(Houston, TX- January 3, 2024) – Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce Erik Visser of Quagga Safaris as the recipient of the 2024 HSCF Outfitter of the Year Award.  

The HSCF Outfitter of the Year is recognized by HSCF members and peers as being passionate about their occupation and conservation. The candidate demonstrates excellence in customer service, reliability, and performance and is a consistent supporter of HSCF and its mission. Award winners must be of good character and have a known ethical hunting standard.

Erik Visser founded Quagga Safaris in 1991 when he entered the safari industry as a one man show with nothing else than a dream to build his business into a leading outfit. That dream became reality through dedication, motivation and a team that shares the same goals. Erik credits his success to his loyal clients and an eighty percent rebooking track record.

Erik Visser and Quagga Safaris were also the recipients of the following awards from the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA): Uncle Stevie Award (2016); Professional Hunter of the Year (2021; Buffalo of the Year (2023); Trophy of the Year (2022); and Outfitter of the Year (2023). Erik has been a long-time member and supporter of Houston Safari Club Foundation and is very proud of the HSCF Outfitter of the Year Award.

“What an honor to receive this award from such an outstanding and leading organization such as HSCF. I dedicate this to my family, safari team and amazing clients and looking forward to sharing my campfire with many more fellow hunters. The future of our industry is in our youth, so the responsibility of all of us is to get them involved,” stated Erik.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 625 scholarships totaling $2.8 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

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(Houston, TX- December 7, 2023) This week “Hunting Matters” welcomes archery legend Dr. Ed Ashby.

Dr. Ed Ashby, a legend in the archery hunting community for dedicating more than 27 years to the study of arrow performance and broadhead lethality on six continents. Thanks to Dr. Ashby and his crew, his Natal Study helped legalize archery hunting in South Africa. Many sub-Saharan countries followed suit. The Natal Study was the definitive document used to successfully lobby for bowhunting legalization.

Dr. Ashby is also the co-founder of the Ashby Bowhunting Foundation, the leading global authority on arrow and broadhead lethality.

About Hunting Matters
“Hunting Matters” co-hosts HSCF Executive Director Joe Betar and Ramon Robles engage in conversations with guests from the worlds of hunting, fishing, shooting, conservation and the great outdoors. “Hunting Matters” airs Saturday, 6am-7am CDT on iHeart Media affiliate KPRC AM 950 and is available via podcast on Apple/iTunes, iHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, PodBean and Spreaker. Hunting Matters is an award-winning podcast and has been recognized by AVA Digital, NYX/Marcom, MarCom, Davey, and the Academy of Interactive & Visual Arts. Subscribe, listen, rate and review.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 668 scholarships totaling $3.05 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants worldwide. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

Houston, TX (October 24, 2023) – Winners of the 19th Annual Davey Awards have been announced by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts.

Houston Safari Club Foundation’s Hunting Matters podcast received three Silver Awards in the categories of Branded Series, Best Co-Hosts and Podcast Series-Educational. The Davey Awards honor work from the best boutique creative agencies, in-house brand teams, small production companies, and independent creators across Branded Content, Video, Design & Print, Advertising & Marketing, Mobile, Podcasts, Social, and Websites.

“The talent displayed by the Entrants into our 19th season has proven to be massive”, said AIVA managing director Lauren Angeloni. “I’ve come to expect ingenuity and innovation from our small shops and independent creators, but this year is particularly stunning. I want to congratulate all of the honorees for their well-deserved wins. I also would like to extend sincere thanks to our jurors, who gave so much time and care in their evaluation of each entry.”

About the Davey Awards
The Davey Awards is an international award focused exclusively on honoring outstanding creative work from the best small teams from across the world. The 19th Annual Davey Awards
received over 2,000 entries from ad agencies, digital agencies, production firms, in-house creative professionals, graphic designers, design firms and public relations firms. The Davey Awards are sanctioned and judged by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts, an invitation-only body consisting of top-tier professionals from acclaimed brands and media, interactive, advertising, and marketing firms.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 668 scholarships totaling $3.05 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

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Houston, TX (October 16, 2023) – Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce its quarterly publication, Hunter’s Horn™ has been awarded a Platinum MarCom Award.

Hunter’s Horn™ was named a Platinum award winner in the Publications/Magazine/Nonprofit category. This is the fourth year in a row the publication has been recognized by MarCom.

MarCom Awards honors excellence in marketing and communication while recognizing the creativity, hard work, and generosity of industry professionals. Since its inception in 2004, MarCom has evolved into one of the largest, most-respected creative competitions in the world. Each year about 6,500 print and digital entries are submitted from dozens of countries.

MarCom is administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). The international organization, founded in 1995, consists of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, digital, and web professionals. AMCP administers recognition programs, provides judges, and rewards outstanding achievement and service to the community.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation

Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 638 scholarships totaling $2.77 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

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(Houston, TX- October 9, 2023) The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is pleased to announce that its “Hunting Matters” radio program/podcast has been awarded two 2023 W3 Awards.

Hunting Matters received a Gold award in the Podcast-General Series-Associations category and a Silver award in the Podcast-Best Co-Hosts category.

Established in 2005, the w3 Awards celebrate digital excellence by honoring outstanding work across Websites, Marketing, Video, Mobile Sites & Apps, Social, Podcasts, and Emerging Tech. At The w3 Awards, we aim to honor the unsung heroes of digital creativity who create imaginative and boundary-blazing work day after day. From rising independent creators to the most established global agencies, the w3 Awards elevate and illuminate the projects that help shape the future of our increasingly digital lives.

The w3 Awards is sanctioned by the Academy of Interactive and Visual Arts (AIVA), an invitation-only body consisting of leading digital marketing and creative experts and all-around luminaries. AIVA members come from organizations such as Publicis Sapient, Walt Disney Studios, Meta, Netflix, LG, IBM, Amazon, NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Wired Magazine, R/GA and many others.

About Hunting Matters
Tune in to “Hunting Matters” with Houston Safari Club Foundation Executive Director Joe Betar as he engages in conversations with guests, from various backgrounds, who have a passion for hunting and conservation. Great discussions, news, hunting legislation updates and more! “Hunting Matters” airs each Saturday, 6am-7am CDT on KPRC AM 950 – Real Texas, Real Talk, a Houston iHeartMedia station, and Houston’s longest running radio station. “Hunting Matters” is also available via podcast on Apple/iTunes, iHeartMedia, Google, Overcast, PodBean and Spreaker. Subscribe, listen and review.

About Houston Safari Club Foundation
Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our hunting heritage. HSCF has awarded 638 scholarships totaling $2.77 million dollars. HSCF conducts youth outdoor education programs, career training, hunter education and field experiences throughout the year. HSCF has provided over $4 million in grants for hunter-funded wildlife, habitat, and various conservation initiatives. HSCF is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization. Visit our website at wehuntwegive.org or call 713.623.8844 for more information. HSCF. We Hunt. We Give.

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Texas Raffle Laws & Non-Profit Organizations

Status update: The governor has decided to not sign the bill at this time. There may be an opportunity for consideration during the October 2023 special session. Houston Safari Club has sent additional correspondence to the governor’s office in support of a change in the Texas raffle laws and requested that the topic be addressed during the October special session. Background: Non-profit organizations in Texas are currently not allowed to sell raffle tickets online. HSC has been involved in the effort to allow Texas-based non-profit organizations to market and sell raffle tickets online, for the past three Texas legislative sessions. A House bill was approved earlier this year. HSC provided testimony in favor of the bill before the Texas House Licensing & Administrative Procedures Committee in March. A Senate bill, mirroring the House bill language, is in process. If passed, these changes would allow for fundraising related to raffles on a greater scale. Reach out to your local Representative and let them know you support HB 2138 and your Senator, in support of SB 1582.

Hunter Safety, Archery Education & Wilderness Education Programs In Schools

Houston Safari Club joined thirty-nine other hunting, fishing, and outdoor recreation organizations to express its displeasure that the U.S. Department of Education will no longer permit Elementary and Secondary Education Act grants to be used for hunter safety, archery education or wilderness education programs. The full body of the letter sent to the Secretary of Education is below:

Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization dedicated to legislative and policy initiatives that may affect the future of hunting. HSC supports initiatives that protect the tradition of hunting and hunters’ rights. We take an active role in efforts to effect policy, protocols, and legislation. Our mission is to protect the rights of hunters and the hunting heritage through advocacy, policy, and legislation. Houston Safari Club (HSC) is a non-profit organization, exempt from federal income tax, under section 501(c)(4) of the United States Internal Revenue Code. Payments to HSC are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Please contact your tax advisor concerning deductibility of any payments as business deductions. HSC EIN: 76-0082197. HSC is an independent organization, is not affiliated with Safari Club International (SCI) or its affiliates and is not a chapter or affiliate of any other organization.