Houston, TX – [February 6, 2026] – The Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF) proudly announces Dr. Louis A. Harveson as the recipient of the 2026 HSCF Conservationist of the Year Award, presented during the 2026 Houston Safari Club Foundation Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention.
Each year, HSCF honors an exceptional champion of conservation through its Conservationist of the Year Award. This prestigious recognition is reserved for individuals or organizations that exemplify a true servant’s heart for conservation and demonstrate meaningful impact through education, advocacy, policy, legislation, environmental leadership, and the protection and preservation of wildlife and habitat.
Dr. Harveson’s career reflects a lifelong commitment to conservation science, education, and applied wildlife management—particularly on private lands across Texas and the U.S.–Mexico borderlands. He currently serves as Associate Provost of Research and Development at Sul Ross State University, where he is also the founder and director of the Borderlands Research Institute and holds the Dan Allen Hughes, Jr., Endowed Directorship. Dr. Harveson has been a faculty member at Sul Ross State University since 1998 and previously served seven years as Chair of the Department of Natural Resource Management.
A native Texan, Dr. Harveson grew up in Fort Worth and Lubbock, where early family experiences centered on camping, fishing, hunting, and wildlife watching shaped his passion for wild places. That passion led him to pursue advanced education in conservation, earning a B.S. in Wildlife Management from Texas Tech University, an M.S. in Range and Wildlife Management from Texas A&M University–Kingsville, and a Ph.D. in Wildlife Science through the joint doctoral program at Texas A&M University–Kingsville and Texas A&M University.
Dr. Harveson’s research has focused extensively on the Texas–Mexico borderlands, including the Gulf Coast Prairies, South Texas Brush Country, and the Trans-Pecos Mountains and Basins. Throughout his career, he has mentored and graduated more than 70 M.S. and Ph.D. students, secured over $27 million in grants and gifts, and authored more than 75 peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts along with 50+ popular articles. A consistent theme of his work is the conservation of natural resources on private lands, bridging science with real-world application.
In addition to his academic leadership, Dr. Harveson serves on numerous regional, statewide, and national conservation committees. Since 2013, he has served as Second Vice President of Programs for the Texas Wildlife Association. He is a Professional Member of the Boone and Crockett Club and a Certified Wildlife Biologist through The Wildlife Society.
Dr. Harveson’s contributions have been widely recognized throughout his career. He was named an Outstanding Alumnus by Texas Tech University’s Department of Natural Resource Management in 2015, inducted into the Hall of Honor at Texas A&M University–Kingsville’s Kleberg College of Agriculture, and received the Sam Beasom Conservation Leader Award from the Texas Wildlife Association in 2011. His teaching excellence has earned numerous honors, including the Outstanding Teaching Award at Sul Ross State University, Educator of the Year by the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society, the Presidential Distinguished Faculty Achievement Award, and designation as an Honorary Life Member of the Texas Chapter of The Wildlife Society. In 2018, the Texas State University System named Dr. Harveson a Regent’s Professor, its highest academic honor.
“Dr. Harveson’s career embodies the spirit of the HSCF Conservationist of the Year Award,” said Joe Betar, Executive Director, Houston Safari Club Foundation. “His dedication to science-based conservation, education, and stewardship of wildlife and habitat has made a lasting impact across Texas and beyond.”
About Houston Safari Club Foundation (HSCF)
HSCF is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the sport of hunting through education, conservation, and the promotion of our outdoor heritage. Each year, HSCF hosts the Worldwide Hunting Expo & Convention, uniting hunters, industry leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts in support of meaningful conservation and educational efforts.
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