Full Curl™ Hall of Fame Members
DR. MAX MORGAN – BOUNTIFUL, UTAH 2014
Throughout his life Dr. Max G. Morgan, has been committed to wildlife. He served the sportsmen of Utah honorably as a member of the State Wildlife Board. Reflective of his strong leadership Dr. Morgan acted as Chairman of the Board for more than 10 years. He was instrumental in developing many of the policies that today benefit wildlife and hunting. It has been noted many times that Dr. Morgan was the motivating force in helping establish positive leadership and direction from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources.
Max is an avid sheep hunter and has continued to hunt wild sheep, even after completing his Full Curl. One more desert and he will have achieved his second Full Curl. Over the years Dr. Morgan spent more than 100 days out on the mountain to complete this achievement, logged 3600 miles running to get into “sheep shape”, 13,300 miles of air travel, 8,000 miles motorized, 65 miles by boat and 1000 miles on foot. All totaled, he has spent 1/3 of a year hunting sheep! With this fact in mind Dr. Morgan would still rather be hunting sheep than working!
He is especially grateful to his wife DeeAnn for her unwavering support.
Although pursuing his Full Curl was an incredible experience he notes that we sometimes have to face some serious truths. With this in mind Dr. Morgan would like to dedicate the completion of his Full Curl and his induction into the Full Curl Hall of Fame to his very first sheep-hunting buddy, Doug Dennison, who died of leukemia in 1985.
FRED MORRIS – SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 2014
Fred Morris was born Aug 14, 1940, SLC Ut and was raised in Provo. A graduate of BYU, he obtained his Masters Degree from University of Southern Mississippi in Economic History.
Married , Sue Elton, three Children, Zane, Amy and Lars.
Captain U.S. Airforce, 6 years active and three U.S. Airforce Reserve. Entire career as a pilot was spent mostly during the Vietnam War where he trained Vietnamese and NATO pilots.
Fred didn’t start hunting until he was out of the Airforce. His first animal was a Dall sheep taken in the Brooks Range of Alaska with Phil Driver, in 1978. Second Sheep was a Stone Stone, Ross Peck Outfitters. His third was a Desert Ram in Utah with Carl Mehan as the guide. This was the first High Bid animal ever auctioned in Utah. That donation along with some additional money that Sue and Fred (half of everything we give to wildlife is willingly given by Sue), financed the first ever transplant of sheep in Utah. Along with that hunt, Carl Mehan, Don Peay, himself and others restarted the UFNAWS chapter. His Full Curl ram was a Rocky Mt. Bighorn, Alberta, taken in 1981.
Now, years later, Fred Morris has taken 16 Sheep species. They include, Barbary Sheep, Ovis ammon Ammon, Mongolia, Ovis ammon Darwinie, Dwarf Blue Sheep, North Tibetian Blue Sheep, Ningia Blue Sheep, Muflon sheep, Marco Polo Sheep. Snow Sheep Russia, Koyuk Snow Sheep and Trans-Caspian Urial Sheep. Of note, Fred has accumulated the largest collection in the world of waterfowl, 150 of the 155 species, are now at BYU. He has also harvested each one of the spiral horned antelope and all 14 species of Duikers available.
He says, “none of these achievements make me a great hunter but rather a lucky man who has had lots of wonderful experiences.” Most of Fred’s travels and time with wildlife have been for photography and being in the wilderness. “If I have done anything for wildlife, it comes in the form that I have raised two sons that are ethical and dedicated hunters and that have a deep love for animals. My daughter, though not a hunter loves this earth and the animals as well,” he notes.
Fred Morris has been throughout his life a “collector of experiences rather than species.” He simply hunts when he travels opposed to traveling to hunt!
Carpe’ Diem
Fred Morris
PEGGY BARNETT LEE – MODESTO, CALIFORNIA 2014
Being born and raised in the Chicago area, Peggy Barnett Lee had never even slept outside let alone considered shooting “Bambie”. She then found herself living out West married to an avid lover of the outdoors and hunting. Peggy soon changed her altitude after experiencing 5 sheep hunts alongside her late husband, Howard. He was an incredible role model, instilling in Peggy a tremendous awe and respect for nature’s magnificent animals. Utah was always Howard’s favorite hunting area for deer and elk but sheep was what he wanted Peggy to experience most. So began Peggy’s quest to complete the Full Curl of North American Sheep, hunting Utah several times. She started and finished her Full Curl in Utah with the satisfaction that she and Howard helped put sheep back on the mountain for years to come.
This was only possible through the blood, sweat and tears of many visionary Utahan’s like Don Peay. Over the next ten years Peggy fueled her passion for climbing mountains in search of sheep and goats all over the world, finally achieving her Triple World Slam. Along the way she introduced her husband Don Lee (who also had never slept outside before) to the wonderful world of outdoors and hunting. It is a magnificent hobby for couples to share. Peggy Barnett Lee enjoys being an ambassador for ethical hunting and wildlife preservation whenever she can, which is sometimes difficult in the California country club setting where she currently reside. Peggy realizes that hunters and hunting has an uphill battle to survive, but has found that being sincere, patient and humble to those that don’t understand, ultimately goes a long way. One of her biggest delights is when her golfing girlfriends can’t wait to see her next hunting photos to show their husbands!
CRAIG STEPHENSON – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 2014
Craig was born in Ohio and graduated from Utah State University in 1978 with a Bachelors degree in Wildlife Science. He started working for the Nevada Department of Wildlife in 1979 and began numerous projects with desert bighorn sheep in 1987. Craig assisted in desert bighorn trapping, transplanting and monitoring for five years and coordinated the Southern Region program for a dozen additional years. For 24 years, his primary responsibility was the construction and maintenance of the Department’s bighorn water developments in the southern third of Nevada. Working with volunteer groups, he helped build 45 projects, reconstructed 12 older projects and upgraded another 21 water developments. Craig initiated a database of water development inspections for the 115 bighorn developments in southern Nevada and coordinated maintenance for many of those waters, regardless of which state or federal agency built them. In 2002, Craig initiated a series of water development inspection flights. These flights are currently performed annually, that averages 85 projects inspected in 16 mountain ranges over four days.
In his retirement, Craig volunteers on wild sheep trapping operations and water development work. Although he has yet to draw a sheep tag, he says, “If I never draw a tag, it doesn’t bother me. I’ve made so many great friends and gained a tremendous amount of satisfaction from my work. That’s plenty.”
CLINT BENTLEY – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 2013
Clint Bentley has played a significant role in the monitoring and maintenance of big game projects in the State of Nevada from 1997 to the present. He has been directly responsible for procuring funding to order and deliver materials for countless water projects in the Silver State as well as serving as President of the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn from 1999-2002 and is currently a member of their Board of Director’s. He has also served on the Nevada Wildlife Commission and has been a driving force politically to ensure that we can continue to build water projects in wilderness areas. Last year he also made a trip to Washington D.C. to help persuade Senator Reid to delist wolves, only 2 weeks after undergoing open heart surgery! All of Clint’s efforts have been on a donated basis. Through Clint Bentley’s selfless volunteer work he has made a huge difference in helping put sheep on the mountain. Having achieved the Full Curl of Wild Sheep himself, it is my honor to induct Clint Bentley into the Full Curl Hall of Fame!
GARTH & JERRI FREHNER - NEW HARMONY, UTAH 2013
Garth and Jerri Frehner love the outdoors and have spent a great deal of their time hunting various species around the world. At their residence in New Harmony, they have a beautiful and unique wildlife museum displaying and honoring over 100 life size animals in dioramas depicting their natural habitat. Their museum is enjoyed by schools, church groups, organizations and individual families who visit to learn the habits and characteristics of the animals on display.
In 2012 Garth and Jerri donated a Natural History Museum to Southern Utah University where many of their trophies are also on display.
The Frehners stay very busy with life, both completing the Full Curl of North American Wild Sheep, Garth in 1996 and Jerri in 2011. They have hunted Africa 7 times with Garth taking the Big Five and Jerri the Little 7. They have also spent time hunting Tajikistan, Spain, China, Mongolia, Canada, Northwest Territories and the US. They are currently trying to complete their North America animal species.
Having supported and donated to a variety of wildlife organizations, the Frehner’s have played significant roles in helping keep sheep out on the mountain.
SENATOR ALLEN CHRISTENSEN – OGDEN, UTAH 2013
Allen grew up in Utah, and like all of us here today developed a passion and love for hunting. Even while attending dental school in San Francisco, Dr. Christensen would race home for the Utah deer hunt. Allen has a wonderful, extremely supportive wife, Janis, who has traveled the world with him on his hunts as have his six children.
Although Dr. Christensen loves pursuing all big game sheep hunting is by far his favorite of all species. As an 8 year Utah state senator, Senator Christensen has spear headed numerous efforts to get wolves delisted and keep them out of Utah! He has also helped coordinate many conservation efforts. If each state legislature had sportsman advocates like Senator Christensen, our hunting heritage would be a stronger and vital resource in many states. Senator Christensen completed his Full Curl of North American Wild Sheep in his home state of Utah in 2002.
DAVE MYRUP – SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 2013
For over 22 years, Mr. Dave Myrup has never missed attending a wild sheep fundraiser, and has selflessly stepped forward to donate his time and money on countless occasions to support wildlife organizations. He and his wife Carla have involved their family and their love and passion for wildlife and our hunting heritage is evident. Dave’s son Brody, has already started on his goal of achieving the Full Curl someday, having taken a beautiful Utah desert ram. In total, Dave has gone on hunting adventures around the world, having killed 26 wild sheep. His passion for sheep and helping keep sheep out on the mountain for other hunters is self evident in his actions.
Dave recently said that, “his best sheep hunt was his Utah Newfoundland bighorn, because it was one of the many Utah herds that did not exist when he started hunting sheep.” And, it was his direct involvement, along with many others that has put and establish sheep on units in Utah and elsewhere.
Dave was fortunate to have the opportunity to hunt and take his desert ram in Utah’s San Juan unit in 1986, the same year Utah’s had a massive die off of more than 600 desert sheep that succumbed to disease contacted from domestic sheep. Twenty annual desert permits were suddenly lost for nearly 30 years. Consider how many Full Curl opportunities that die off cost Utah sportsmen?
That situation helped trigger the foundation of Utah FNAWS shortly thereafter, and Dave has been there with his support every step of the way. Sacrificing his time and energy Dave Myrup has also helped many other hunters harvest their ram after completing his Full Curl with a Stone Sheep in 1989.
Dave recently said that, “his best sheep hunt was his Utah Newfoundland bighorn, because it was one of the many Utah herds that did not exist when he started hunting sheep.” And, it was his direct involvement, along with many others that has put and establish sheep on units in Utah and elsewhere.
MERLYNN JONES – PROVO, UTAH 2012
Merlynn developed a passion for hunting wild sheep clear back in 1977 while reading stories in the newspaper and hunting magazines about successful hunters. Taking the leap he traveled to Alaska the following year to chase dall sheep with his brother. After experiencing the adrenalin rush of taking a trophy ram and reveling in the pristine, beautiful country they call home Merlynn was “sheep bitten” as he has pursued sheep in 3 Canadian providence’s as well as 6 states. Very proud of each trophy ram he has taken Merlynn has worked hard to put sheep back on the mountain at every opportunity and is an active member of numerous wild sheep conservation organizations. A successful businessman he has contributed graciously to countless wildlife projects. His vision for the future is to ensure that generations of hunters to come have the same opportunity to pursue wild sheep as passionately as he has had. Although time inevitably marches on Merlynn say that the “memories of hunting sheep will be retained forever.”
KEN JONES – MAPLETON, UTAH 2012
Part of the first brother combination to ever be inducted into the Full Curl Hall of Fame Ken was fortunate enough to draw his first sheep tag in the wilds of Wyoming in 1975. At that precise moment in time a passionate fire for hunting sheep and supporting various organizations to put “sheep on the mountain” was born. It has not only been Ken’s honor to have personally experienced 18 sheep hunts, having taken 3 3/4 Full Curls himself, but he has also financially donated thousands of dollars to wild sheep organizations. Ken’s greatest satisfaction has been the privilege of helping many other hunters become involved in sheep hunting. He takes great pride in capturing the opportunity to pass on his personal knowledge and skills of hunting wild sheep to others. He truly treasures the times when he has been able to support friends, family and other hunters by teaching them about habitat, wild sheep, and in providing critical support in preparation for their dreams of hunting sheep.
ED PRIBYL – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 2012
Ed was born in Buffalo, Minnesota in 1937 but moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1949. He has been actively involved in the bighorn sheep recovery program since the early 1960’s. Drawing a desert sheep tag in 1972 Ed suddenly became infected with sheep fever and achieved his goal of completing the Full Curl of sheep hunting. He has been “out on the mountain” continuously either hunting or guiding other fortunate hunters in pursuit of these incredible animals for the past 40 years. He finally retired from guiding in 2008 but continues to find a way each year to go on a couple of sheep hunts. Ed has worked tirelessly for decades to help put sheep on the mountain. He has personally helped construct over 100 new water developments in NV for wild sheep. Not only has he done the construction on these projects but spends countless weekends going to existing projects to ensure they are functioning. If they need repairs he will get the parts and go back and complete the necessary work himself. He does this work unselfishly year after year and still finds time to built new ones. Because of his efforts Nevada now has over 180 desert sheep tags and more than 75% of these tags are on units where there were water development projects that he has been involved in.
TED SCHUTTE – SIBLEY, IOWA 2012
Nature has been the centerpiece of Ted’s life with his occupation as a farmer in Iowa and hunting the world's valuable wildlife. A "once-in-a-lifetime" hunting opportunity in 1983 resulted in a desire to possess our continent's creatures and to help provide succeeding generations the same opportunities. Abundant wildlife and youth involvement have been his goals. Ted served on the National FNAWS Board of Directors for 8 years and served as its President from 1999-2001. He gave his heart and soul to the organization he loved because he felt that was what a dedicated membership deserved. Ted has also played an important leadership role of the successful Iowa Chapter FNAWS for more than 20 years and continues as he serves on their Board of Directors. He has been a leader for the sheep hunting community in achieving their goals and purposes and has stated numerous times "my only regret is that I couldn't have done more".
As he looks at his trophy room wall, front and center, there are prominently featured his four North American wild sheep. There are many other mounts, but when asked about his favorite, he always point in the direction of the dall, stone, Rocky and desert wild sheep that completed his Full Curl. Being on the mountain with these great creatures is a blessing and helping others achieve this accomplishment is now very important to Ted. We need proper wildlife management in maintaining and increasing wild sheep numbers and then we need a younger generation who has the ability both mentally and economically to hunt this valuable renewable resource. It has been a dream come true in achieving the Full Curl and now a dream I wish for others.
SCOTT ALLAN – TWIN FALLS, IDAHO 2012
Growing up in rural Mapleton, Utah, Scott was introduced to hunting and wild sheep by his father Collin, who was also inducted into the inaugural Full Curl Hall of Fame in 2010. The Allan family’s concern and support for wildlife and hunting has spanned multiple generations. Now, as a successful Optometrist in Twin Falls, Idaho, just like his father did with him, Scott is passing his passion for sheep hunting and wildlife conservation onto his own sons. Having been on over 8 sheep hunts himself and successfully completing a personal Full Curl, Dr. Allan has worked tireless to change the management of wildlife in Idaho to become more hunter responsive. Through Scott’s unrelenting lobbying efforts he has been successful in educating politicians in regards to the damage that predators have been doing to wildlife herds in Idaho. He founded SFW-Idaho and continues to work on countless wildlife conservation projects. He enjoys assisting his father and sons in their ongoing quests to hunt wild sheep. Achieving the Full Curl has generated a multitude of "once in a lifetime" memories and friendships for Scott and each sheep on his trophy wall has its own story and brings with it a flood of memories."
LANE CLEZIE - POCATELLO, IDAHO 2012
Lane Clezie has been involved in countless hunting and wildlife conservation organizations for over 35 years. A successful realtor specializing in agricultural, ranch and commercial properties Lane has also consulted in hunting related industries. Having held many volunteer positions in National and International Conservation Organizations Lane has sacrificed thousands of hours in support of wildlife. Having been recognized by various hunting and conservation organizations for his service he has received many prestigious awards. Lane has had the privilege of participating in aerial captures of wild sheep on Carmen Island, Baja, Mexico, to meeting with Supreme Court Justice Anthony Scalia, to discuss conservation related activities and the 2nd Amendment. It has been Lanes privilege to solicit millions of dollars for conservation projects. Having completed his Full Curl in Sonora, Mexico, in 2010, Lane continues to lobby and fight for wildlife conservation so that future hunters can experience the thrill of pursuing wild sheep as he has. His most enjoyable activity is assisting others in becoming successful sheep hunters and introducing women and youth to our great Hunting Heritage!
JAY ANDERSON – OGDEN, UTAH 2012
Jay Anderson is a native of Ogden, Utah, and became interested in sheep hunting after reading the famous Jack O’Connor’s stories in his youth. Although he got to go on a desert sheep with a cousin in 1966 it wasn’t until 1991, at the age of 57 that his quest to complete his personal Full Curl truly began as he drew a Rocky Mountain permit on Utah’s Rattlesnake Unit, harvesting a massive ram. After taking a desert sheep and dall Jay finished his Full Curl in 2004 at the age of 70 years old with his stone! Along the trail to his dream Jay had plenty of major health roadblocks as he survived 4 heart attacks, 2 major open heart surgeries, and two additional angioplasty surgeries. Wow, Jay is definitely one tough, very determined sheep hunter. He has passed his love for hunting wild sheep onto his sons with Paul also finishing his Full Curl. Jay has operated hunting on the Elmer Bastian Ranch for almost 40 years and started the CWMU there in 1992. Most years he and the Bastian family have hosted a disabled youth hunt for deer or cow moose. Recently a hunt for war veterans has been added. Jay was a volunteer at the northern region DWR Office for 3 years and was on the board of the Northern Utah RAQ for four years. He has donated thousands of dollars to the Utah FNAWS Chapter as well as many other wildlife conservation organizations. Jay Anderson is proof that perseverance and true dedication can trump the belief that sheep hunting is only for the young.
DAN BURTON – SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 2012
Dan Burton owns and operates Burton Lumber as Company President. Dan graduated from the University of Utah in 1976 with a degree in finance, served in the U.S. Army Reserve and had a brief stint in professional baseball with the Detroit Tigers. Dan started working at Burton Lumber 34 years ago and is proud to be part of a Utah business legacy. Dan also has served on the board of directors for the Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association and the Associated General Contractors. Dan is married with 3 children, 2 of whom are managers at Burton Lumber. He has 2 grandchildren. In Dan’s spare time he enjoys hunting and fishing and most outdoor activities. Having hunted sheep on several continents Dan has completed his Full Curl and enjoys participating on sheep hunts with his son. Supporting wildlife conservation has been extremely important to Dan his entire life as he has purchased several Utah auction tags only to donate the tag back to Utah FNAWS to sell again so that the proceeds of his purchase could go to Primary Children’s Hospital.
DON PEAY – BOUNTIFUL, UTAH 2012
Don Peay grew up in a family with little material means, but lots of love, and parents who taught us to love the outdoors, and to believe in the American dream. He always wanted to be a great athlete, but had to work so much, and had so little money, that he chose not to burden his parents by asking for the $35 fee to play football. Hunting quickly became his passion in life. Don feels that his Super bowl or World Series trophy, or Mount Everest Summit was obtaining his Full Curl of North American Wild Sheep. Having been with many other hunters to support them on their sheep hunts he can still remember the adrenaline rush when his brother Ben made a 500 plus yard shot on a bighorn in the Absoroka Wilderness of Wyoming to finish his Full Curl, and the flood of tears when Don finished his Full Curl with an Escalante Desert ram on an incredibly difficult hunt. Don Peay was instrumental in helping form the Utah Chapter of FNAWS and is the founder of Sportsman for Wildlife. He has served as a Board Member for the Foundation of North American Wild Sheep and has been an extremely important political voice for countless conservation projects on the state and federal levels. Don truly believes in fighting for the future of wildlife conservation and putting sheep back on the mountain. He has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on behalf of sportsman and wildlife. As Don says, “achieving the Full Curl is a dream worth pursuing. It is the pinnacle of hunting if you love wild places and wild things and will takes you to the most remote and spectacular places on earth. After working relentlessly for 20 years to help grow more sheep and wildlife, Don started the Full Curl Society to provide a way for more hunters to achieve their dreams! United as hunters, Don knows that we can win the world championship, but divided, will fail as conservation for future generation will suffers. Don knows that the “best thing about the Full Curl is the great sportsmen you meet along the way,” and having hunted with many Hall of Fame Athletes, he can tell you, sheep guides and sheep hunters are just as tough and committed as the pros, they just play a different game!
KARL MALONE – RUSHTON, LOUISIANA 2011
The 2-time NBA MVP and 2-time gold medal winner Karl Malone is the co-founder of the Full Curl™ Society and made a substantial six-figure donation to get the FCS rolling. Karl completed his Full Curl™, and the story which appeared in Trophy Hunter magazine is linked below. Karl passed on an invitation to play in the NBA All Star Game where his nomination to the NBA Hall of Fame was made public. He passed on that opportunity so he could attend the first annual Full Curl™ Hall of Fame Social. Karl is a very successful businessman outside of basketball with car dealerships, real estate developments and a timber harvest operation to his credit. He has built an incredible whitetail deer ranch near his home. Karl has donated in excess of $1 million to conservation and helping other hunters get hunts to see their dreams come true. Karl is the epitome of the Full Curl™ Hall of Fame.
ROYCE “WOODY” WOOD – LAS VEGAS, NEVADA 2011
Woody put in his first guzzler over 40 years ago, and has worked with the Fraternity of the Desert Bighorn society ever since. He also served for 9 years on the FNAWS Board, and was chairman for a Year. Woody won his 3/4 Curl tag and finished his Full Curl™ in Wyoming after 40 years of hoping and dreaming. Woody has helped many other hunters get sheep, and also knows the true joy of the working man, finishing the Full Curl™.
BILLY DUNBAR – ANCHORAGE, ALASKA 2011
Billy has been on over 30 sheep hunts, helped guide over 35 other sheep hunts with friends and family and has donated well over $1 million in conservation tags and other conservation donations. Billy is excited to help get younger hunters excited about sheep hunting again, and rebuilding the Full Curl™ Dream. Billy was also instrumental in the AK FNAWS Chapter and getting the AK Governors tag established.
RANDY JOHNSON – MARYSVALE, UTAH 2011
Randy grew up in a small, rural area, and developed a passionate love for wild places and wild things at an early age. He worked hard to put himself through college and has been a successful coach, teacher, educational administrator and superintendent in small town Utah for over 35 years. He's a published author and in his spare time has devoted years of his life to helping guide countless other hunters toward their goal of taking a Full Curl™ ram. His knowledge of the sheep hunting terrain in southern Utah is legendary. He knows what it means to make difficult personal and family sacrifices as he completed a Full Curl™ of his own several years ago. Randy is passionate about sheep hunting and works tirelessly to encourage all of his clients, many whom he guides for minimal fees, to get involved with Utah FNAWS, SFW, FULL CURL and other sportsmen groups. Randy has been a great help to hunters everywhere and shares our vision of doing what it takes to assist the working man to complete his Full Curl™ as well.
WHAT COMPLETING THE FULL CURL OF NORTH AMERICAN WILD SHEEP MEANS TO ME
By Randy Johnson
It’s funny how one, isolated, seemingly inconsequential incident can change and define our lives in such profound ways. So I discovered, when in early September of 1988, I found myself scouting for a giant trophy mule deer in some of the most rugged desert terrain of southern Utah. As I laboriously climbed up over a rugged knoll on the edge of an incredible plateau, I suddenly found myself staring into the eyes of six magnificent desert bighorn rams. In a flash of movement and wisp of dust, they were gone, scrambling off cliffs that I couldn’t imagine any animal capable of navigating. At that precise moment, I became a lifelong “sheep fanatic,” totally infatuated with these incredible animals!
In a whisper of time, now, years later, even after completing my personal quest for the “Full Curl of North American Wild Sheep” in 2003, and having guided countless dedicated, passionate sheep hunters to trophy rams of their own, I continue to dream daily about pursuing these glorious animals, much more than a sane man should honestly admit. Achieving the Full Curl of North American Wild Sheep to me is truly synonymous with life enhancing experiences that transpire in some of the most pristine but also harshest environments on earth where civilized man seldom dares to venture. It is the unbelievable, almost indescribable adrenalin addicting physical and mental challenges of guiding a fellow hunter as we shadow a trophy ram in the most remote landscape of North America. It is about incredible personal sacrifice, unrelenting family support, unforeseen obstacles, and backbreaking work stained with the sweat and toil of dreams. It is about the pure love of unclimbed mountains, unexplored terrain, surviving the merciless wrath of Mother Nature, and fair chase hunting. But most of all, the Full Curl is tantamount to the indelible branding of cherished memories into our minds that can never be erased. It signifies lifelong relationships established with individuals of unbreakable character who you have climbed the mountains with, sharing stale water, tasting the bitter and painful mental anguish of a trophy ram that escaped your stalk, before ultimately culminating in the exhilarating exuberance of success. The Full Curl translates into grown men and women crying together, the tears of celebrating one of the most difficult hunting achievements in North America streaming down our faces, after harvesting and honoring the prized ram we had sought. It has indeed been my privilege and good fortune to have “smelled the roses” and shared the personal triumph of the quest for a “Full Curl” with so many outstanding human beings.
Each one of us however, must recognize that without vigilant wildlife conservation activists, and the money generated and appropriated to put sheep on the mountain, that these magnificent animals would not exist for you and I to enjoy and pursue. That is why the success of the Full Curl Society is so important. Join, support and unite with us in a team effort to see that our vision is fulfilled. What greater personal satisfaction can you and I experience than to ensure that the dreams of normal men and women are achieved?
As life races on I encourage those of you who question whether you can find the resources or time to complete your personal goal of hunting sheep to take the challenge before the twilight of time envelops you. If there’s a will there will always be a path to your dream. That’s what the Full Curl Society represents and should always be about. Thank you.
COLLIN ALLAN – MAPLETON, UTAH 2011
Collin served on the Utah Wildlife Board for six key years and helped establish several key policies for Utah s successful wildlife conservation program, that will generate millions of dollars for many years into the future. Collin s son Clark has served on the Wildlife Commission of Wyoming and played a key role in getting wolves delisted in the West. Collins other son, Scott was Founder of SFW Idaho. Collin finished his Full Curl as has his son Scott. Son Clark has taken two sheep a 1/2 Curl™ member of the FCS, and Collin has two grandsons who have taken sheep and dream one day of finishing the Full Curl™.
DANIEL SMITH – SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 2011
Dan has made sheep hunting a family affair. Dan, his son, and grandson have all completed their Full Curls,™ three generations of Full Curl™ Sheep hunters. Dan has been very active in supporting numerous conservation activities and has contributed well over $1 Million in conservation funds. Dan has shown extreme levels of hunter integrity over his hunting career, and has quietly done marvelous things for generations of sheep hunters.
RAY LEE – CODY, WYOMING 2011
Ray through his stellar work with Arizona Game and Fish, Mexico, FNAWS and the Desert Bighorn Society has probably had more to do with growing sheep herds and helping sheep hunters get their desert sheep than any other person in the history of North America. It would take a person of such exceptional contribution because of Ray Lee hundreds of hunters have had the opportunity to finish the Full Curl™ that Ray is in the Hall of Fame as the only person not to have actually taken all four sheep.
KEN DAVIS – CEDAR CITY, UTAH 2011
Ken, like Collin Allan and Daniel Smith has made sheep hunting a family affair. Ken, his son Kenny and daughter Kristin have all finished their Full Curl™, the only father, son and daughter team to do so. Ken has never missed a Utah FNAWS fundraiser, and he and his family have been key members of the SFW Chapter that has generated hundreds of thousands of dollars for conservation. Ken has grandchildren who have taken some great bucks and bulls the direct result of their conservation efforts, and the Davis family is the best example of exceptional working class families who sacrifice, save, do it their self guided hunts and have reached the pinnacle of sheep hunting. They want to see the Full Curl™ Dream Stay alive for their grandchildren as well.
CARL SHORES – CHANDLER, ARIZONA 2011
Carl grew up in Ohio, but read about sheep hunting from the late Jack O Connor and dreamed to hunt sheep. ON his first Arizona Sheep hunt, he fell of a ledge, smashed his face, broke his rifle, broke some ribs, but went back on the mountain and took his desert ram. After some 35 years of applying, last year Carl drew a Wyoming Bighorn to finish his dream of the Full Curl™. Carl has been involved in sheep conservation with the ADBS for years Two years ago, we had the privilege of hunting with Carl s son Ross via the SFW Hunts for Heros program. Ross was shot right between the eyes by a sniper in Iraq. His protective goggles saved him, and like his dad, was back on the battlefield a short time later. The Shores family are a great American family, who serves our country, provides us all the freedom to enjoy our passion of hunting with family and friends.
LEE HOWARD – SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 2011
Lee was the co-founder of Utah FNAWS and also served on the Utah Wildlife Board for many years. Lee has helped volunteer and take many sheep hunters on their sheep hunts. He has also helped several other sheep groups in their fundraising efforts, and has been instrumental in getting young hunters involved in attending conservation events. Lee completed his Full Curl™ with a Boone and Crockett Desert Bighorn.
MARC & DEBBIE BINGHAM – UTAH, ARIZONA, ALASKA 2011
Marc has taken over 30 different sheep and Debbie completed her Full Curl™ as well. Marc worked for the BLM, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service before starting his own business. The Binghams have recently donated $15 Million to build the Utah State University Engineering and Environment Center in Vernal Utah. They also made one of the largest donations in conservation history, by donating $4 Million to SFW to push our conservation mission over the top.
DR. RICHIE BLAND – ATLANTA, GEORGIA 2011
Dr. Richie Bland is just one of a handful of hunters in the history of North American Hunters who have taken the North American 29 species with a bow. This of course means he has also taken the Full Curl of sheep with a bow, and along the way has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars for the conservation of wild sheep and wildlife. Dr. Bland has been a supporter of many sportsmen conservation organizations and strongly believes in the mission of the Full Curl™ Society to expand our efforts for wild sheep conservation, and sharing the Full Curl™ Dream with as many hunters as possible.