Houston Safari Club Foundation 2025 Expo: A Success
Our friends at the Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) held their annual Worldwide Hunting Expo January 16-19 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. Due to the popularity of the event, the Expo expanded its layout in the hotel this year. An extra floor was added.
Exhibitors filled both floors of the hotel, yet the layout was easy to navigate. It did not feel overcrowded. Some of the vendors commented on their happiness for how the layout was planned.
Attendees were treated to a free HSCF Ammo Can and many guests were seen happily carrying the product.
Exhibitors filled both floors of the hotel, yet the layout was easy to navigate. It did not feel overcrowded. Some of the vendors commented on their happiness for how the layout was planned.
Attendees were treated to a free HSCF Ammo Can and many guests were seen happily carrying the product.
Attendees and Exhibitors were happy with the extra level added to the Expo this year
TSRA PHOTO/2025
Exhibitors were allowed to move in on Wednesday. This caused a smooth operation on opening day Thursday. The booths were open from 8-6 on day 1 and had full days of operation on days 2 and 3 as well.
TSRA did not have a booth this year but plans to have one at the 2026 Expo, already scheduled for January 22-25, 2025. However, TSRA was present this year. Executive Director John Poole and Sportsman Editor Marissa Brinkman attended on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, TSRA Second Vice President and Smallbore Director, Hannah Muegge was there. Muegge and Poole spoke at the Hunter's Education Instructors Meeting Saturday morning.
Many of the exhibitors were familiar faces. TSRA Business Member, Outdoor Texas Camps, was found in a perfect location for foot traffic. Their booth was situated between the escalator and the on-site food services. There were food trucks in addition to the hotel's restaurant to allow for a wide variety of meals.
Outdoor Texas Camps is “dedicated to the belief that understanding, engaging, and enjoying the Great Outdoors is a very important part of every person's development, especially our Youth.” The 2025 schedule for the camp can be found on their website.
Peter Velasco of Outdoor Texas Camps is a recurring Exhibitor at the HSCF Expo, seen here at the 2024 Convention
HCSF PHOTO
TSRA Members will remember Phenix Knives from the 2024 TSRA Sweepstakes Fundraiser. TSRA gave away a prize every day for 30 days. TSRA met Phenix Knives at the Houston Safari Club event in 2024. Their Drop Point Hunter was one of the first prizes secured for the Sweepstakes. Their booth was in a prominent location again this year. They appeared to have a high volume of interest from attendees.
Companies who participate in the TSRA Sweepstakes are able to trade with us. A product or gift card can be donated to TSRA in exchange for equal-value advertising. More information can be found here.
The Expo introduced TSRA to dozens of new businesses and individuals, too. We are eager to work with them throughout 2025. We were happy to see new businesses featured at the event. Young entrepreneurs such as VD Uberhutte had impressive booths. VD Uberhutte is a newer business that offers hunts, lodging, and breeding.
Another notable business that met with TSRA was the South Texas White Wing Hunts. Their family-oriented business trait was prominent at their exhibit. Meeting with them felt like visiting a family. Their family ranch turned business is located in Mercedes, Texas.
Copendero was one of the corporate sponsors of the event. They are an indoor archery, pistol, and rifle range located right near the Marriott. Their booth was fun; the employees were helpful, informative, and clearly passionate about their work. They had prizes for visitors including t-shirts and tokens for a free rental fee.
The TSRA Snorting Bull was a familiar face to some attendees and exhibitors, too. Slow Glow, a family-owned business with high quality hunting products, recognized the TSRA logo when we visited their booth. They shared stories from their childhood when a family member had been a TSRA member.
HSCF Executive Director, Joe Betar, and TSRA Executive Director, John Poole, at the HSCF Expo Registration Desk
TSRA/2025
TSRA looks forward to working with both the exhibitors we met and with the HSCF itself. Plans are being made for TSRA to join the HSCF podcast, Hunting Matters, as a guest this year. We are continuing to build shared outreach with HSCF Executive Director, Joe Betar. HSCF is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with a mission statement that is a perfect fit for the TSRA mission. “Preserving the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage.” We look forward to continuing work with their organization.
Story by Marissa Brinkman (sportsman@tsra.com)
January 24, 2025