SALT LAKE CITY, Utah -(Ammoland.com)- Surrounded by military veterans and a room full of Salt Lake City’s youth, the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife opened the 2017 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (WHCE) this morning.
The ceremony ended by using a limited 75th Anniversary edition of the 119 Buck Knife to cut the ribbon that opened the show floor.
The WHCE runs through Sunday February 19 at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City.
“We are honored to have Wishes for Warriors and Hunts for the Brave with us today to help open the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo,” said Mule Deer Foundation President/CEO, Miles Moretti. “Through the sacrifices of these brave Americans, we all can enjoy this country’s vast open spaces and our hunting traditions.”
When the doors opened, MDF and SFW welcomed Salt Lake area middle school students who are participating in the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience.
The students receive passports and walk the show floor learning about the history of wildlife conservation and the critical role that hunters play in our nation’s fish and wildlife resources.
In addition, the students have the opportunity to learn how to safely handle firearms, wildlife identification, and much more. These activities are available throughout the weekend making the WHCE an excellent family-focused event.
The 400,000 square feet of the WHCE show floor is filled with high quality taxidermy, some of the biggest manufacturers in the outdoor industry, and opportunities to book first class hunting and fishing experiences.
Once again, participants can also put their names in for over 200 special Utah hunting permits. The evenings feature outstanding live country music performers, with Lonestar headlining the Saturday evening banquet, and of course the auctions that secure the significant funding raised for fish and wildlife conservation efforts.
“Throughout the next four days, nearly 50,000 people will walk the halls of the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo and see the best of what is possible through good conservation led by avid sportsmen and women,” commented Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “Those that participate in our evening auctions will also have the opportunity to support our conservation mission and we are proud to raise so much money for the future of our wildlife resources.”
The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo, sponsored by Ammo & More and ACI, is open from 10 am to 7 pm each day before closing at 4 pm on Sunday February 19.
The full schedule of events, online registration, and the details of auctions, tags, seminars are available on the WHCE website.
About MDF:
The Mule Deer Foundation is the only conservation group in North America dedicated to restoring, improving and protecting mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat, with a focus on science and program efficiency. MDF is a strong voice for hunters in access, wildlife management and conservation policy issues. MDF acknowledges regulated hunting as a viable management component and is committed to recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation.
Get involved on their website or call 1-888-375-3337.
About SFW:
Headquartered in North Salt Lake, Utah, Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife is a charitable, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of SFW is to promote the protection and enhancement of wildlife habitat, assist in providing quality wildlife management programs, educating the public about the role hunters play in wildlife conservation, and perpetuating the family tradition of hunting and fishing.
Visit their website or call 801-936-1386.