I've been an avid reader of AR for a number of years and nothing gets my blood boiling and motivated to finally register and post than the topic of Grand Slam/Club Ovis, i.e., Dennis Campbell and his pack of self serving lemmings full of more money and testosterone than common sense.
First order of business is a historical account of The Grand Slam Club, GSCO, it's founder Bob Householder, and the term or trademark GRAND SLAM.

According to THE DICKSON BASEBALL DICTIONARY, the term GRAND SLAM originated in the 1880's via the card game of contract bridge in which a GRAND SLAM involves taking all 13 possible tricks. As far back as 1936 the American Contract Bridge League used the term "GRAND SLAM FORCE". Shortly thereafter professional baseball in America began using the term GRAND SLAM.

In the 1950's outdoor writer Grancell Fitz first used the term GRAND SLAM to describe the harvest of all four species of North American Wild Sheep. It was not until 1967 that Bob Householder registered the trademark GRAND SLAM for the Grand Slam Club. Unfortunately for Householder,and the Grand Slam Club, whose checkered past Dennis Campbell and GSCO refuse to disclose, in 1962 baseball bat maker Hillerich & Bradsby had already filed and received a trademark for the term GRAND SLAM. Sadly, Grand Slam Club founder Bob Householder was arrested in March 1983 on sex charges with four girls in his Phoenix neighborhood ages 10 - 14. He was later forced to resign his job at the Arizona Department of Transportation. All this information can be found in The Arizona Republic City newspaper dated March 26, 1983 in an article titled, "Hunter arrested on morals charge". If any AR members would like a copy of the newspaper article regarding Bob Householder they can send me a private email or get their own copy by contacting AskALibrarian@oclc.org or contacting the City of Phoenix Public Library for a back edition of the Arizona Republic City on microfilm.. Submit an Interlibrary Loan request to: 1221 N. Central Ave., Phoenix, AZ. 85004.

What GSCO and Dennis Campbell refuse to publish in their magazine is that many other entities have registered the trademark GRAND SLAM. Among them are:
Denny's Restaurant - "Grand Slam Breakfast".
Stover Seed Company - Grand Slam Perennial Ryegrass Blend
Grand Slam Tennis Properties, Ltd, under license by EA Sports
Grand Slam Tennis 2 (video game) by EA Sports
International Game Fish Association, IGFA - Grand Slam Clubs (www.igfa.org/Clubs/Grand-Slam.aspx
Florida Grand Slam Club, www.igfa.org, HQ@igfa.org

Even the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a Grand Slam fishing records program in association with the IGFA.

The point of this historical perspective is that GSCO had no reason to sue The Wild Sheep Foundation for use or trademark infringement of the term GRAND SLAM other than their own self serving monetary interest - NOT WILD SHEEP CONSERVATION!!!

But GSCO, Dennis Campbell, and Tom Miranda would not be satisfied with just the trademark GRAND SLAM. With their money and attorney's they then went after bowhunter Chuck Adams and his trademark "SUPER SLAM". Adams had registered and received his trademark for SUPER SLAM in 1990 and 1991! Is there anyone who believes this was done in the name of wild animal conservation?

Anyone can research: Adams v. Grand Slam Club/Ovis United States District Court, Tenth Circuit, Birmingham, Alabama, January 10, 2014, Charles C. Adams, Jr., Plaintiff v. Grand Slam Club/Ovis, an Alabama corporation, Defendant. Unfortunately Chuck Adams lost in court and could not retain his trademark SUPER SLAM. Again, if any AR members have trouble locating this court decision just pm me with your address and I will gladly mail you a copy.

If anyone on AR professes to be a conservationist/hunter and is concerned about wild sheep conservation they need to join The Wild Sheep Foundation, not GSCO! Hopefully with forums such as AR the truth about GSCO will be revealed to the North American hunting community. I previously sent all this information to The Hunting Report Newsletter and they never published such. Could it be becasue GSCO consistently advertises in The Hunting Report Newsletter?

Finally, if this long winded and hopefully informative post has anyone tired of reading I suggest you go to your local Denny's Restaurant and order a Grand Slam breakfast. Who knows - maybe it will make some of you better sheep hunters! Maybe as you're eating your Grand Slam breakfast you'll read in the USA Today or a local newspaper that GSCO and Dennis Campbell have decided to sue Hank Aaron, Bud Selig and Professional Baseball for trademark infringement of the term "GRAND SLAM". For those of you who choose to remain as members of GSCO the old circus huckster P. T. Barnum is surely looking down on you from heaven with a big smile on his face and thinking, "There's a sucker born every minute".

Very informative. Thanks for the information.

Like I said, Bob started this all as an official record-keeping "club" and it's evolved into big business for the self-serving. Bob truly would roll over in his grave if he knew where, why, who and how this has been a big mess lately.
I'm motivated to join WSF again! I'm sorry I haven't been a member for several years.

Zeke

Zeke,
It has not been a mess lately. This charade by Dennis Campbell and his GSCO has gone on for a number of years. About two years ago I personally contacted former WSF Director Raymond Lee. Even he was unaware that Dennis Campbell, Tom Miranda, and GSCO had stolen the trademark Super Slam from Chuck Adams. I also provided all this information to current WSF Executive Director Gray Thornton. All he did was send an email explaining the efforts of wild sheep conservation by WSF.

Can anyone explain the basic differences between the 2 organizations? Also, the similarities?

Which one puts on the show in Reno?

I lost ALL respect for Grand Slam/Club Ovis when they filed a Lawsuit against FNAS!!!

That was very enlightening . Leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

Not that it matters, but here is where I am at.

I bought into a life membership with the Boone and Crocket Club, FNAWS and RMEF about 15 years ago, I wouldn't have joined them or GSCO today.

I like Long Range Magazine and that is about it.

I also supported The RMEF but during the introduction of the Wolves they refused to take a stand. I asked them through numerous E-mails and they simply refused? I dropped my support and years later they FINALLY took a stand,by then it was WAY TO LATE!!!

I wasn't aware of the other problems GSCO has had but I did know about the theft of the term SUPER SLAM from Chuck Adams. The irony of that was early in Tom Miranda's career Chuck Adams had mentored him. The thanks he received apparently was to get sued and have Miranda declare that only the people who registered with GSCO had an "official" grand slam. Adams and Several other bowhunters I'm aware of didn't bother and told GSCO to shove it.

From everything I've ever heard FNAWS is the better choice. More into conservation then just record keeping and awards.

I just got a mailing today from GSCO telling me that I had never participated in one of their drawings for hunts. That is true.

One side was a long page with the title "FULLY GUIDED HUNTS WITH TOP QUALITY OUTFITTERS." There were 15 outfitters listed which apparently are the outfitters providing the hunts that are in the drawings. Fair enough. One caught my eye. Alaska Trophy Hunts with Tom Shankster.

Tom Shankster was arrested either this year or last for a variety of game law violations. Some members here had HORRIBLE experiences with Mr. Shankster.

This made me wonder about the entire drawing with GSCO. Buyer beware. I am not familiar with any of the others.

I used to be a member of GSCO when they were just about the only source of current information on Asian sheep and goat hunting. But for all of the above and other reasons, I haven't been a member for a some long time now...

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Can anyone explain the basic differences between the 2 organizations? Also, the similarities?

Which one puts on the show in Reno?

Larry, both organizations have their shows in Reno. From what I see the Wild Sheep Foundation is more blue collar, North America based and does work toward sheep conservation.
I don't know a lot about GSCO but it seems a rich mans club looking at international hunting and trophy record books.

quote:

Originally posted by Nevada Wapati:

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
Can anyone explain the basic differences between the 2 organizations? Also, the similarities?

Which one puts on the show in Reno?

Larry, both organizations have their shows in Reno. From what I see the Wild Sheep Foundation is more blue collar, North America based and does work toward sheep conservation.
I don't know a lot about GSCO but it seems a rich mans club looking at international hunting and trophy record books.

I joined GSCO basically to get the magazine. I enjoyed reading about the members grand slams.

After noticing Tom Shankster on the list of outfitters for which they are raffling hunts , I am now very wary of GSCO.

I have spent some time investigating and learning about both.
I have joined WSF as a life member and avoid GSCO. Here is why -

WSF is about conservation, education and are extremely focused on sheep and sheep hunters. They have some awards but nothing to the extent of GSCO.

I have read GSCO's magazine and called them about the auctions and raffles. First, they are a money making machine. Dennis Campbell has several family members on the payroll. I have yet to hear or see them "DO" anything for sheep conservation or adding to the resource. They are an "awards" type group much like SCI. They have carved up the different sheep/goats into a variety of "slams". Sound familiar???

I prefer the message of WSF and am avoiding GSCO - much like the differences between SCI and DSC.