ranchwife
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2001
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First of all I would like to thank Jesse for getting myself and my husband tickets to the convention. We are truely thankful for that!
The RMEF national convention was held in Reno, Nevada, on February 27-March 2, at the Reno Hilton. This is the 3rd RMEF National convention that I have attended and I think each time I attend I enjoy it more. We stayed at the Hilton where the convention was being held. Let's just say that if you didn't have on any RMEF stickers, pins, or name tags, you were definately a minority.
On Saturday my Mom and I decided to go to the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" mioni-session. We sat through the majority of a session about how to cook game. It was pretty interesting, but we both felt that we already knew how to cook game. I got a little more infor about the "Becoming and Outdoors Woman" program. Apparently you can choose different events to attend, from hunting trips to south Africa, fishing in Montana, Clam bakes on the coast and so on. To me it sounds like it is an opportunity for women to get together and do outdoors things - not so much about learning how to be an outdoors woman. I have to admit that if there were any fly fishing trips near home, I would consider going now. At the convention they had mini sessions about cooking game, making a survival kit for home, on the road, and while you're "roughing it," and another mini session about training and maintaining a mule pack for packing trips. I also learned there, from the Browning representatives, that they are coming out with a full line of women's hunting clothing and gear. They were going to have a fashion show at the end of the sessions, but I left before then.
My parents, my husband and I also went to the National Elk Bugling Contest. We heard the kids, women, voice, and mens competitions. It sure is great to see the little kids get up on stage and call. The contestants had a certain amount of time to call a cow call and then a bull call. I was very impressed with the voice contest (kids, women and men). They call using only their voice - no diaghrams or calls. Tubes are allowed however. This was quite neat to hear. I enjoyed listening to the calls and remembering the elk my Mom, Dad and I called in last fall - gave me elk fever!!
My husband and I spent a lot of time in the exhibit hall. There were about 200-300 vendors there. There were gun manufacturers, call companies, clothing companies, furriers, home decorating and furniture, artists, jewelery makers, pack companies, camping items, horse and mule packing companies, cooking items (smokers, seasonings, jerky, etc), an ear plug company, sign makers, Federal, state, and private (Mule deer foundation, etc) agencies that are involved in elk and big game, and of course a lot of outfitters. It was very crowded and a LOT of fun. If you ever want to go to a show that is all about big game hunting, then this is definately the convention for you. There are no boats or trailers and no enviromental groups. Everything is about hunting big game and enjoying the outdoors. The convention will be in Reno again next year, so if you want to go to a place that will lift you spirits in regards to hunting and wildlife preservation, with no liberals and environmentalists, I highly recommend this convention!
We also went to the RMEF auction. Sure couldn't afford anything there. They sold a mule for $22,000! Apparently these mules are extrordinary animals. Last year's mule sold for $30,000!! We saw art and trips being auctioned while we were there.
Lastly, we went to a lecture by Wayne Carlton called, "Bulls ain't really quiet - cranking up the big ones." I have to say, Wayne was probably one of the best speakers I have heard in a long time. The jist of his talk was about not being afraid or timid when you are calling. If you call and something answers back at you - answer back immediately and with enthusiasm. His stories were truely some of the funniest I have ever heard - complete with all the calls he could put in. If you get a chance to hear him in person - don't make other plans, it is worth it.
The RMEF conference is truely outstanding. It is so nice to be with people who have the same ideas about hunting and land preservation/maintenance. I would compare it to getting together with a bunch of JHP members. Again, if you get a chance to ever go to one of these - do so. It will be worth your time and effort. Thanks again to Jesse for the passes to the conference!
The RMEF national convention was held in Reno, Nevada, on February 27-March 2, at the Reno Hilton. This is the 3rd RMEF National convention that I have attended and I think each time I attend I enjoy it more. We stayed at the Hilton where the convention was being held. Let's just say that if you didn't have on any RMEF stickers, pins, or name tags, you were definately a minority.
On Saturday my Mom and I decided to go to the "Becoming an Outdoors Woman" mioni-session. We sat through the majority of a session about how to cook game. It was pretty interesting, but we both felt that we already knew how to cook game. I got a little more infor about the "Becoming and Outdoors Woman" program. Apparently you can choose different events to attend, from hunting trips to south Africa, fishing in Montana, Clam bakes on the coast and so on. To me it sounds like it is an opportunity for women to get together and do outdoors things - not so much about learning how to be an outdoors woman. I have to admit that if there were any fly fishing trips near home, I would consider going now. At the convention they had mini sessions about cooking game, making a survival kit for home, on the road, and while you're "roughing it," and another mini session about training and maintaining a mule pack for packing trips. I also learned there, from the Browning representatives, that they are coming out with a full line of women's hunting clothing and gear. They were going to have a fashion show at the end of the sessions, but I left before then.
My parents, my husband and I also went to the National Elk Bugling Contest. We heard the kids, women, voice, and mens competitions. It sure is great to see the little kids get up on stage and call. The contestants had a certain amount of time to call a cow call and then a bull call. I was very impressed with the voice contest (kids, women and men). They call using only their voice - no diaghrams or calls. Tubes are allowed however. This was quite neat to hear. I enjoyed listening to the calls and remembering the elk my Mom, Dad and I called in last fall - gave me elk fever!!
My husband and I spent a lot of time in the exhibit hall. There were about 200-300 vendors there. There were gun manufacturers, call companies, clothing companies, furriers, home decorating and furniture, artists, jewelery makers, pack companies, camping items, horse and mule packing companies, cooking items (smokers, seasonings, jerky, etc), an ear plug company, sign makers, Federal, state, and private (Mule deer foundation, etc) agencies that are involved in elk and big game, and of course a lot of outfitters. It was very crowded and a LOT of fun. If you ever want to go to a show that is all about big game hunting, then this is definately the convention for you. There are no boats or trailers and no enviromental groups. Everything is about hunting big game and enjoying the outdoors. The convention will be in Reno again next year, so if you want to go to a place that will lift you spirits in regards to hunting and wildlife preservation, with no liberals and environmentalists, I highly recommend this convention!
We also went to the RMEF auction. Sure couldn't afford anything there. They sold a mule for $22,000! Apparently these mules are extrordinary animals. Last year's mule sold for $30,000!! We saw art and trips being auctioned while we were there.
Lastly, we went to a lecture by Wayne Carlton called, "Bulls ain't really quiet - cranking up the big ones." I have to say, Wayne was probably one of the best speakers I have heard in a long time. The jist of his talk was about not being afraid or timid when you are calling. If you call and something answers back at you - answer back immediately and with enthusiasm. His stories were truely some of the funniest I have ever heard - complete with all the calls he could put in. If you get a chance to hear him in person - don't make other plans, it is worth it.
The RMEF conference is truely outstanding. It is so nice to be with people who have the same ideas about hunting and land preservation/maintenance. I would compare it to getting together with a bunch of JHP members. Again, if you get a chance to ever go to one of these - do so. It will be worth your time and effort. Thanks again to Jesse for the passes to the conference!
