Three big outdoor shows headed to town

On Feb. 5 in Indianapolis, the two best teams in the NFL will meet. At that point, a week's worth of media sound bites and debate will have meant nothing. The only thing that will matter is the will of men the size of earth-moving equipment to win the Super Bowl.

So what does that have to do with the outdoors? Nothing for the rest of the country, but here in Las Vegas, the Super Bowl buildup goes up against a week of exceptional opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts.

Gone are the days of mediocre outdoor and travel shows. The big boys are coming here to play, and -- provided you can pull yourself from the Super Bowl hype -- you'll have the opportunity to enjoy three of the largest outdoor shows in the country: the 40th annual Hunters' Convention hosted by Safari Club International (SCI); the inaugural Las Vegas edition of the International Sportsmen's Exposition; and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation's Elk Camp.

Billed as "The Ultimate Hunters' Market," the SCI Hunters' Convention at Mandalay Bay will offer attendees the chance to meet with exhibitors from six continents representing everything from firearms manufacturers and other outdoor-related equipment to hunting guides and outfitters. For the serious hunter, the convention can be a one-stop shop of hunting opportunities in a variety of locations around the globe.

In addition to exhibits, the convention includes a lengthy list of seminars covering such topics as Elk Hunting A--Z, to be presented by Chad Shearer, a TV host and champion elk caller. His presentation will include a discussion of hunting techniques for archers, muzzleloading enthusiasts and rifle hunters.

Other subjects include ballistics, Riflescope 101, Filming Your Own Hunt, Wilderness Medicine, handgun hunting, and the regulations and paperwork that can be associated with hunting internationally. One subject on the list that Nevada hunters understand well is maximizing draw odds in the western states.

The one drawback to this show is you have to be an SCI member to attend. An annual membership is $65. Registration fees start at $130 and climb to $310 depending on how many days you want to attend the convention, set for Feb. 1 to 4. Information is available at www.scifirstforhunters.org.

If that price is a little steep, the local SCI chapter -- the Desert Chapter -- is hosting a two-day Hunting, Fishing & Safari Show on Jan. 28 and 29 in the South Point's Grand Ballroom. Contact David Small at 690-0781 for more information.

The International Sportsmen's Exposition and the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have co-located their events, scheduled for Feb. 2 to 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Like the SCI convention, the RMEF Elk Camp includes a long list of vendors, hunting seminars and entertainment options. Registration is required and can be completed at www.rmef.org.

With an entrance fee of $12 for those 16 or older, the International Sportsmen's Exposition offers an affordable opportunity for families. Admission for those 15 and under is free, and there is no membership requirement for any prospective attendee. The expo will include exhibits by guides and outfitters, outdoor products, camping gear, the Midway Laser Shot Range, an indoor archery range, a catch-and-release fishing pond and a youth fair hosted by the Nevada Department of Wildlife. For more information, visit www.sportsexpos.com.

And while we're discussing outdoor events, the Las Vegas chapter of Ducks Unlimited is having its annual fundraising banquet at 5 p.m. Jan. 19 in the Silverton Pavilion. For tickets, call Larry Seedig at 379-2695.

You might end up too tired to watch the Super Bowl.

Freelance writer Doug Nielsen is a conservation educator for the Nevada Department of Wildlife. His "In the Outdoors" column, published Thursday in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NDOW. Any opinions he states in his column are his own. He can be reached at intheoutdoorslv@gmail.com.