Hi everyone. I am rather new to this site. Unless I have missed it, it seems no one is talking about the up coming convention in New Orleans. Is anyone going? Is it only for new people? Do any states require continuing education to maintain a license? I am planning to attend the Bat course on Sunday. I am limited on time and so decided against going Friday and Saturday. I would appreciate some thoughts/experiences about the convention. I guess what I am really asking is, should I make the time to attend the Friday and Saturday sessions.

I'll be there for the Friday seminar's, but going home Sat. First time for me as well. Just couldn't pass up New Orleans. If you paid the money I would go those other two days as well. Saturday just didn't have what I needed to see.

The exclusion class should be fun

Hope everyone has fun.

One of these years after kids are out of school I will make it to one of these conventions. Or if they held one in July.

I'll be there teaching a bat class on Saturday and exhibiting for the WCT (Wildlife Control Training) Group and WCT Magazine. BUD25 will be doing a presentation on exclusion that also has an option for hands-on training which would be good for anyone offering bat work. I anticipate a lot of changes with bat work over the next 3 or so years due to listings and considerations for listing of bats with the Endangered Species Act and recommend as much bat and exclusion training as you can get.

In terms of the event itself, the attendees will be a mix of wildlife control and pest control individuals. As with most training events, don't just focus on what you can learn at the presentations. Most of the learning happens in the hallways, restaurants, and bars in small group discussions where all kinds of tactics and techniques are talked about. These discussions are worth the price of admission all by themselves and shouldn't be overlooked or discounted.

To answer the question about CEUs, yes several states do require continuing education to maintain a wildlife control license. To the best of my knowledge, all states require CE's for maintaining a pest control license. It is my understanding that both types of credits will be offered at the Expo. If you have this requirement, you need to find out if any training event you go to will qualify. For instance, the WCT Seminar in November qualified for CE credits in Indiana.

I attended the first NWCOA Convention held in New Orleans. It was fantastic. I think my wife and I had the times of our lives. We also visited a friend who was running a line in Louisiana and I helped him with some coyote and bobcat trapping. Went straight from the NWCOA Convention to the WCT Convention in Las Vegas.

For personal reasons, I am no longer a member of NWCOA, but the training offered should be valuable. As Eric said, you will gain more tips and info outside the classroom than in. It should be a wonderful experience for anyone who attends with the right attitude.

Go everyday if you can!!!!!

On our way to catch the train to NOLA. Old & in the way if you can make the Friday and Saturday you wont be disappointed. We have a good line up of topics and speakers such as Eric Arnold, Jordan Budenski, Mike Tucker, Steve Albano, Alan Huot and others. You also have the opportunity for networking on a grand scale and I pick up just as many ideas to make or save money over "hallway presentations" or sharing a drink as the actual presentations. Not just for "new guys" there will be operators just starting out as well as those who have been in the business for 20+ years. One thing I have found with training events if you are willing to make the most of them they will pay for there self and add to your bottom line. Another thing I have found while working with the Basic Operators Training Course is that the "new" operators coming into the business have some outa the box ideas that make me wonder "why didn't I think of that?". Hope to see you there I will be the guy with camera running around like crazy during expo and rounding up a five foot nothing blonde woman on Bourbon Street at night .

Dirk Deb said to let Di know she will miss her and Bourbon Street won't be the same without her..

Does this mean i can save on spending the 466+ dollars for the show.....Hang out in the halls,,,, and use it to buy rounds of whiskey for some instead???????

Vinke I've often thought the same thing, I have a friend that probably spends an hour total in classes during the two days and all the rest of his time in the hall. The roundtable discussions are gold mines of info, I wish I was going so you could by me some rounds of Beam on the rocks.

Judy and I will be there with Callie! We will be at the Tomahawk booth. Come say Hi. Hope the weather is warm...

Somebody, please have a seminar in Seattle or Phoenix so I can finally meet Vinke before I die ( Afterward might be a little iffy )

Yeah Paul you might be going the wrong direction. All the fun people are going south. lol

I have always felt that Vinke and I were fun people. ( I also felt that we usually went in the wrong direction )

Paul i was hoping for a return to vegas,,,,I was banned from New Orleans in 1979 (shortly after I bought my first piece of Fake Id,,, just outside the french District)......

Bright side was i got bumped to first class on the way home...lol.....

Old & In The Way (hey, my wife has some of your albums!): a very informative, valuable event. Many people to learn from and have fun with you. Ask lots of questions and check out all the vendors.

My exclusion course, the use of a metal break and accessories to make metal insert repairs is a game changer for this and future expos ! Vinke, c'mon down, the waters fine.... Plus the duck hunting is going to be awesome

just remember water runs down hill and up...

Wait Duck hunting is open?

That might of been the only motivation I needed to stick the kids with grandma next year.

Almost every convention I go to I plan on hunting or fishing after for a couple days...

A few Pictures.