DALLAS, TX – -(Ammoland.com)- Hunting season 2013 is not even underway yet, but smart hunters are already thinking about next year.
With sporting shows and conventions only a few months away, Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is offering a three-part series with tips on starting now to choose, find and book your next adventure of a lifetime in 2014.
Part 1: Preparing For Upcoming Hunting Expos.
Theres no substitute for speaking face-to-face with hunt operators, guides and outfitters. Shows like the annual DSC convention and expo, where hundreds of hunting opportunities from around the world can be found beneath one roof, are do-not-miss events. Slated Jan. 9-12 in Dallas, the DSC expo is the first major hunting show of the year. Attendees get first dibs at the best hunts and dates. See details at www.biggame.org.
Here are three tips to help you work ahead of the shows to find your perfect hunt:
- 1. Forward Thinking : Decide now what kind of hunt youre interested in. Along with your interests, think honestly about your capabilities. If youre not in good shape, a backpack mountain goat hunt or a spot-and-stalk brown bear hunt in muskeg probably isnt a good idea. Look at boat-based hunts instead. Start now to learn as much as possible about the type of hunt youre interested in, so that youll know the right questions to ask.
- 2. Fit Your Personal Ethics : Make sure you understand the fair chase standards for the type of hunt youre considering. For example, much of the hunting in South Africa is on fenced ranches. Some are very large. Others are not. Some hunts are for a specific animal on one ranch. Other hunts allow you to look over numerous quality animals on one property. Many operations in New Zealand, Argentina and Saskatchewan are behind a wire as well. Some New Zealand operators use a helicopter to hunt tahr and chamois. Others offer foot hunts for the same species. Be thinking about such specifics of your hunt.
- 3. Make a Plan to Visit Specific Exhibitors: Check out hunt operators in advance of the shows. DSC lists exhibitors on its website and in its expo literature. Look over the list and spend some time online researching the operators that interest you. Better yet, contact them in advance. If theres enough time, ask them to send you some information. That way you can narrow down your search before the show, and youll already be familiar with the operators you visit.
Part 2 of this series offers tips on selecting the right outfitter. See URL below: http://www.biggame.org/index.
Part 3 highlights considerations to keep in mind as you book your trip. See URL below: http://www.biggame.org/index.
Thanks to The Hunting Report (www.huntingreport.com) for info used in this series.
About Dallas Safari Club (DSC)
Desert bighorns on an unbroken landscape, stalking Cape buffalo in heavy brush, students discovering conservation. DSC works to guarantee a future for all these and much more. An independent organization since 1982, DSC has become an international leader in conserving wildlife and wilderness lands, educating youth and the general public, and promoting and protecting the rights and interests of hunters worldwide. Get involved at www.biggame.org.