Organizations

The Wild Sheep Foundation's President and CEO Gray N. Thornton received the 2027 Peter H. Capstick Hunting Heritage Award from the Dallas Safari Club. The award honors individuals whose sustained contributions have advanced wildlife and habitat conservation while protecting hunting traditions. Thornton has led WSF for eighteen years and distributed over $77 million to mission programs.

The Wild Sheep Foundation reaffirmed its support for constitutional hunting and fishing rights, with CEO Gray N. Thornton noting these traditions are cornerstones of conservation heritage. WSF supports states enshrining these rights in their constitutions, with Colorado voters considering Amendment 83 on November 3, 2026.

The Wild Sheep Foundation congratulates Dr. Ryan Brock, its Youth Education Program Coordinator, for being selected as Nevada's Outdoor Teacher of the Year. Brock has dedicated over two decades to outdoor education, inspiring thousands of students through hands-on learning and programs like the Youth Wildlife Conservation Experience and S.H.E.E.P.

EOTECH made a monetary donation to the American Warrior Association, a faith-driven nonprofit dedicated to healing moral injury among service members, veterans, first responders, and their families through programs like R3, Warrior's Refuge, and Virtus Project.

Dallas Safari Club and The World Gunmakers' Evening announced a new international partnership to connect their communities, expand industry engagement, and celebrate sporting heritage. The collaboration includes joint promotional initiatives and event sponsorships, with DSC hosting conventions in Atlanta and Dallas, while WGE holds events in London and Philadelphia.

MidwayUSA Foundation's Hometown Challenge raised $1,002,911.19 for youth shooting sports, with $993,777.66 supporting team endowments matched dollar-for-dollar by Larry and Brenda Potterfield. Hudson Farm Foundation won first place with $199,800 in donations, while industry sponsors including SK Guns, UMAREX, and Savage Arms contributed prizes.

Wild Sheep Foundation leadership presented to the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation at their 2026 General Assembly in Brussels, discussing collaborative conservation efforts and WSF's Women Hunt® Program. WSF provided $50,000 USD to support FACE's advocacy work against international anti-hunting initiatives.

The USA Clay Target League announced the launch of the USA Youth Club Clay Target League, enabling students in grades 6-12 to participate on youth group and local club teams outside the traditional school system. The program allows 4-H, FFA, scouting troops, and non-school-affiliated teams to join using the League's ClayTargetGO! platform.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation appointed Aaron Nickson as Arkansas State Chairman, Richard English for California, and Alan Jones for Washington state. These State Chairmen will work with local game and fish professionals to provide IBEP/ICEP bowhunter education courses and serve as liaisons with local bowhunters.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President and CEO Kyle Weaver accepted a nomination to serve on the Hunting and Shooting Sports Conservation and Access Council, continuing RMEF's distinction on the federal advisory group dating back five presidential administrations. The council provides recommendations to President Trump on wildlife conservation, hunting, and public access.

The Boone and Crockett Club welcomes the "Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage" Executive Order announced at a White House dinner. Club President Mary Webster and CEO Tony Schoonen participated, with the order focusing on expanding hunting access to federal lands, growing new hunters, promoting game species populations, and increasing wild game donation.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation President and CEO Kyle Weaver praised President Trump's Reinvigorating America's Hunting Heritage Executive Order, stating it aligns with RMEF's mission to sustain wildlife, habitat, and hunting heritage through public access expansion, habitat management, and science-based wildlife management.

Gun Owners of America (GOA) announced a new Corporate Membership program enabling pro-Second Amendment businesses to formally join GOA's fight to defend the Second Amendment. The tiered program offers annual memberships at $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 based on company size, with complimentary individual memberships for eligible employees.

Jeff Rawlinson has been named President of the National Archery in the Schools Program (NASP®), succeeding Dr. Thomas G. Floyd, who is retiring December 31, 2026. Rawlinson, who previously spent 26 years with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, becomes NASP®'s third president in its 24-year history.

The Boone and Crockett Club verified the Sam Aiuppa/James Martin typical whitetail deer at 207 7/8 inches, making it the largest typical whitetail ever taken in the United States. The buck, killed in Illinois in 1991, surpasses the famous Jordan buck by 1 6/8 inches and ranks second worldwide behind Milo Hanson's record.

Whitetails Unlimited partners with the Tree Stand Safety Awareness Foundation to promote Tree Stand Safety Awareness Month throughout September. WTU President Jeff Schinkten encourages hunters to review safety guidelines before bowhunting season begins.

BOG, a Columbia, Missouri-based manufacturer of hunting equipment including trail cameras and shooting sticks, has renewed its national sponsorship with Whitetails Unlimited. WTU President Jeff Schinkten praised BOG's commitment and product quality, noting the company's continued support of the organization's conservation and hunting tradition mission.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation (NBEF) sponsored the Legends of the Outdoors Hall of Fame event honoring hunting and fishing leaders. NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz, a 2005 inductee, attended the 2026 ceremonies at the John A. & Genny Morris Conservation Center in Springfield, MO.

The National Bowhunter Education Foundation sponsored Nebraska's Hunter Education Conference in Omaha, with NBEF Executive Director Marilyn Bentz, Tree Stand Safety Association President Glenn Mayhew, and instructor Jackson Ellis leading workshops on tree stand and hunting saddle safety. NBEF and Nebraska Hunter Ed Coordinator Kyle Gaston debuted a new combo Today's Hunter and Today's Bowhunter Manual at the event.

Whitetails Unlimited offers complimentary Whitetail Watch signs and decals as part of an anti-poaching initiative to improve hunter/landowner relations. The PVC signs and matching decals serve as visible deterrents to poaching and encourage reporting of suspicious activity to wildlife law enforcement.