Dr. Bob Speegle Outstanding Hunting Achievement Award

2024 Winner: Bryan Harlan

The Dr. Bob Speegle Outstanding Hunting Achievement Award (OHAA) Committee has proudly selected Bryan Harlan as the 2024 Award recipient.

Bryan will be presented with the OHAA Award at the Saturday evening banquet at the 2024 DSC Convention and Sporting Expo on January 13. Bryan qualified in multiple categories for this prestigious award by completing his OVIS World Slam, Capra World Slam, Triple World Slam, Ovis Super 20, Capra Super 20, OVIS Super 30 and Capra Super 30. He is most proud of his markhor and desert sheep slams.

There are several criteria acceptable to be considered for the OHAA, including collection of the North American 29, the DSC African 32, Wild Goats of the World and Wild Oxen and Buffalo of the World.

“As Chairman of the OHAA committee, I have not seen a more qualified applicant for this award in quite a while,” said Rick Warren. “Bryan blew me away with the amount of international travel necessary to receive the bag he submitted.”

Mr. Harlan grew up hunting small game in Louisiana and started white-tailed deer hunting after college. Never dreaming of hunting wild sheep, he drew a coveted New Mexico raffle sheep tag in 2010, which set him on a path, with a little help from friend Bobby Davidson, to pursue more sheep and reach for the North American Grand Slam.

Along with sheep of the world, Mr. Harlan is no stranger to Africa, having taken the majority of available big game across the continent.

“I understand the importance of wildlife conservation and getting youth involved in the outdoors to carry forth our heritage and tradition, so I put forth the best effort possible,” Bryan said. “My mission is wildlife conservation. I have always wanted to leave things better than when I got there. I believe it is critical to leave the next road smoother for future wildlife conservationists and we must empower them to continue our heritage of being a sportsman. I will put forth my best effort to serve this role for OHAA.”

Several years ago, Bryan paid a then-record amount toward conservation in Pakistan when he bought a rare markhor tag.

“In my opinion, one of the most successful international community-based conservation programs is the markhors,” he said. “To witness these communities change their habits toward animals for more profits and increased population is just wildlife conservation at its finest. In 1996, markhors totaled around 3,000, but numbered 12,000 in 2017.”

Purpose

This award is given solely for outstanding achievements in the finite area of big game hunting.

Selection Criteria

There are several collections and criteria acceptable for this award such as the collection of the North American 29, the DSC African Grand Slam, and the collection of any twelve of the sheep of the world. Additional Accomplishments in conservation or education are not considered for this award.  Click the OHAA Selection Criteria tab above for a complete list.

Eligibility

To submit an application:

  • The candidate must be a Life Member of DSC (and must have been a Life Member for at least four (4) years immediately prior to submitting an application).
  • At least sixty percent (60%) of all trophies required for anyone category must have been taken while a member of DSC.
  • Weatherby Award winners and hunting professionals are not eligible.
  • This award may be won by an individual only once.
  • Applications for this award may only be submitted by the individual involved.
  • Once an application and its criteria have been accepted by the committee, the candidate will remain a candidate for the award until he or she wins the award, unless the candidate is subsequently rejected by the committee for a hunting or ethics violation, resigns from DSC, or withdraws the application. Even if an animal that was not huntable at the time the application was submitted becomes huntable, the candidate will not be required to collect that animal.

Application

1.) The application must include an organized list of the animals taken, including for each animal:

  • Location taken
  • Date taken
  • Name of guide or outfitter, if applicable
  • Field photo of the hunter with the animal
  • Official score sheet for each animal completed by an official measurer (green measurements are acceptable).

2.) Each application requires a signed Fair Chase and Hunting Ethics Affidavit.

Certain species (such as African Lion) may require additional forms.

Completed applications must be received by the OHAA Chair by May 15 to be eligible for the award at the following Convention.

The criteria may change, so any applicant should contact the DSC office for the latest requirements. The animals required for the Malek Award will not be an acceptable criterion.