2019 Hunt Expo will run from February 14-17 at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Salt Lake City, Utah- The 2018 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed on Sunday, February 11, and all who attended will agree that the show continues to get bigger and better. Over 50,000 attendees passed through the halls of Hunt Expo and the auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers combined to raise over $7 million for the conservation efforts conducted by host organizations, the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. In addition, the show was selected by the Secretary of the Interior as the venue to sign a new Secretarial Order prioritizing big game migratory corridors and winter range. The 2018 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo was sponsored by Ammo & More and ACI and was held in the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.

“Each year I don’t know how Hunt Expo can get any better and yet every year we exceed even our own high expectations. This year was no different, setting new records for attendance and money raised to fulfill our conservation mission,” said Mule Deer Foundation president/CEO, Miles Moretti. “There were a lot of great activities during this year’s Hunt Expo, but the true testament to the importance of the show to the region’s sportsmen and women was having Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke there to launch his department’s new initiative for big game corridors and winter range.”

The show floor was busy throughout the 4-day event as more than 50,000 attendees toured the 500,000 square feet of exhibit space. Manufacturers and vendors at the event had brisk sales and most have already reserved their booth space for next year’s show. In addition, the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience kept the kids busy at the indoor pellet gun range and with other hands-on activities. The evening events once again paired important conservation messages through the keynote speakers, Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke and Bass Pro Shops Founder Johnny Morris, with the fast-paced auctions raising millions of dollars for conservation efforts. Evening entertainment at the ticketed banquets was headlined by country musicians Ned Ledoux, Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives, and Sara Evans.

“It’s always bittersweet when Hunt Expo closes; our staff and partners have worked so hard to make the show a success and we know everyone who came through the doors enjoyed themselves,” commented Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “Our team is already working to put together next year’s show, so if you haven’t come to Hunt Expo yet, you need to make it a top priority for 2019!”

Next year’s Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 14-17, 2019 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.

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

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 www.sfw.net or call 801-936-1386.