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Why Should I Enter My Trophy?

By Jason Rounsaville, Executive Director

The Pope And Young Club https://pope-young.org

Ihave the good fortune of traveling all over the country, meeting hunters of all descriptions. When they find out I work for Pope and Young, I hear all kinds of excitement, confusion, and the occasional hesitation. There are many things that need to be clarified about records organizations...

The Pope and Young measuring system is based on and used with the permission of the Boone and Crockett system. There are a few differences, but overall a very similar system, and our organizations work together very closely to ensure the integrity of both programs. The most recent measuring manual was a joint project between both organizations. The Boone and Crockett system was initially a way to document big game species in the fear that many of these species would become extinct. Fortunately, they underestimated the North American hunter and wildlife conservation potential. The Pope and Young records were developed to prove to federal and state fish and game agencies that the bow and arrow was an effective way to harvest mature animals across the spectrum of species. The program was successful because we now have archery seasons across North America. There are several reasons why a person chooses not to enter an animal. Too much hassle, don’t know a measurer, don’t want their secret spot disclosed, or don’t want to hear the truth of an official score on their trophy. Many hunters seem satisfied with the measurements they get from their uncle’s buddy. It takes a multi-day official measuring course, stringent training, a 268-page manual, and the passing of a test to become an official measurer.

Here are some reasons why you should choose to enter your trophies. It gives you a true official and accepted measurement of your trophy. Your entry and associated fees help contribute to conservation efforts. All the records programs I’m aware of have a component that gives back to the resource. The records programs are used for scientific studies, from the effectiveness of management strategies to gauging habitat quality. They provide valuable information to wildlife managers across the continent. These records provide thousands of individual specimen measurements and millions of data points using a standardized measuring process across the entire spectrum of North American species. Our duty as a hunter is to contribute toward managing the animals we pursue. Plus, your trophy-caliber animal deserves it.

Congress Delivers Big Win For Deer, Elk And Hunters

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) www.rmef.org

Critical financial help is on the way for researchers and game managers dealing with chronic wasting disease (CWD). Congress included the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Research and Management Act within the Omnibus Budget Bill that passed prior to adjournment of the recently completed 117th session.

“This funding to fight CWD was a 2022 legislative priority for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and is vitally important for the future of elk and other ungulates, CWD research, wildlife management and hunting,” said Kyle Weaver, RMEF president and CEO. “We salute Congress and thank our coalition partners, RMEF members and sportsmen and women for helping to push this across the finish line.”

RMEF worked with the Boone and Crockett Club to organize a coalition of conservation and wildlife organizations that worked together for a year and a half leading up to the legislative victory.

“This took a lot of heavy lifting and work behind the scenes,” said Blake Henning, RMEF chief conservation officer. “RMEF met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and had at least 50 calls or meetings with staff and members to get bipartisan sponsors and secure votes for passage. RMEF members also generated hundreds of letters to their representatives that helped turn the tide.”

The legislation bolsters CWD research to develop testing methods, enhance detection efforts, better understand genetic resistance and assists with management by prioritizing funding for state and tribal wildlife agencies that have the highest incidence and greatest risk of CWD. Congress appropriated $19.5 million for CWD efforts in 2023.

RMEF is a founding member and sponsor of the Chronic Wasting Disease Alliance. In January 2022, RMEF announced the allocation of $100,000 in grant funding to assist with research promoting the scientific understanding of CWD.

CWD is a progressive, degenerative and always fatal nervous system disease found in both farmed and free-ranging deer, elk and moose. It may be transmitted through direct animal-to-animal contact, contact with saliva, feces or carcass parts of an infected animal, and may also spread through soil contaminated with any of the above fluids or tissues. So far, scientists confirmed its presence in 30 states, five Canadian provinces and two countries overseas.