FROM SMALL GAME TO SHEEP

Jeff Demaske started hunting on the family farm in Wisconsin at the age of 8. Ruff Grouse, Squirrels, and Rabbits learned to be very careful. After moving to Colorado and starting a construction business, Jeff  contracted Sheep Fever during time off from work. In 2010, he shot his first Sheep; a 14-year old Dall ram in the NWT. He liked it!! And it only took until 2012 to achieve his first Grand Slam.   

THE MOST GRAND SLAMS EVER!

The Grand Slam of the 4 North American Wild Sheep (Dall, Desert Bighorn, Rocky Mountain or California Bighorn, and Stone or Fannin) has long been considered one of the greatest accomplishments in the world of hunting. To date, Grand Slam Club Ovis has documented 2,269 hunters who have achieved a Grand Slam. Of those hunters, 148 have documented multiple Grand Slams: 97 have 2, 29 have 3 (one of whom is Jeff's attorney-daughter, Madeline), 10 have 4, 5 have 5, and the following hunters have more:

                       Francis Bouchard got #6 in 2001

                       Gregg Ulveland got #6 in 2017

                       Ralph E. Adams got #7 in 2014

                       George Lawrence III got #10 in 2022 (by 6 methods!)

                       Butch Kuflak got #11 in 2007

                       Douglas J. Leech got #11 in 2018

                       Jeff Demaske got #12 in 2023

LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS, LOGISTICS

(AND A GREAT HOME MANAGER AND A GREAT OFFICE MANAGER)

From a first sheep in 2010 to a first Slam in 2012 to a 12th Slam in 2023 requires a lot of planning, traveling, and mountain hunting. Prior to the start of this season, Jeff had 10 Dalls and 12 each of Deserts, Rockies, and Stones. In early August of this year, he successfully hunted his 13th Stone in British Columbia. Later in August he flew to the NWT and shot his 11th Dall and then he immediately flew to the Yukon where he succeeded with his 12th Dall and 12th Grand Slam. Three of his Slams have scored 746-2/8 (the third highest ever), 711-7/8, and 707-5/8.     

WHAT ELSE BESIDES SHEEP?

Obviously, Jeff has become well-known for his sheep hunting, but he also makes time for other game and other continents. For example, he hunted Africa 3 times in 2023 as well as once each to Asia and Europe. For 2024, he already has Europe, Australia, and South America on his calendar (before the 2024 North American sheep season!).

SUPPORTING CONSERVATION EFFORTS

* Founder of the Central Asia Caprinae Conservation Initiative. Hunting-based tourism serves as the primary funding mechanism.

* Annual host (with his wife, Jann) of the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society Life Member Social.

* Grand Slam Club Ovis: At the 2023 Convention, the Demaske Family (Jeff, Jann, Madeline, and Liz) donated $100,000 for GSCO conservation efforts..

LIFE MEMBERSHIPS AND AWARDS

Jeff is a Life Member of 11 hunting and conservation organizations including the Wild Sheep Foundation, GSCO, SCI, DSC, and the Rocky Mountain Bighorn Society. At the 2023 GSCO Convention, he was given The Ovis Award which recognizes one hunter per year for their “overwhelming passion for hunting the mountains and doing so in fair chase and with total integrity.” It is no surprise that Jeff Demaske is a nominee for both the Weatherby and Conklin Awards.

NEXT QUARTER, ANOTHER ELITE HUNTER WILL BE PROFILED. WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THAT OUR SELECTION COMMITTEE IS COMPOSED OF RENOWNED HUNTERS: ED YATES, REX BAKER, and

RENEE SNIDER.

For the second half of 2021 and all of 2022, 18 consecutive monthly Elite Hunter selections were made and profiled. Beginning in January, 2023, selections are being made quarterly and are published the first month of each quarter (January, April, July, and October).