F
Field Ethos
Guest
By Mike Schoby
This time of year, show season is all encompassing. As a consumer you could attend shows from now until summer, nearly every weekend without pause. From ducks and bucks shows to elk conventions, to pheasant fests and turkey conventions, there seems to be never ending retinue of choices.
We have been attending various shows for decades and now consider ourselves pros that have this down to science…so here are the main ones we attend (in order) and why you should join us.
We don’t count this as a fun show—we have to attend SHOT Show—it is purely business and open to industry only. If we could get out of going, we would in a heartbeat, so don’t feel like you are missing anything if you can’t attend. If I don’t ever see another tatted-out dude, walking a goggled attack dog kitted out like he was raiding a terrorist stronghold, I’ll be thankful. And Vegas is well … just gross.
While it is put on by The Wild Sheep Foundation, the Sheep Show isn’t just about sheep conservation and sheep hunting. Really it is everything from Africa safaris to Asian Shikars, but it does focus heavily on Western mountain hunting and simply put is just a hell of a good time.
For starters, it is a young, energetic audience. Things like the Tough Sheep Work Out (which FE hired pinch hitters for), horse packing competitions and backpack races make it fun. The <1 Club is a must attend event—it is your best chance in the world to win a sheep tag.
Essentially, if you haven’t shot a sheep you are eligible to join the <1 Club. Last year they raffled off multiple tags (and you don’t have to be present to win). The <1 Club beats the hell out of every state draw, and you won’t find better odds anywhere.
To top it off, I love Reno compared to Vegas—it has a western vibe, there is snow on the mountain peaks surrounding town and you don’t feel like you have to dry clean your soul when you come home. Plus, I have never had to pay $75 bucks for a whiskey on the rocks like in Vegas. Download a Season of “Reno 911” and book a ticket on Southwest—flights are still under a hundred bucks from most western locations.
For the uninformed, Dallas Safari Club seems like an offshoot or Dallas based chapter of Safari Club International. It is not—it is its own entity, not to be confused with Safari Club International.
Ok, so why is it in Atlanta and not Dallas? That is a longer story … DSC has always been in Dallas, but due to renovations to the Dallas Convention Center, DSC temporarily relocated its winter convention to Atlanta for obvious reasons—great international airport, lots of lodging, big convention venue, plus an opportunity to engage with East coast hunters who have traditionally not attended the Texas venue. For its Texas members, DSC also holds a summer Galla at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine. We went to this show last summer and it was awesome—well attended, energetic and a great mini vacation for the whole family.
But I digress, why attend DSC in Atlanta in 2026? For starters, FE throws a multi-day party at our booth, and a FE employee (likely the Gimp) will physically walk you around the show floor, drink in hand, giving bad advice while happily helping you spend your kid’s college fund on guns, optics and trips.
In all seriousness, if you want first crack at limited hunts or exclusive rifles (there will be a new FE collab announced at this show btw), this is the show to attend, as it is the first serious international hunting show of the season.
As a bonus, since there are currently no CITIES permits being offered for the overpopulated Atlanta based thugs, most the attendees don’t venture far from the hotel, opting to hang around the hotel bars in the evenings. So you can pony up and have great convos with guides, PHs, outfitters and gun manufacturers from around the world until the wee hours of the morning, or at least until they throw you out.
If you don’t have a direct Delta flight to Atlanta from your city, I would suggest relocating.
SCI was the first show I attended 30 years ago and still attend to this day. It amazed me then as it does now. Any hunt in the world you desire, you can probably find it at SCI. Want to buy art that costs more than your first house? SCI will have it. Want to fondle a quarter-of-a-million-dollar double rifle? You can there.
SCI is the granddaddy of international hunting conventions, and while it has had its ups and down based on location over the years, they have hit a home run with the Nashville venue. Just like everyone wants to move to Montana and pretend to be a Dutton, it seems like everyone wants to go to Nashville and listen to country music.
Safari Club attendance has boomed with the Nashville music scene, but it is a double-edged sword. You had best make plans to meet with outfitters and manufacturers on the show floor, as it is unlikely you will see them when doors of the event close for the day. The town is too big, too vibrant, and there are simply too many things to do to chance running into them after hours.
As much as I like SCI, if you are looking for coveted hunt or rifle, or artwork, it may be sold by the time SCI rolls around.
That’s it, the three must-attend shows of 2026. Skip your local Ducks Unlimited banquet, buy a plane ticket, and join us for a drink at one of them—we would love to see you.
The post Show Time—FE’s Must-Attend List appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...
This time of year, show season is all encompassing. As a consumer you could attend shows from now until summer, nearly every weekend without pause. From ducks and bucks shows to elk conventions, to pheasant fests and turkey conventions, there seems to be never ending retinue of choices.
We have been attending various shows for decades and now consider ourselves pros that have this down to science…so here are the main ones we attend (in order) and why you should join us.
NSSF SHOT Show
- Las Vegas, Nev.; Jan. 20-23, 2026
We don’t count this as a fun show—we have to attend SHOT Show—it is purely business and open to industry only. If we could get out of going, we would in a heartbeat, so don’t feel like you are missing anything if you can’t attend. If I don’t ever see another tatted-out dude, walking a goggled attack dog kitted out like he was raiding a terrorist stronghold, I’ll be thankful. And Vegas is well … just gross.
Wild Sheep Foundation (Sheep Show)
- Reno, Nev.; Jan. 22-24, 2026
While it is put on by The Wild Sheep Foundation, the Sheep Show isn’t just about sheep conservation and sheep hunting. Really it is everything from Africa safaris to Asian Shikars, but it does focus heavily on Western mountain hunting and simply put is just a hell of a good time.
For starters, it is a young, energetic audience. Things like the Tough Sheep Work Out (which FE hired pinch hitters for), horse packing competitions and backpack races make it fun. The <1 Club is a must attend event—it is your best chance in the world to win a sheep tag.
Essentially, if you haven’t shot a sheep you are eligible to join the <1 Club. Last year they raffled off multiple tags (and you don’t have to be present to win). The <1 Club beats the hell out of every state draw, and you won’t find better odds anywhere.
To top it off, I love Reno compared to Vegas—it has a western vibe, there is snow on the mountain peaks surrounding town and you don’t feel like you have to dry clean your soul when you come home. Plus, I have never had to pay $75 bucks for a whiskey on the rocks like in Vegas. Download a Season of “Reno 911” and book a ticket on Southwest—flights are still under a hundred bucks from most western locations.
Dallas Safari Club (DSC)
- Atlanta, Ga.; Feb 6-8, 2026
For the uninformed, Dallas Safari Club seems like an offshoot or Dallas based chapter of Safari Club International. It is not—it is its own entity, not to be confused with Safari Club International.
Ok, so why is it in Atlanta and not Dallas? That is a longer story … DSC has always been in Dallas, but due to renovations to the Dallas Convention Center, DSC temporarily relocated its winter convention to Atlanta for obvious reasons—great international airport, lots of lodging, big convention venue, plus an opportunity to engage with East coast hunters who have traditionally not attended the Texas venue. For its Texas members, DSC also holds a summer Galla at the Gaylord Hotel in Grapevine. We went to this show last summer and it was awesome—well attended, energetic and a great mini vacation for the whole family.
But I digress, why attend DSC in Atlanta in 2026? For starters, FE throws a multi-day party at our booth, and a FE employee (likely the Gimp) will physically walk you around the show floor, drink in hand, giving bad advice while happily helping you spend your kid’s college fund on guns, optics and trips.
In all seriousness, if you want first crack at limited hunts or exclusive rifles (there will be a new FE collab announced at this show btw), this is the show to attend, as it is the first serious international hunting show of the season.
As a bonus, since there are currently no CITIES permits being offered for the overpopulated Atlanta based thugs, most the attendees don’t venture far from the hotel, opting to hang around the hotel bars in the evenings. So you can pony up and have great convos with guides, PHs, outfitters and gun manufacturers from around the world until the wee hours of the morning, or at least until they throw you out.
If you don’t have a direct Delta flight to Atlanta from your city, I would suggest relocating.
Safari Club International (SCI)
- Nashville, Tenn.; Feb 18-21, 2026
SCI was the first show I attended 30 years ago and still attend to this day. It amazed me then as it does now. Any hunt in the world you desire, you can probably find it at SCI. Want to buy art that costs more than your first house? SCI will have it. Want to fondle a quarter-of-a-million-dollar double rifle? You can there.
SCI is the granddaddy of international hunting conventions, and while it has had its ups and down based on location over the years, they have hit a home run with the Nashville venue. Just like everyone wants to move to Montana and pretend to be a Dutton, it seems like everyone wants to go to Nashville and listen to country music.
Safari Club attendance has boomed with the Nashville music scene, but it is a double-edged sword. You had best make plans to meet with outfitters and manufacturers on the show floor, as it is unlikely you will see them when doors of the event close for the day. The town is too big, too vibrant, and there are simply too many things to do to chance running into them after hours.
As much as I like SCI, if you are looking for coveted hunt or rifle, or artwork, it may be sold by the time SCI rolls around.
That’s it, the three must-attend shows of 2026. Skip your local Ducks Unlimited banquet, buy a plane ticket, and join us for a drink at one of them—we would love to see you.
The post Show Time—FE’s Must-Attend List appeared first on Field Ethos.
Continue reading...