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Contact: Miles Moretti, (801) 230-2207, miles@muledeer.org
Troy Justensen, (801) 557-3352, troy@sfw.net
54,685 Attend 2019 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo; $8.1 Million Raised for Wildlife Conservation
Salt Lake City, Utah: After four busy days, the 2019 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo (Hunt Expo) closed on Sunday February 17 after over 54,000 people passed through the Salt Palace Convention Center to enjoy the show, a nearly 9 percent increase in attendance. Hunt Expo, hosted by the Mule Deer Foundation and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, is in its thirteenth year and all who attend agree that it is the premier show for the western hunter. The show boasts over 500 exhibiting companies on the expanded 530,000 square feet of exhibit space, as well as evening events that featured keynote speakers Navy SEAL Robert O’Neill and former Congressman Jason Chaffetz. The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo also is a critical fundraiser for conservation efforts around the West and more than $8 million was raised at Hunt Expo through show passes, auctions, tag sales, and other fundraisers.
“The Western Hunting & Conservation Expo keeps getting better every year, and this year was no exception. Even with bad weather around the West, we had incredible turnout and Saturday February 16 was the biggest day in the show’s history with more than 30,000 people on the expo hall floor during the day,” said Mule Deer Foundation president/CEO, Miles Moretti. “The show gives our organization a chance to showcase the good conservation work that we are doing for mule deer and black-tailed deer and for western hunters. We’re proud of how Hunt Expo has grown, and we’ve already started work to make sure that the 2020 show is even better! With the strong attendance, manufacturers and vendors at the event had brisk sales and most have already reserved their booth space for next year’s show.”
This year the show also hosted the Western Hunting & Conservation Expo Elk Calling Contest and the Great Salt Lake Waterfowl Calling Contest on Saturday February 16. In addition, the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience kept the kids busy at the indoor pellet gun range and the Roaring 20’s themed Ladies Luncheon also raised important funds for conservation efforts. To top it all off, the evening dinner auctions were all sold out with more than 1700 in attendance and famed tags including the Antelope Island mule deer tag selling for $305,000 and the Arizona Governor’s mule deer tag selling for $330,000, 100 percent of which goes back to Arizona’s mule deer conservation efforts. After the evening events, the crowd was entertained by country music stars David Lee Murphy, the Eli Young Band, and LOCASH.
“Hunt Expo is the greatest four days for western hunting – except of course when you’re actually in the field. This is the show to attend to see the latest gear and get ready for next year’s season,” commented Troy Justensen, president of Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. “We are excited to celebrate with everyone who comes to the show and loves hunting and conservation and you can bet that next year’s show will be just as much fun!”
The 2020 Western Hunting & Conservation Expo will be held February 13-16 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.
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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 at www.muledeer.org 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 www.sfw.net or call 801-936-1386.
The purpose of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat.
MDF is Dedicated to the Following Goals:
To restore, improve and protect mule deer habitat (including land and easement acquisitions) resulting in self-sustaining, healthy, free ranging and huntable deer populations.
To encourage and support responsible wildlife management with government agencies, private organizations and landowners.
To promote public education and scientific research related to mule deer and wildlife management.
To support and encourage responsible and ethical behavior and awareness of issues among those whose actions affect mule deer.
To support regulated hunting as a viable component of mule deer and black-tailed deer conservation.
To develop programs that focus on recruitment and retention of youth into the shooting sports and conservation.
Do you support these goals? if so Get Involved today.
At MDF, our goals are not just words for the Annual Report – we back ’em up with Money and Action on the ground!
Find out how we’re putting these goals into practice in Your State.
www.muledeer.org
“DO WHAT YOU CAN, WITH WHAT YOU HAVE,
WHERE YOU ARE.”
? Theodore Roosevelt
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