Meet the Big Game Pros:
Our Big Game Professionals have all had successful careers in a variety of fields; from professional athletics to business. Today, they bring their disparate backgrounds and expertise to the outdoor industry, and will now be the featured big game pro in our various television series.
Wade Boggs
One of the best hitters to ever play the game, Wade Boggs was born in Omaha Nebraska in 1958, and was drafted in the 7th round by the Boston Red Sox in 1976. Making his MLB debut in 1982, the left-hander batted .349 his rookie year.
Career Highlights
Boston Red Sox - 1982-1992
- · -12 straight All-Star appearances (Boston & NY)
- · -7 consecutive 200+ hits
- · -6 of 7 seasons 200+ hits, 100+ runs & 40+ doubles
NY Yankees -1992-1996
- · -4 straight .300+ average seasons
- · -2 Gold Glove Awards
- · -1996 World Series Champion
Tampa Bay Devil Rays – 1997 – 1999
- · -3000th hit (first player to hit home run as 3000th hit)
Retired from Baseball in 1999
- · -MLB Hall of Fame Class of 2005
- · -.328 lifetime average
- · -3010 career hits
- · -Boston Red Sox HOF
- · -Jersey retired by Tampa Bay Devil Rays
- · -Voted one of Sporting News’ Top 100 Players of All-Time
Though he was one of the all-time great hitters, Boggs was almost as well-known for his superstitions. He ate chicken before every game, woke up at the same time every day, took exactly 150 ground balls in practice, took batting practice at 5:17 and ran wind sprints at 7:17. His route to and from his position in the field was so precise, an actual path to the home dugout could be seen by mid season. Boggs drew the Hebrew word "Chai" (meaning "life") in the batter's box before each at-bat.
Boggs is widely credited with teaching the Yankees their pitch-selection technique of swinging only at perfect pitches and fouling off the close, but tough to hit pitches. Before Boggs joined the Yankees, they were 14th in pitches per plate appearance, and 4th and then 1st after he came on board. In addition, the Yankees were 12th and 8th in On Base Percentage the two years prior to Boggs arrival, and 2nd the year he joined the team (1993), followed by 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 1st.
Outdoors
Since retirement, Wade has pursued his life-long passion for the outdoors. Taking advantage of the angling opportunities near his home in Tampa, he fishes regularly for both salt and fresh water species.
Wade’s love of hunting has taken him all over the world. He has harvested the Big 5 of dangerous game in Africa, the Four North American Wild Sheep, and a number of North American large and small game animals. One of Wade’s most prized possessions; one that is displayed prominently amongst his numerous baseball honors and awards, is a shotgun that was given to him by fellow Hall of Famer, Ted Williams.
In 2007, Wade Boggs love of the outdoors took a more public direction. He was the original host and co-executive producer of the Wild Sheep Foundation’s Hittin’ the Outdoors, a role he played for two seasons. Choosing to spend more time with his family, today Wade is one of our Big Game Professionals and the primary "featured hunter" on HTO and is a major contributor to its editorial content.
Wally Dallenbach 
Wally Dallenbach, Jr. is one of America's premier road racers. From his humble
beginnings as the 1985 SCCA Trans-Am champion to his 4 time wins of the
prestigious 24 Hours of Daytona, Wally has earned the admiration of American racing
fans by conducting himself as a gentleman, both on and off the track.
Throughout his career Wally has been sought by not only the top car owners, but by the
sport's top sponsors, as well……and for good reason. Wally has totaled over 5 million
dollars in career winnings. In 1999, Wally had numerous top five and top 10 finishes in
The Winston Cup series behind the wheel of the Number 25 Budweiser car, owned by
Rick Hendrick's championship team.
Some of the highlights of Wally's career include:
- 4 Class wins at the grueling Rolex 24 at Daytona and 3 Class wins at the 12 Hours of Sebring
- Youngest SCCA Trans-Am Series Champion when he won the title at age 22
- A second SCCA Trans-Am Series Championship in 1986
- Open Wheel class win, 2006 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
- 226 NASCAR Nextel Cup Series: 6 top 5s, 23 top 10s & 2 2nd places at Watkins Glen
- 16 NASCAR Busch Series: Starts 3 top 10s (2002-2005)
- 2 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series: Starts 1 top 5, 1 top 10 (1995-1996)
- 4 IROC Series: 2 top 5, 3 top 10
In 2001, NBC lured Wally away from full time driving and into the TV broadcast booth as
NBC's expert on camera commentator. Wally now divides his time between
professional driving, professional broadcasting, and production of outdoor television programs.
Growing up in Basalt, Colorado, Wally became an avid outdoorsman at a young age
and has always been true to his roots. Throughout his high profile NASCAR career Wally has remained
an active and effective voice for America's hunters and anglers, producing the highly acclaimed
Track & Trail Adventures television series.
Steve Scott
Steve Scott was born and raised in the northern Oklahoma town of Ponca City. His early exposure to the outdoors by his dad and grandpa fanned the sparks of a passion for the outdoors that burns strong to this day.
Education & Professional Experience
Steve is an attorney, writer, and college professor who hosts and/or produces a number of outdoor television programs. Obtaining a BBA in Finance and a post-graduate degree in Law from the University of Oklahoma, Scott maintained a law practice specializing in tax, estate planning, and sports and entertainment law, with over 50 clients in the NFL, NBA and MLB. During this time, Scott returned to campus in 1987 to serve as an adjunct professor of financial planning, in what is now the Price College of Business, a position he held for 20 years. Always a popular lecturer at the University, he was awarded the University of Oklahoma’s Athletic Department’s “Most Inspirational Professor” award in 2003. In 1998, Scott produced his first television series, The Outdoor Guide, a nationally-syndicated outdoor program, which has been filmed on six continents. In 2001, Scott created Safari Hunter’s Journal, America’s first all-African television series. He later developed and produced other properties, including The Wild Sheep Foundation’s Hittin’ the Outdoors and Big 5: Africa’s Dangerous Game.
Writing Experience
An avid communicator, Scott has written for several outdoor publications, including Petersen’s Hunting, African Sporting Gazette, Game Trails, The Hunting Report & The Bird Hunting Report. In addition, he was the Personal Finance columnist for Oklahoma’s largest newspaper The Daily Oklahoman for several years. In 2007-08, he served as chairman of the board of directors of the PROFESSIONAL OUTDOOR MEDIA ASSOCIATION.
Television Experience
Scott is the Producer and host of the award-winning Steve Scott’s Outdoor Guide, and Safari Hunter’s Journal. In addition, Scott is co-producing two additional programs beginning in 2009, The Wild Sheep Foundation’s Hittin’ the Outdoors and Big 5: Africa’s Dangerous Game. Scott’s production companies, W.E.I. Productions & Safari Television Productions have won numerous awards and recognition for excellence in both commercial television series and industrial video production.
Professional Organizations & Experience
Scott has served on the board of directors of SAFARI CLUB INTERNATIONAL, and as international chairman of SPORTSMEN AGAINST HUNGER, where he was cited by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife for meritorious service. He is a past president of the Oklahoma Chapter of SCI, a life member of the NRA, Dallas Safari Club, Safari Club International, and the Wild Sheep Foundation. He is past chairman of POMA, and is a board member of the USA Shooting Team Foundation. A prolific speaker, Scott has spoken to scores of outdoor and civic groups, discussing conservation, hunter’s rights, and personal finance.
Gray Thornton
Hittin' the Outdoors host Gray Thornton serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Wild Sheep Foundation, the premier sheep and mountain game conservation organization in the world.
Gray brings more than 22 years of successful conservation association leadership and development to the Foundation and its television series which is dedicated to “Putting and Keeping Sheep on the Mountain.”
Prior to joining the Wild Sheep Foundation, Thornton served as Executive Director of the Dallas Safari Club and Editor in Chief of Game Trails magazine, the Official Journal of the association. During his tenure with Dallas Safari Club, membership grew 600%; fundraising net revenues increased 700%, cash reserves 800% and grants to mission programs 1000%.
Gray is a certified Hunter Safety Instructor for the California Department of Fish and Game, a visiting lecturer at several universities and has conducted hundreds of radio and television interviews and debates and written numerous articles promoting ethical hunting, fly-fishing, conservation, wildlife utilization, water and habitat quality and firearm ownership.
He has been involved in several sportsmen’s political campaigns as an advisor, media spokesman and fundraiser, has advocated sportsmen’s issues at the state, national and international level and co-founded and chaired a sportsmen’s lobbying organization, Valley Coalition for Constitutional Rights in California.
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 former Presidents of the United States of America, France and South Africa.
Gray is an active member of numerous organizations including a Professional Member of the Boone & Crocket Club, where he has served as Chairman of the Associates Committee and Editor in Chief of Fair Chase magazine. He is a Life Member of Wild Sheep Foundation, Wyoming Wild Sheep Foundation, Dallas Safari Club, Texas Bighorn Society, Safari Club International, Trout Unlimited and is an Endowment Member of National Rifle Association. He is also is a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Federation of Fly Fishers, Coastal Conservation Association and International Game Fish Association.
His professional affiliations include membership in the Outdoor Writers Association of America, Texas Outdoor Writers Association, Life Member of the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa, Life Member of the Guide Outfitter Association of British Columbia and member of the Namibia Professional Hunters Association and International Professional Hunter’s Association.
In November of 2004, Gray was awarded the “Wildlife Utilisation Award” by the Professional Hunters Association of South Africa (PHASA), the Association’s highest conservation honor. In November of 2007, he received PHASA’s highest service honor, the Coenraad Vermaak Distinguished Service Award and is the only non South African to be so recognized. In March of 2011, Gray received the President’s Award from the Guide Outfitter Association of British Columbia for his years of dedicated service to the hunting and conservation community. As an Outdoor Writer, he received a Katie Award in 2004 from the Press Club of Dallas representing the southern USA for the best Outdoor Story of the Year with “Iron Horse Fly Fishing.”
In 2005, and again in 2011, Gray was elected to serve a three-year term on the Steering Committee of the American Wildlife Conservation Partners where he currently chairs the Communications Ad Hoc committee. In 2007, Gray was elected to the Board of Directors of The Conservation Fund where he serves on the Governance Committee and in April of 2007, he was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Banovich Wildscape Fund to support global conservation initiatives. In August of 2011, Thornton was elected to the Board of Directors of Bear Trust International.
Gray’s interests include wildlife conservation, writing, fresh and salt water fly-fishing, hunting, fly-tying, sporting clays and practical pistol competition, motorcycling, cross country skiing, mountaineering and technical ice-climbing.
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.
Gray has hunted big and small game throughout North America, including Alaska; he has hunted in Germany, Mexico, New Zealand and has been on sixteen safaris in southern Africa. He has hunted and taken under Fair Chase conditions 45 different species of big game. He is an avid fly fisherman with 85 different species caught on the fly and released and has fly-fished fresh and salt water throughout North America, Alaska, Mexico, Chile, New Zealand, Africa, Venezuela, and The Bahamas.
Gray and his wife Kelli, and their Weimaraners, Beretta and Sage, and Vizsla, Sienna, reside outside of Cody, Wyoming.