Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is proud to announce Blake Henning, a distinguished conservation leader with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF), as the recipient of the 2027 Conservation Trailblazer Award. The award recognizes wildlife professionals whose work has significantly advanced game and non-game conservation, applied research, habitat stewardship, and forward-looking policy.
With more than three decades of experience in wildlife conservation and natural resource management, Henning has built an accomplished career shaped by his lifelong connection to the outdoors. Raised on a farm in eastern Nebraska, he developed an early appreciation for wildlife and the land. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Management from the University of Nebraska, where he also played collegiate football.
Henning began his professional career in seasonal biologist positions with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks before earning a Master of Science in Wildlife Biology from Kansas State University. In 1991, he joined the State of Kansas, dedicating nine years to soil, water, and wetland conservation and serving as the first President of the Kansas Wetlands and Riparian Areas Alliance.
In 2000, Henning joined RMEF as Regional Director in Wyoming before advancing to senior leadership positions at its headquarters in Missoula, Montana. He became Vice President of Lands and Conservation in 2010 and later Chief Conservation Officer, overseeing habitat conservation, elk restoration, hunting heritage initiatives, and government affairs. His leadership contributed to expanding public hunting access, advancing big-game migration science, and supporting elk restoration initiatives in Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He also participated in the international Wild Harvest Initiative and helped cultivate strategic partnerships with wildlife agencies and conservation organizations.
Henning's influence has extended to national conservation policy and advocacy. In 2018, he was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to the federal Hunting & Shooting Sports Conservation Council, representing big game conservation interests. In 2020, he served as Chairman of American Wildlife Conservation Partners, a coalition of approximately 50 leading hunting and conservation organizations that collaborate on national policy and provide recommendations to federal leadership. His work has also helped advance RMEF's advocacy efforts and strengthen strategic partnerships with conservation organizations and western wildlife agencies.
"Blake Henning's career reflects an extraordinary commitment to wildlife conservation, habitat stewardship, and the future of hunting," said DSC CEO Russell Stacy. "His leadership has helped strengthen conservation partnerships, expand access to public lands, and preserve opportunities for future generations."
Reflecting on the recognition and his years of service, Henning expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the honor. "It's a tremendous honor to be presented this award by Dallas Safari Club and recognized for a career of work that has been so fulfilling. Anything positive for conservation that I have had a hand in is also a tribute to the many co-workers, RMEF volunteers, agency staff, and conservation partners, including DSC, that I have worked alongside for many years. I am truly humbled by the award," said Henning.
Among Henning's most significant accomplishments is the Headwaters of the John Day River project in Oregon. In collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service, RMEF facilitated the transfer of approximately 13,000 acres of privately owned timberlands into public ownership within the Malheur National Forest. The project expanded public access while benefiting elk, salmon, trout, and other wildlife species. The complex undertaking required extensive collaboration, with Henning playing a pivotal role in securing the funding, agency partnerships, and political support necessary for its completion.
Henning also contributed to the development of Wild Sustenance, an accredited university course established in collaboration with professors at the University of Montana. Designed to introduce students with little or no hunting experience to the principles and importance of the practice, the program offers hands-on learning opportunities that demonstrate the value of harvesting wild game to provide food for their families. Its success has led to expansion beyond the University of Montana, broadening its educational reach and impact.
Henning's passion for hunting began in Nebraska, pursuing rabbits, pheasants, quail, turkey, and deer alongside family members. His hunting experiences later expanded to elk and other game in Wyoming and Montana, as well as a safari in South Africa. These experiences have reinforced his lifelong commitment to conservation and the preservation of hunting traditions for future generations.
The Conservation Trailblazer Award will be formally presented during the 2027 DSC Convention & Sporting Expo, January 7–10, 2027, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia.