Hunt Chat Convention

[huntingvet]

Wouldn't it be great if every 1-3 years Hunt Chat endorsed a convention where its members were able to get together, ideally hunt (probably would have to be on an upland game bird ranch or sporting clay facility) and finally get to meet eachother face to face?

[BILLY D.]

i could live with that. sounds like a great idea to me.

[fabsroman]

I have had little mini conventions here and there. I have met Petey, Skinny, Skeet, DaMadman, DelDuck, Sluger, Boyd Heaton, Spark, Big Brother, and a couple other guys whose names slip my mind right now.

Yeah, I would try to make a huntchat convention, but you guys have to remember that the United States is pretty big. Then again, I might just drive instead of flying and I'll bring my dad and a bunch of guns. Heck, might even turn it into a mini vacation and bring my wife and dog. I guess my dad would have to bring my mom then.

[Tater]

If there were another one in or near Idaho I'd definitely try and make it. There was one just a short drive from my town a few years back but I'd just had knee surgery:(

[buckhunter]

It would be cool to meet a lot of folks on this board. Hey HuntingVet, I miss Kansas too.

[toxic111]

Just remember that not all of the members are from the US... I know I would try to make one or 2, depending on where they are.

[Duffy]

I would like that. Of course, I'm partial to having the location around the environs of Ohio.

[fabsroman]

We should just rotate the location amongst the time zones and then between north and south to try and cover everybody. If we had two conventions a year, then everybody would have a chance to attend once every 4 years. I know this board has been around for more than 4 years, and I am hoping that it will be around for much longer than that.

[Dan Morris]

I'd try to, I missed seing Petey n dad when they were over at Silverthorne. Was too shorthanded to go over. Still, I'd try to.
Dan
:)

[petey]

I got some buddies and clients in IL, although Iowa or MO would be better for Mid-US. I'm sure they would help me organize something off season, but the intrest level would have to be pretty high in order for me to arrange something like that. It may be too late to organize something like that now since hunting season is 2-3 months away. Like I said, I'd need to see who all would come before I made calls to find out what it would cost.

It's true I have little get togethers each year here in PA, mostly with mods and I have met plenty of members in my travels.

It is a good idea and I have enough contacts throughout the States to arrange multiple conventions (even out of the States) but it has to have intrest in order for me to put the time into it.

[fabsroman]

I hear you Petey. I have seen proposed conventions on here fizzle out as the date approaches, and I think I even had to back out of one that was out west. People are all fired up at first about the meeting, and you have close to 20 people interested, but then as the meeting date gets closer you have about 3 or 4 people that are still interested.

Me, I am always interested. We just paid off my truck and my wife's car, so I will actually have the money to travel. Oh yeah, I'll also have the money to buy my new gun safe and my AR's, but that is another topic.

With that said, I am interested in attending any convention, but things come up in my profession at the last minute that can change my schedule. With that said, is the mods groundhog convention a possiblity this summer? I'd be interested in that since I had a blast two years ago, or was it three years ago, when I came out there, even though I didn't kill a single groundhog.

I would also be interested in any other convention anywhere in the US, as long as a baby isn't immediately on the way or a trial is not scheduled close to the date.

[huntingvet]

Petey,

I didn't intend on you covering the cost. Hopefully Huntchat could have companies (Bass Pro, Cabelas, local hunting ranches or sporting clay facilities, etc) that would offer to sponsor/advertise to defray cost. Then the rest is forwarded onto the members that attended. Sounds like the fairest way for all.

[petey]

Oh, I wasn't intending on paying! ;) ha ha that's what sponsors are for...but I need a approx .number of people to get price from the place where I'd be having it at.

Of course, having a sponsor host the get together is the ultimate route. There's always the "what's in it for me?" that I need to convince them of.

Other than that, if I could get an intrest level it would help. Something like this I wouldn't want to just throw together on a whim. It would be well organized with events and activities that way people like myself who's driving 9-15 hrs aren't coming just to say hello and drink a couple beers at Moe's Tavern.

Fabs,

Yes I can have that this year..we can disscuss in the clubhouse

[fabsroman]

Woohoo.

By the way, I wouldn't even mind paying the host something to hunt. While I usually hate paying to hunt, I wouldn't mind doing it for a get together (e.g., "hunting" planted birds with my dad, uncle, and brothers).

Heck, somebody out west could find a farmer with a prairie dog problem and we could get together to remedy the farmer's problem. Probably wouldn't have to worry about barrels overheating. If you get 10 guys together, and each takes a turn as the varmint pops their head out, that would be great. We could always do a sporting clays tournament. I don't mind paying for targets and I am sure that most courses would run a tournament pretty easily. You could even have sponsors provide small prizes for the tournament. We could also have other tournaments too (e.g., 3-D archery, silhouette, etc.). It all depends on the interest level.

[petey]

I also have an open invitation to come to SW Montana from my good buddy and HC sponsor D.A.L. I believe it's Livinstone, MT? Always an option there for the Western group and Yellowstone only a couple hrs away for those travelling far needing something else to do.

Like I said, I have plenty of connections, just need to see where the general intrest is coming from before I could arrange anything. I think most wouldn't mind paying $20-$50 for a day's worth of fun an activities, be it wing shooting, clays, or whatever.

Ideally it would be an invite to all for no fees and have HC and it's sponsors pay the tab

[Duffy]

For what it's worth, though I haven't been in this forum long, and my name is not as familiar as others here, I would love the opportunity to get together if possible. I think it's a great idea, and one that we could all enjoy and benefit from.

[toxic111]

Montana puts it within distance for me... only about 12hrs of driving.. (Captain.. want to split a piper flight? lol)

[Wahnie]

^I missed a chance to see Captain when we moved to Alaska. Drove right through his town on the way up, but my parents wanted to keep on truckin.

I personally would not be interested in joining a hunt/get together, but I think its a neat idea.

[captain2k_ca]

Originally posted by toxic111
Montana puts it within distance for me... only about 12hrs of driving.. (Captain.. want to split a piper flight? lol)


You make it sound like I have money?? :D:D I know that YOU know better! ;)


I'd be willing to cover gas in a car tho :D:D

How much trouble would it be to bring my guns across??

[toxic111]

lol cap.. you never know.. the way this year is going, i won't have the money either.. though if I get that PPL before fall, I will be in Leth..

But gas in a car is doable too..

[Jonesy]

Everyone is always welcome here. There are other things to do and see. Prairie dogs are a given. We also have many national and state parks, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devil's Tower, Bear Butte, Deadwood, Sturgis and many, many other things. We could do some shooting and I could be your personal tour guide. Don't have a big house, but I have a huge yard to put tents and campers. Could show more wildlife than most people are use to seeing. Lots and lots of photo opportunities. Where I live is the center of the Nation. Right in the middle of the North American Continent. Regardless, I hope one of these things is a big hit. Being a single dad, I don't have the resources or time to go very far. First and foremost, my responsibility lies with taking care of my children. But It would be great to have a big get together!

[fabsroman]

Jonesy, I might take you up on the offer to use your backyard. My dad wants to see most of those sights you mentioned, and we even talked about it this weekend. We are thinking about taking a week or two this fall and spending some time out west. We are also going to try and include some hunting in this trip. Might even stop by Skeet's place if he doesn't mind.

[gspsonny03]

I may be mistaken, But I think that we still have an upland game bird sponsor for this board. Petey could verify that. If that is still so, he is in North Dakota. Granted it's not S.D, but they have a lot of game birds there for hunting. And it isn't that far from all the South Dakota attractions. Also Wyoming and Montana have a lot of beautiful places to visit as does Colorado. With that being said, I'm not claiming Gillette is one of these, although I happen to like it. If you're planning a convention that is going to involve hunting this would be one of the cheaper ways to go as most people could afford the licenses. Now of course this isn't including like hunting PD's or coyotes and things of that nature, that would be cheaper yet, but you may not get as many people interested.
Anyway I think this is a good idea and certainly something to think about.