
“The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo keeps getting better every year, and this year was no exception. Even with bad weather around the West, we had incredible turnout and Saturday February 16 was the biggest day in the show’s history with more than 30,000 people on the expo hall floor during the day,” said Mule Deer Foundation president/CEO, Miles Moretti. “The show gives our organization a chance to showcase the good conservation work that we are doing for mule deer and black-tailed deer and for western hunters. We’re proud of how Hunt Expo has grown, and we’ve already started work to make sure that the 2020 show is even better! With the strong attendance, manufacturers and vendors at the event had brisk sales and most have already reserved their booth space for next year’s show.”
This year the show also hosted the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Elk Calling Contest and the Great Salt Lake Waterfowl Calling Contest on Saturday February 16. In addition, the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience kept the kids busy at the indoor pellet gun range and the Roaring 20’s themed Ladies Luncheon also raised important funds for conservation efforts. To top it all off, the evening dinner auctions were all sold out with more than 1700 in attendance and famed tags including the Antelope Island mule deer tag selling for $305,000 and the Arizona Governor’s mule deer tag selling for $330,000, 100 percent of which goes back to Arizona’s mule deer conservation efforts. After the evening events, the crowd was entertained by country music stars David Lee Murphy, the Eli Young Band, and LOCASH.
“Hunt Expo is the greatest four days for western hunting – except of course when you’re actually in the field. This is the show to attend to see the latest gear and get ready for next year’s season,” commented Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “We are excited to celebrate with everyone who comes to the show and loves hunting and conservation and you can bet that next year’s show will be just as much fun!”
The 2020 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 13-16 in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Information about this year’s Hunt Expo and details about next year’s show will be posted on the WHCE website at www.huntexpo.com.
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2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Friday Night Auction and Dinner
2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo – Full Curl Society Auction and Raffle
2019 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo
SFW Launches Its Xtreme Giveaway
SFW today launched its 2019 Xtreme Giveaway where sportsmen and supporters of SFW are given opportunities to be drawn for a 2019 Polaris Ranger Crew Side-by-side customized by ZBroz Racing. Ten additional prizes are also available including guided Mule Deer hunts, a Black Bear hunt, a Browning X-Bolt Rifle, King’s Camo, a Vortex Optics Package, a Hoyt Helix Bow, a Disneyland Vacation Package, and much more. Tickets for the drawing can be purchased at SFW.net, at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo, and all 2019 SFW banquets.
“SFW is grateful to Zbroz Racing, Browning and the other sponsors for stepping up to help make this promotion something that excites our members throughout the country,” said SFW Fundraising and Banquet Manager Kevin Norman. “We’ve worked hard to put together a top-notch set of prize giveaways that any hunter would love to have.”
SFW will showcase the Xtreme Giveaway and the customized Polaris at the Western Hunting and Conservation Expo and all of the SFW banquets held throughout Utah between January and May 2019. The drawing will be held at the SFW Heber/Kamas Chapter Banquet in May 2019. Exact date and location are TBD. The drawing will also be streamed live on Facebook. No purchase necessary. All proceeds support SFW’s Conservation Mission to protect and enhance wildlife and critical habitat and perpetuate the family tradition of hunting and fishing. SFW reserves the right to change or modify any prize packages as needed.
Yates Prevedel’s $5 Expo Desert Bighorn Sheep
Yates Prevedel was the “lucky dog” who drew a Utah Desert Bighorn Sheep tag in the 2018 Western Hunting and Conservation Expo’s $5 drawing. Read Yate’s story.
