Kenny Bayless
The Tribune-Star
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Last weekend when Max Winchell and Nick Rice walked into the Dallas Safari Hunting Expo, they thought they had died and gone to heaven!
As far as you could see, there were outfitters from all over the world peddling their knowledge and access to big-game animals. You could literally book a hunt for any legally harvested animal in the world.
The hunting expo caters to women’s needs also, like fine jewelry, creative furnishings for a hunter’s cabin or lodge, rare wines, hunting clothes and different types of wild-game preparation.
Nick Rice looked like a starving dog that just walked into a butcher shop while looking at guns. He is a collector of firearms, so when he spotted a custom-made rifle to hunt the big five in Africa, he told Max don’t touch it, look at the price tag, it only cost $150,000.
They thought they were in the heart of the Limpopo region when they heard the African Natives begin their performance in natural dress while beating their drums and dancing their native rituals. “Yes,” I think I even seen Max doing a little dance step himself; he didn’t know Jim Shacky was standing directly behind him.
Howard Dunn of Dallas, Texas, is a gentleman and a scholar because he played tour guide for three rednecks from Indiana. Howard, you’re the man!
This expo is a hunter’s dream. You have to make it happen and go next January.
• Note — Last week’s misprint should have said 18 quail for $110.
• Fourth annual Hunting Heritage banquet — Food, fun, fellowship and fundraising are set as the main events for the fourth annual Hunting Heritage banquet, hosted by the Wabash Valley Limbhangers Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, on Friday, Feb. 3, at Clay County 4-H Fairgrounds at 6650 N. State Road 59, Brazil, IN 47834.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. Come early to relax and enjoy social hour before sitting down for a delicious meal catered by Outback Steakhouse and a cash bar by Patrick’s Catering.
The NWTFs Hunting Heritage banquets raise funds for wild turkey conservation while combining a great meal with a chance to swap stories with other sportsmen and women. They’re also a great place to meet new friends who share a passion for the outdoors, win valuable prizes and purchase items unique to the NWTF. By placing the highest bid or winning raffle games, attendees can go home with sporting art, unique hunting firearms, knives, wildlife calls, outdoor equipment and much more.
Tickets to the Hunting Heritage banquet cost $75 for couples (includes one membership and two meals) or $55 for singles (includes one membership and one meal).
The cost of admission also includes a one-year subscription to Turkey Country, the NWTF’s full-color publication that includes stories about conservation issues, turkey calling and hunting, the Federation’s education program, JAKES (Juniors Acquiring Knowledge, Ethics and Sportsmanship), Wheelin’ Sportsmen and Women in the Outdoors outreach programs and much more.
For $275, banquet attendees can become sponsor members and receive the 2012 NWTF sponsor gift, a Limited Edition Browning Knife, plus a one-year subscription to Turkey Country magazine and one meal. Couples’ sponsor tickets cost just $300, which include all of the above, plus a second meal. Reserve a corporate sponsor table and receive all items in the sponsor member package, plus seven additional memberships and eight dinners for $1,200. In addition, each VIP table receives its own gun as part of the package!
To purchase a corporate sponsor table, please let a committee member know at least two weeks prior to the banquet to allow for shipment of the gun.
JAKES meals are just $10 for ages 6-12 and $15 for ages 13-17. Those include membership fees.
Reserve tickets by calling Larry Shaw at (812) 208-5374, Stacey Weil at (812) 251-7349 or Becky Shaw at (812) 208-5372.
