Mike Simpson: 2004 Conklin Award Winner

On May 2nd, 1945 a great hunter, conservationist, and taxidermist was born in the town of Crockett, Texas. Forrest Michael Simpson’s love of the chase came honestly, being the son of Bernice and Forrest G. Simpson, a Texas law enforcement officer. After completing high school where he was a solid athlete and student, Mike completed two years of college at the University of Houston before he began work as a taxidermist. Mike is a self-made man and in 1972 founded Conroe Taxidermy, a business that he still leads and owns. Mike is recognized as a worldwide leader in his trade. He has won and been a judge for virtually every major taxidermy competition in the United States and abroad.

Mike started hunting at age 6 for small game, but his first big game animal was not a whitetail deer as one might expect from a Texan, it was a self-guided Rocky Mountain Elk. His skill as a taxidermist has given Mike a great appreciation for big game animals and his hunts have literally been paid for “by stitching up hides” as Mike likes to say.

Mr. Simpson has taken nearly 350 big game animals on more than 170 major hunts that have taken him all over the world. He has more than 273 different species to his credit and several more planned. He has nearly all of the most desirable species and a true passion for mountain game. Mike has pioneered or reopened many new hunt areas, including recent hunts to Russia and Chad for sheep. As a hunter, many of us are probably aware of his pioneering efforts. But as a taxidermist, we should all be thankful for his taking the time to teach the locals proper game care and trophy preparation. Mike’s collection includes the African Big Five, a Grand Slam of Wild Sheep, an Ovis World Slam™ of Sheep, a Capra World Slam™, many forest duikers, almost all of the North American thirty-one, and eight of the nine major species of spiral-horned antelope in Africa. His only missing spiral-horned antelope, the mountain nyala, is scheduled for later this year.

Mike dearly loves all types of hunting, but does not hesitate to recognize “wild sheep hunting” as his ultimate passion. In fact, his first guided hunt was for Dall sheep and he has been hooked ever since. He considers his favorite hunt of all time his quest for his Altai Argali with a close second being his Marco Polo ram hunt. His toughest hunt, a toss up between the Caucasian and Kuban tur.

Mike’s conservation achievements are equally admirable and well documented. He is a founding member of the Houston Chapter of Safari Club International, a life member of the Foundation for North American Wild Sheep, the Grand Slam Club/ Ovis Inc., and several other major conservation organizations. Mike helped conceive, fund, build, and sustain the first desert sheep pens and habitat improvements for the state of Texas’ Sierra Diablo sheep herd and continues to work with this program today. Mike has introduced dozens of elementary school children to the sport of hunting and the art of taxidermy. He has hosted many local school field trips to his taxidermy studio and trophy room and has annually volunteered his time to guide novice hunters on their first hunting trip at the Double D Ranch, as well as his own ranch, assuring their success and a good learning experience. Mike is also instrumental in a program that brings children with physical and learning disabilities into his home and studio to see, touch, and feel animals that they may never have the opportunity to otherwise.

Mike donates countless hours and financial support to several organizations and their causes and has been very generous to each. For 2004, The Conklin Foundation has decided to present an honorarium donation in the amount of $2,500.00 to the conservation project of the Conklin Award recipient’s choice. Mike has chosen to make his donation to Grand Slam Club/Ovis to be used to help finish its DNA study for the comparison and separation of the various sub species of Asian snow sheep.

Carrying on the rich hunting and taxidermy tradition started by Mike are his sons, Michael, Travis and Barret, all very accomplished hunters and taxidermists. His wife of 38 years, Becky, is his favorite hunting companion but for the more physically demanding hunts he is usually accompanied by his second favorite, any one of his sons. Quiet and without a braggart’s bone in his body, Mike Simpson is a hunter because he loves the chase, the environments he visits, and the animals he pursues.

Like Dr. Jim Conklin, the 2002 recipient Mr. Donald G. Cox, and the 2003 recipient Mr. Gary Ingersoll, Mike is indeed another “Tough Guy.” The Conklin Foundation is proud to present the 2004 Conklin Award to Mr. Mike Simpson.