Hunting Matters

Brian was born and raised just outside of Chicago. He grew up a competitive athlete and did not spend much time, if any, hunting as a child. He and his father did fish off and on, but sports always got in the way. After graduating college, he moved to Colorado to start his professional sales career. Shortly after arriving in Colorado, Brian came across a couple friends that got him hooked on the outdoors and hunting. His passion for hunting continued to grow and in 2013 Brian and his wife Alexis launched “No Limits Hunting”, an adventure-based hunting tv show airing on the Pursuit Channel. In 8 short years Brian and Alexis have grown the show from a single network production to airing on 3 linear networks as well as multiple on demand and social media outlets.

Gray N. Thornton serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) the leading wild sheep conservation organization dedicated to “Putting and Keeping Wild Sheep on the Mountain®.” Prior to joining the Foundation in 2008, Thornton served as Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club (1997-2008) and Chapter & Membership Director for Safari Club International (1990-1997.) Thornton followed his passion for the conservation/hunting industry after a successful sales career with Unisys and Xerox corporations.

As a public speaker, he has been invited to present keynote addresses on wildlife conservation and hunting and angling ethics internationally to diverse audiences ranging from civic and sportsmen’s groups, to international associations, the Serbian Parliament and before former Presidents of the United States of America, France, and South Africa.

Gray was awarded the “Wildlife Utilisation Award” by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the Association’s highest conservation honor. He also received PHASA’s highest service honor, the “Coenraad Vermaak Distinguished Service Award” and was the first non-South African to be so recognized. Thornton has received the “President’s Award” from the Guide Outfitter Association of British Columbia for his years of dedicated service to the North American hunting and conservation community. As an Outdoor Writer, he received a Katie Award from the Press Club of Dallas representing the southern USA for the best Outdoor Story of the Year with “Iron Horse Fly Fishing.”

Thornton serves on the Board of Directors of Bear Trust International where he serves as Vice-Chairman of Board. He has also served on the Board’s of the Conservation Fund, the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa Conservation and Empowerment Fund, the Ballot Issues Coalition, the Banovich Wildscape Fund, and the Lone Star Outdoor News Foundation.
He is a member of WSF’s Chadwick Ram Society, Legacy Society, a WSF Summit Life Member, and a Life Member of numerous industry, guide/outfitter associations and WSF chapters & affiliates. He is also a member of OWAA and POMA.

Thornton is an avid international hunter and fresh and saltwater fly angler, an ice climber, adventure motorcyclist, and a former superbike racer. He completed his FNAWS in February 2017 with a desert bighorn sheep.

He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Management and Marketing from California State University at Fresno and has earned advanced credits in Wildlife Management from Colorado State University at Fort Collins.

He resides in Manhattan, Montana with his wife Renée, Weimaraner Sage and Vizsla Sienna.

Carly Brasseux, CEO & Founder of Miss Pursuit
misspursuit.com

Carly Brasseux is a determined and passionate business owner and social media/marketing consultant, published author, digital sales director, and freelance outdoor writer based in Dallas, Texas.

In a world where women are the fastest growing segment of the hunting population, she is a major proponent of those women who want to learn more about the outdoors and hunting. As CEO & Owner of Miss Pursuit, her mission is simple: to inspire women to pursue an extraordinary outdoor lifestyle by creating an online hub of information and inspiration through useful and inspiring content—expertly curated and tailor-made for her readers.

Carly started her career with the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee as the External Affairs Manager. As the first full-time staff, she assisted in the areas of government relations, public safety, transportation, aviation, accommodations, stadia, practice sites, city décor, volunteers and overall office operations.

After Super Bowl XLV had come and gone from North Texas, she joined Allies in Service and served as the Director of Community Relations. In this role, she raised awareness and promoted the needs of Dallas veterans, solidifying brand position and identity, developing and executing the marketing and communications plan through public relations, media outreach and direct marketing.
Carly then moved into the consulting field, where she helped clients with social media management, website design and development, sales, media analysis and project management. She currently serves as Director of Business Development for two of the largest parenting websites in North Texas - Dallas Moms and Collin County Moms.

Host of This Is Africa television series airing on Pursuit Channel

Andrew was born and raised in the African Country of Zimbabwe, to a mother and father who encouraged him to explore the wild and stay with the local village people from a very young age. These experiences of hunting, trapping and fishing with village people instilled in him the awe and wonder of local traditions and wildlife that have led him into his chosen career path.

His knowledge on the wildlife habits and habitats, as well as his deep understanding of the local people and their different cultures, has seen him across the vast majority of Africa creating documentary films to pass on his knowledge of Africa to those across the world who may share a passion for Africa. Andrew has been hunting and filming with some of the most dedicated conservationists over the last decade and has a wealth of experience borne from these many adventures.

Bruno Rosich, a professional hunter and outfitter since 1995, is passionate about delivering the ultimate big game hunting experience for those seeking an elusive, European trophy.
Bruno is not just the owner and CEO of Trophy Hunting Spain; he is an avid hunter too. Since 1995, Bruno has served the hunting industry with excellence and integrity, proving to be one of Europe’s elite hunting professionals, racking up numerous awards and achievements including:


2017 Houston Safari Club Foundation Professional Hunter of the Year Award

Ten-time nominee for the SCI International Professional Hunter of the Year Award

Guided the current Beceite Ibex World Record Holder

Guided six top-ten Beceite Ibex Record Holders

Official Measurer for SCI

Lifetime member of SCI, WSF, DSC, HSCF and IPHA

Founding member of APTCE (The Spanish Professional Hunter Association) where he is also member of the Ethic & Awards Committee


However, his success does not mean that he sits in an office all day. Bruno personally and passionately guides expeditions all year-long to ensure top-notch quality for each of his clients. Aside from his expertise in the hunting industry, Bruno holds a degree in Tourism. This, coupled with his friendly demeanor, enables Bruno to share Spain’s rich history and cultural diversity with meaning and clarity as he travels with his clients throughout the various regions of Spain. In addition, he is fluent in English, Castilian Spanish, French and his native Catalan.

Yes, THAT Ted Nugent. Ted Nugent, The Nuge, The Motor City Madman, Uncle Ted

John D. Shepperd is a sixth generation Texan, born in Austin and raised in San Antonio. After high school in San Antonio, he graduated from University of Texas in Austin with a degree in American Studies. Although Shepperd learned to hunt and fish at an early age, it was during college when the writings of Edward Abbey, Thoreau, John McPhee, and Aldo Leopold really shaped his appreciation for the natural world.

After college, Shepperd worked as a Policy Analyst at the Texas Capitol, then joined the Texas A&M University System as a Research Associate in the departments of Forest Science, Rangeland Ecology and Management, and Agricultural Economics. He planted trees, worked in a laboratory, restored coastal habitat, modeled financial impacts of flood events, surveyed wetlands and saltwater marshes, built the first nursery in Texas dedicated to growing dune plants, and worked as a liaison between the Army Corp of Engineers, TAMU Department of Agriculture Economics, and dozens of South Texas ranchers and farmers.

In 1996, John exchanged his muddy boots for a coat and tie and joined the Senate Natural Resources Committee as a Policy Analyst working primarily with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and the Department of Agriculture. After two productive Sessions at the Texas Legislature, he moved into the private sector, co-founding two successful healthcare companies.

In 2014, John joined Blackridge Governmental Affairs as Director of Operations, once again back in the political arena. During the 84th Session, he worked on a multitude of projects, including analyzing and tracking legislation, educational outreach, fundraisers, PAC spending, office communications, and lobby team coordinating and strategy.

John then became the Executive Director of the newly formed Texas Foundation for Conservation and the Texas Coalition for Conservation where he focuses on the political, educational, and grassroots outreach of conservation.

Mike Ambrose grew up hunting rabbits and pheasants on his uncle’s farm in central Illinois. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1966 and graduated from Underwater Demolition Team (UDT) training and was assigned to SEAL Team 1. After three tours of duty in Vietnam, Mike headed to Louisiana and entered the offshore industry as a tender and was diving commercially within a year. Mike worked all over the world in the commercial diving industry, having dived to over 1000 FSW and logging more than 6 years in saturation diving. He eventually went to work for Offshore Pipelines Inc. and later graduated to management in 1991, working his way up to Executive VP, International for Cal Dive International. His duty stations were mostly international until he retired in 2010. Mike was later called back to take a position in Thailand until 2014.

Mike began big game hunting in 2006 with a New Zealand trip and continues with some vigor until today. He has over 160 species recorded and has been on all six continents. He received a double lung transplant in March of 2020, and since has returned to golf and hunting, even sheep. He is missing only 3 North America Ovis species from his pursuits. Those hunts are booked for 2021 and 2022.

Mike is a Houston Safari Club Foundation Life Member and former member of the HSCF Board of Directors.

Walter M. (Chip) Wittrock, Jr. is the founder of Sportsmen’s Business Alliance, LLC. He is a board member of the Arizona Sportsmen for Wildlife Conservation and serves as their current Vice President. He acts in an advisory capacity for the Wildlife for Tomorrow Foundation and is a Director for Conserve and Protect Arizona where he serves as the Committee Chair for Education and Outreach Funding.

Chip founded the Valley of the Sun Quail Forever (QF) Chapter in Arizona and served as President from 2013 to 2020. He is also the current Government Affairs Coordinator and a Life member of Quail Forever. Chip was a founder of NOWW 2020-the National Outdoor Women’s Weekend.

Wittrock is also a Pheasant’s Forever Life Member, past Quail Forever chapter President for Carroll County, Iowa and past Iowa state board member. Currently he is an active member of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Hunters and Anglers Heritage Workshop Group. Chip has also served as a speaker for The Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports and Arizona Game and Fish Department Outdoor Business Summit.

He is an NRA business member, member of Duck's Unlimited, a published author, conservation philanthropist and lifelong conservationist and outdoorsman.

Nelli Williams is the Alaska Director for Trout Unlimited and has worked for the past 12 years on stopping the proposed Pebble Mine and securing long-term protections for Bristol Bay. She lives in Anchorage where she spends most of her non-working time exploring Alaska's abundant rivers and public lands with her husband and two young children.


Tia Shoemaker grew up in a remote hunting camp in bush Alaska. She is a Registered Alaskan Hunting Guide, fishing guide and licensed pilot. When she isn't hunting or fishing, she is usually writing something about hunting or fishing and the importance of maintaining wild places.
Tia has a degree in Outdoor Therapeutic Recreation. She has worked all over Alaska and Montana as a fishing guide and Outdoor Educator. Tia runs the fishing business, guides during hunting season and hasn’t missed a hunting season with Grizzly Skins since she was 14. Many consider her to be the top trophy producing guide.