PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Springtime means turkey season is on, white seabass and yellowtail are showing up in the kelp beds off our coast and, this year, Bluefin tuna are already biting!   It’s essentially the beginning of the hunting/fishing season.  It’s also the time of year that Safari Club International holds our  annual fundraiser – supporting wildlife conservation and the freedom to enjoy these great hunts.

This year San Diego Safari Club International is trying something very different.  Instead of a hotel banquet room, we have been offered the beautiful home of Craig and Rebecca Irving in Point Loma.  This unique venue overlooks the ocean and provides a spectacular scenic backdrop for our auction and fundraiser.  San Diego SCI has a great line up of Live Auction items, Silent auction items, beautiful drawing items, including 25 spectacular rifles.  Our live auction includes black bear hunts, mule deer, antelope, elk, African Safaris, Argentina bird hunts, a snowmobile trip in Alaska with Todd and Sarah Palin, a 7-Day Excel sport fishing adventure, day trips to some of the world finest fishing grounds, Salmon fishing in Alaska, and even a custom spearfishing adventure complete with gear aboard a new 36’ Whaler.  We have a Heym .416 big game rifle and a very rare Colt Python revolver donated by last year’s auction chairman Robert Smith.  There’s something for everyone at the San Diego SCI fundraiser .

However, the most significant part of this year’s event will be our military.  Many of the men and women who are stationed in San Diego have no direct connection with hunters and fishermen.  And many of these fine people come from places in America where hunting is a family tradition.  We often thank them for their incredible service, but the members of San Diego SCI feel that “Thank you” is not enough.  Therefore, some of our auction items are specifically designated to provide hunting and fishing experiences for veterans or active duty military.

It’s simple.  When Flying B Ranch donated two black bear hunting adventures, you will have the opportunity to bid on that live auction bear hunt for both yourself and a veteran to be determined.  Determined by you!  There will be approximately 30 different members of the military in attendance, many with their wives.  You’ll meet a Navy Seal or an Army Ranger and all of those in attendance who are serving or have served.  You’ll be impressed with these fine men and women and hopefully motivated to help them experience the hunting world.  We have military dedicated fishing adventures, a kayak fishing day, and two Wyoming trips; one that includes mule deer and antelope and another that provides 2 antelope hunts.  Why not share a hunt with a veteran and really say ‘Thank You’.  I’ll personally be filming the spearfishing adventure for a future outdoor TV episode with a Navy Seal and hopefully you!

SCI needs your attendance at this fundraiser, April 29th, 2017.  Our military deserves your support.  Come join your friends at Safari Club International’s first ever private, sunset, ocean-view fundraiser supporting wildlife conservation and the freedom we all enjoy.  Log on to www.sandiegosci.org today.