Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer, was recently selected by Dallas Safari Club (DSC) 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, DSC noted in a recent news release.
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. He 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 for Wyoming before advancing to senior leadership positions at headquarters in Missoula, Mont. 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.
“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.”
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.
“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,” said Henning. “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.”
Henning’s passion for hunting began in Nebraska, where he was raised on a farm and pursued rabbits, pheasants, quail, turkeys 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 and Sporting Expo, Jan. 7-10, 2027, at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Ga.