2013 - J. Alain Smith, Washington
J. Alain Smith is a hunter, writer, and businessman whose success has allowed him to venture to all points of the globe in search of hunting adventures. An author of six books, with a television show airing in 2014 he continues actively pursuing adventure anywhere he can find it.
Born in Prince Albert, Sask. Canada, Alain and his family moved to the USA when his father was transferred with his job. Sports and family outings in the outdoors consumed his youth.
Attending Chico State University, Alain left after two years to play professional soccer until injuries ended his budding career. He then went into business for himself at the age of 23 years old, starting out in the commercial painting business and real estate before starting a shipping company to Kodiak Alaska. He eventually merged that business with another to create a family shipping company with his brothers and father that still operates today. He finished his education graduating from the Harvard Business School.
Alain’s hunting career began with ducks and pheasant in Washington State, before moving up to big game while he lived and worked in Alaska. His first big game animal was a Sitka Black tail deer, which is still one of his favorite species to hunt. Hunting with family and friends is his favorite past time. Both of his daughters have accompanied him on trips to far flung places around the world when they get a break from their busy schedules. Alain has collected a large number of different species from across the globe, all of the SCI slams and the coveted Big 5 of Africa.
Alain believes that we as hunters all need to give something back to our sport, through volunteering our time, investing our money and being proactive in making sure our rights as hunters are protected and that are children and grandchildren will be able to enjoy hunting as well. He has written several hunting books and three novels with all the proceeds from the sales going to Conservation programs and projects. Alain is proud to be a board member of the Safari Club International Foundation and the Hunter Legacy Fund as well as a lifetime member of GSOC, Dallas Safari Club, Ducks Unlimited, NRA and the Wild Sheep Foundation.