Other Awards

WSF is honored to annually host the Conklin Foundation and the presentation of the prestigious Conklin Award during our Friday Legacy Night Banquets. Often called the “Tough Guy/Gal Award”, the Conklin award recognizes the world’s greatest active hunter who pursues game in the most difficult terrain and conditions, while abiding by the highest standards of ethics and fair chase and is a strong participant in wildlife conservation.

2026 Conklin Award Winner – Jeff Demaske

WSF is thrilled to see Jeff Demaske, a dedicated conservationist, intrepid big game hunter, and close friend of the Wild Sheep Foundation, win the prestigious Conklin Award. The Conklin Foundation is proud to announce Jeff Demaske (right) as the 2026 winner of the Conklin Award, also known as the Tough Man’s Award. Jeff has an amazing 13 FNAWS “Grand Slams®”. He was selected over these other great finalists: Barbara Sackman, Lee Anderson, Jan Dams, Wayne Farnsworth, and Gervasio Negrete.

Jeff will be recognized at the 2026 Sheep Show in Reno, Nevada, on January 23.

2025 Conklin Award Winner – Deron Millman

Deron has several real hunting passions, but he feels the most rewarding are both the rainforest and mountain hunts, where mental and physical fitness meet. His most memorable hunts include Forest Elephant and Dwarf Forest Buffalo in Cameroon, Himalayan Blue Sheep in Nepal, Yakutia Snow Sheep in Russia, Thinhorn Sheep in Canada and Markhor in Pakistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The hardest hunt was his Yakutia hunt where we walked almost continuously for 26 straight hours. “The rams were far and the days long.”

 Watch the full video about the Conklin Award and Deron.

Jack O’Connor was the undisputed dean of outdoor writers, a world class big game hunter, wildlife conservation pioneer and influential gun editor. Born in 1902, he presided over the “golden age” of modern big game hunting and left a rich legacy through his writing and leadership.  Despite his death in 1978, his work remains fresh and continues to inspire hunters of all ages. His special contribution, in a wide and long list of accomplishments, was in educating hunters about wild sheep and sheep hunting.

To honor Jack, the Jack O’Connor Hunting Heritage and Education Center and the Wild Sheep Foundation are presenting the Jack O’Connor Writers Award.  This is an annual award to be presented to the author of the best published article about wild sheep, with special focus on hunting and/or conservation. The winning author will receive a bronze bust of the legendary writer, sculpted by world renowned sculptor Jack Logozzo, especially for this contest.  It will be personalized to the recipient with the winner’s name and contest date. The presentation of this award will be at the Wild Sheep Foundation Sheep Show©.

The 2025 Jack O'Connor Writer's Award was presented to Jim Manley from Oregon. Watch his award presenation below.