Kevin Costner Shares His Love for Hunting at Dallas Event
I first crossed paths with Kevin Costner a few years back, when an agent friend invited me to join a small group of Hollywood A-listers for a feral hog hunt along California’s Central Coast. The wild pig population had exploded, causing major issues for local farmers and vintners—who were more than happy to have some help thinning the numbers.
Having spent time around celebrities who were intrigued by outdoor adventures but often lacked real-world experience, I approached the hunt with some caution—especially with firearms involved. But it didn’t take long to see that Costner was the real deal. During our pre-hunt rifle checks, it was clear he wasn’t just playing a cowboy on screen. He was calm, competent, and clearly at home with a rifle in hand. It turns out Costner had grown up hunting, falling in love with the outdoor lifestyle early on.
He recently shared more about that passion during a keynote speech at the Park Cities Quail Coalition banquet in Dallas—a marquee event often referred to as “conservation’s greatest night.” This year’s gala drew over 1,200 notable Texas business leaders and philanthropists and raised an impressive $3.5 million for bobwhite quail conservation efforts.
“We’ve raised more than $18 million for conservation since 2007,” said event founder and organizer Joe Crafton.
If the hunting and conservation world had its own Oscars, this would be it. A highlight of the night is the presentation of the T. Boone Pickens Lifetime Sportsman Award, named for the legendary financier and quail enthusiast. Past recipients have included Ted Turner, Tom Brokaw, George Strait, and Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris—leaders whose contributions to conservation echo the legacy of Teddy Roosevelt.
