Annual SHOT Show trip enlightening, educational

This is the first of a two-part series about the 2015 SHOT Show.

The Southwest Airline jet was wheels up at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 18. Our destination was Las Vegas and the 36th Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, known as the SHOT Show, taking place on Jan. 20 through 23 this year.

According to the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the owner of the show, SHOT is the largest trade show of its kind in the world and the fifth largest trade show in Las Vegas. The show attracts more than 1,600 exhibitors fill booth space covering 630,000 net square feet.

The total attendance this year was close to 64,000, second only to last year's record-setting show when just short of 67,000 people attended. All 50 states were represented, along with 100 countries.

The public is not invited to SHOT. It is restricted to commercial buyers and sellers of hunting, military, law enforcement and tactical products and services only. Also, professional press is invited to cover the various events, but proof of press credentials must be presented to organizers, before attendance is allowed. Media was limited to 2,500 members of the working press and we were two of them. My wife, Garnet, and I have been attending this show for close to 20 years.

This year the excitement of being on the airplane and headed to the show was overshadowed by the Seahawks playoff game. Fortunately, this flight allowed live TV and the game was viewable from 37,000 feet.

We landed at 1:45, as the game was nearing halftime. The shuttle to our hotel, the Stratosphere, seemed to take forever, but I checked the score every few minutes; 19-7, 19-7, 19-7.

We arrived at the hotel and rushed inside for the final few minutes, the exciting and thrilling final few minutes. An equal number of Packer fans mingled with Seahawk fans, all watching on the big screen. The roar of excitement echoed through the casino as one team scored and then the other. Finally the game was over and we settled back into SHOT Show mode.

Media day at the range

The first scheduled event was the Media-day-at-the-Range on Monday, Jan. 19. The various firearm- and outdoor-related product manufactures invite a total of 1,000 members of the media to travel by bus to the Boulder City Gun Rage for a day of shooting and a chance to try new firearm models and ammunition. Also on display was an assortment of other products, such as firearm accessories, map-related equipment, clothing and a few food-related items.

Camp Chef, the manufacturer of cast iron Dutch ovens and skillets, along with gas stoves, griddles, a pizza oven, a smoker, a pellet grill and much, much more, was on the scene. High Mountain Seasonings was present with samples of their sausage and jerky seasonings.

We tried to visit every booth, which was an impossible task. We did, however, visit every area of the range, even driving a new Dodge Ram, which I would like to see in my driveway.

Harris Publications gathering

Garnet and I have attended many a party while at SHOT. This year the most exciting was the Harris Publication appreciation party. This organization publishes around 20 magazines, including "Combat Handguns," "Tactical Weapons," "Survivor's Edge," "Special Weapons," "The New Pioneer" and more.

Stop by your nearest magazine rack and pick up one of the magazines mentioned. Open it to the list of the magazine's staff and you will find Stanley R. Harris listed as the publisher. He is the main person behind all of these publications.

The Harris event was on Wednesday evening and by noon on Wednesday, we had not been invited. We stopped by the Harris booth and visited with Claudia Bircu. The event was already filled to capacity, so we left and headed down another isle.

Claudia then ran and caught up with us, saying she found another ticket, placing the ticket for two into my hands.

"But don't tell anyone," she said.

I won't, Claudia, I won't.

We attend the Harris gathering, visited with lots of old friends, found new friends and ended up with the two of us, along with Stanley and Claudia and just-met new friends, Bob Churner and Jeff Caudill from Paramount, CA, at our small standup table.

We all had the best time, visiting, joking, telling stories and enjoying each other's company. This was our most enjoyable SHOT Show event ever. It was as if a group of people who knew little or nothing about each other before this evening happened to come together and instantly become best friends.

Next week: More 2015 SHOT Show excitement.