Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award

Dallas Safari Club Announces Isaac Powell as the 2026 Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award Recipient

Dallas Safari Club (DSC) is proud to announce that the 2026 Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award (CCYHA) recipient is Isaac Powell, a 19-year-old Life Member from Alamo, Georgia. Powell, who grew up immersed in the outdoors, represents the spirit of adventure, character, and conservation leadership that the award was created to recognize.

Powell began hunting at age nine, taking his first turkey and later pursuing squirrels, rabbits, and deer in the woods of Wisconsin and Georgia. “Growing up watching the Outdoor and Sportsman’s Channels and reading every hunting book or magazine I could find fueled my passion and love for hunting,” he said.

When Powell learned he had been selected for the CCYHA, he said he was “super excited and honored.” He added, “Being a Life Member of DSC has been very rewarding. I’m grateful to receive an award from an organization that stands for wildlife conservation, education, and protecting hunters’ rights.”

The CCYHA honors young DSC members who demonstrate leadership in their hunting journey, dedication to conservation, and involvement in their communities. In addition to being an accomplished hunter, Powell is a former high school rugby athlete and currently works at a family beauty supply business. After graduating in 2024, he took a year to pursue his international hunting goals; an effort that has taken him to five continents where he has harvested 40 species of big game.

Powell’s understanding of conservation reflects a maturity far beyond his age. “To me, conservation is about respecting and protecting the wild places and animals that were here long before us. I’ve been fortunate to trek through some of the most remote landscapes in the world, from the mountains of British Columbia to the outback of Australia. Each experience has shown me how powerful nature is, yet how quickly it can be lost if we don’t take care of it.”

Interim Executive Director Russell Stacy said Powell embodies the values that DSC works to promote in the next generation. “Isaac represents exactly what the Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award was created to honor. His experiences around the world have shaped a thoughtful conservationist who understands both the responsibility and privilege of being a hunter. We are proud to recognize him as this year’s recipient.”

One of Powell’s most meaningful hunting experiences took place in 2024 during a musk ox hunt in Kugluktuk, Nunavut, with his father. “Harvesting a musk ox was incredibly rewarding, but what made the trip my favorite was the people,” he said. He describes the Inuit guides they hunted with as “some of the toughest and most sincere individuals I have ever met,” recalling temperatures around –27°F and the deep respect they had for the land. “That experience taught me that hunting is not just about the pursuit—it’s about the people, the culture, and the connections you make along the way.”

“Isaac brings together the qualities we hope to cultivate in every young hunter—curiosity, humility, perseverance, and a deep respect for wildlife and wild places,” DSC President Ray Mulholland added. “His stories reflect a genuine appreciation for the people and cultures that make hunting such a rich, global tradition. We look forward to seeing the impact he will continue to make in the conservation community.”

The Colin Caruthers Young Hunter Award will be formally presented during DSC’s annual convention in Atlanta in February 2026.