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Volume 30

Number 4

Winter 2014

Wildlife management has continued to evolve with greater sensitivity to ecosystems and endangered species.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 4

From the Editor | In this Issue...................................................................................Mark B. Steffen

From the President | The Future of Wildlife Management ...................... William A. Demmer Human Population Growth and Demographics................. Shawn J. Riley and Gary J. Roloff

10 Capitol Comments | Our Industry Partners ................................................... Steven Williams 14 BENCH ACCURACY V. FIELD ACCURACY...................................Wayne van Zwoll P.14

18 UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL .........................................................................Chuck Adams P.18

22 .300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM...............................................................Craig Boddington 24 TRAILBLAZER SPOTLIGHT | Boyt Harness Company ............................. Tony Caligiuri

P.22

28 TOP DOWN VERSUS BOTTOM UP | 35 Years as a Field-Biologist..... Eric Rominger 36 THE COOPERATIVE FISH AND

WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNITS | Ding’s Brilliant Idea .......................... John F. Organ

P.24

42 Milestones in Conservation ................................................................................ B&C Staff P.28

46 B&C Professor’s Corner | Adult-Onset Hunters............................. Jordan Pusateri Burroughs 48 COLORADO MULE DEER BY THE NUMBERS .......................... Justin E. Spring

P.36

56 For Home, Cabin or in the Field ............................................................... Product Reviews P.42

58 Wild Gourmet | Pan-Seared Chukar Breast with Lemon Vinaigrette ................. Scott Leysath 60 Trophy Talk | Trophy Owners Can Now Challenge B&C Deer Boundaries ............ Jack Reneau

P.46

64 Beyond The Score | Sponsored by OnX Maps ........................... Justin E. Spring 66 Generation Next | 29th Awards Youth Trophy List

P.48

P.58

P.60

P.64

68 Recently Accepted Trophies | 29th Awards Program Entries.

74 Trophy Photo Gallery.............................. Sponsored by Realtree Xtra Green

the Last word

Elitist, Intolerant and Divisive – They Got It Backwards.............. Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr.

FROM THE EDITOR In this Issue Connections, connections, connections. Akin to the real estate industry axiom location, location, location, the Mark B. Steffen Boone and Crockett EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Club brings together Chairman B&C the finest minds in Publications Committee industry, conservation, and science to thoughtfully advance the concerns and needs of our wildlands, wildlife, and the hunter-conservationist. Frequently, as but an observer, I find the brilliance of these individuals thrilling. But, collectively, they are epic. From position statements to cutting-edge science, to new legislation, to leadership academies, B&C has a firm hand in guiding society into a successful future. No shortage of credit belongs squarely in the lap of our outgoing president, Mr. William Demmer. His presidential influence will pay lofty dividends to our constituency for decades. Thank you Bill! Job well done. For the sake of brevity, I want to point out two articles in particular. For our extreme hunters, please see Justin Spring’s article on page 48. It is an intricate look at the functionality of the B&C records database and its online content application Trophy Search. As a serious trophy hunter myself with 15-plus

Colorado mule deer preference points, I was particularly captivated. The system’s use is infinite and extends to all species and locals. I sure think the world of Justin. He is a class act and a real asset to the Club serving as Assistant Director of Records. I admire greatly those individuals with both academic smarts tempered by boots-on-the-ground, real-world experience. It’s that combination that yields great results—and that’s Justin! That combination of grit and academic accomplishment also describes Eric Rominger. Eric, a B&C Professional Member, has spent a lifetime in the field researching our beloved wild critters. His piece, Top-down versus Bottom-up, 35 Years as a Field Biologist, looks at his research in New Mexico involving desert sheep, reviews multiple other well done studies, and culminates in a critical assessment and opinion regarding predator management moving into the future. I cannot stress enough how important his guidance on predator management is! We have had the return of the wolf forced on the majority of us, to the steep decline of many of our big game populations. Eric clearly defines why these predators must be tightly controlled. Read this article twice and incorporate its message, please! A tree stand and the peak of the whitetail rut are calling my name today. Enjoy the magazine, renew your subscription, sign up a friend, and enjoy the ride. n

FAIR CHASE PRODUCTION STAFF Editor-in-Chief & Publications Chairman Mark B. Steffen Managing Editor Karlie Slayer Conservation and History Editor Steven Williams Research and Education Editor John F. Organ Hunting and Ethics Editor Mark Streissguth Assistant Editors Keith Balfourd Jim Bequette CJ Buck Marc Mondavi Jack Reneau Tony A. Schoonen Julie L. Tripp Editorial Contributors Chuck Adams Craig Boddington Jordan Pusateri Burroughs Tony Caligiuri William A. Demmer John F. Organ Daniel A. Pedrotti, Jr. Jack Reneau Shawn J. Riley Gary J. Roloff Eric Rominger Justin E. Spring Steven Williams Wayne van Zwoll Photographic Contributors Victor Clark Peter Eades Donald M. Jones Rebecca Spring

Fair Chase is published quarterly by the Boone and Crockett Club and distributed to its Members and Associates. Material in this magazine may be freely quoted and/or reprinted in other publications and media, so long as proper credit is given to Fair Chase. The only exception applies to articles that are reprinted in Fair Chase from other magazines, in which case, the Club does not hold the reprint rights. The opinions expressed by the contributors of articles are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Boone and Crockett Club. Fair Chase (ISSN 1077-4627) is published for $35 per year by the Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801. Periodical postage is paid in Missoula, Montana, and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Fair Chase, Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801 Phone: (406) 542-1888 Fax: (406) 542-0784

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FROM THE PRESIDENT The Future of Wildlife Management It seems like only yesterday that I was installed as the 31st president of the Boone and Crockett Club at William A. Demmer our 2012 annual meeting in New York PRESIDENT Boone and Crockett Club City. It has been an honor for me to serve the Club and work to promote its mission and vision. I have particularly enjoyed preparing these past eight president’s columns for our award-winning Fair Chase magazine, which was launched in 1994 during Steve Adams’ term as Club president. With Steve’s support, Professional Member George Bettas developed the format for the magazine as he designed it along with Julie Tripp to become the Club’s mechanism to promote conservation, scientific game and habitat management and hunting ethics. The magazine replaced the Associates Newsletter and was circulated to Club Members, Associates, and Official Measurers. Terrific articles have been presented over the years describing legendary hunts and inspiring many of us to dream and plan to replicate such adventure. There has been much debate over the past several years as to the proper balance of Fair Chase content to include for our readers’ edification and enjoyment. Recent readership polls indicate that we are doing it just about right. Exciting and educational hunting stories mixed with articles focusing on hunting ethics, conservation and conservation policy provide both the Club’s Membership and Associates with information to spread the gospel of the 21st century hunter-conservationist. I have enjoyed introducing Fair Chase readers to important topics that are impacting the hunter-conservation world. Our Boone and Crockett Professional Members have then taken these topics and written about the science behind the challenges and then talked about the conservation policy the Club is working to affect. For all hunterconservationists, it is important to understand the issues surrounding challenges like wildlife diseases, predator management, land fragmentation, hunting and land ethics—and truly grasp the fact that the hunter and

fisherman pay for the lion’s share of conservation management. The Boone and Crockett Club is most appreciative of the support we receive from our Associates, whether it comes from Fair Chase subscriptions, becoming a Lifetime Associate or providing support to our Club Foundation. Do know that your financial support assists us in carrying out our mission that will provide hunting and shared-use access for future generations. The focus for this, my last, Fair Chase article is “The Future of Wildlife Management.” Before I discuss the future challenges

evolved the codified concept that in the U.S, wildlife and fish belong to all the people and the stewardship of that fauna is entrusted to the individual states. This public trust doctrine is at the heart of our North American Model of Wildlife Management. When Theodore Roosevelt became president, he made conservation a key national focus. Roosevelt’s bully pulpit and George Bird Grinnell’s magazine, Forest and Stream, provided the conservation movement the voice it required to motivate the public and Congress to action. Most early conservation efforts centered on expanding and preserving habitat and creating more public lands. The nation’s first forester, Gifford Pinchot, also a Boone and Crockett Member, managed the nation’s forests with a utilitarian attitude, “Manage for the long term, and manage for the greatest good for the greatest number.” Theodore Roosevelt and the Boone and Crockett Club were laying the groundwork for the evolution of professional wildlife management. While president, Roosevelt pressed hard for wildlife and habitat protection, but also believed in protecting land for public use. Legislation passed during this time, much of it the brainchild of Roosevelt, Grinnell, and the Club, set the table for much of the institutions for conservation we have today. Before he left the office of president he set aside over 230 million acres of public land that included 51 federal bird reservations, 5 national parks, 18 national monuments, the first 4 national game preserves, and the first 21 reclamation projects. During the 1930s and 1940s, wildlife protection, land preservation and research began to merge into an evolving science known as wildlife management as did the birth of a funding model to pay for this management. Ding Darling, Club Member and head of the Bureau of Biological Survey was instrumental in creating the American Wildlife Institute, now named the Wildlife Management Institute, as a small, independent scientific and educational organization that would apply professional management to wildlife resource issues. The Club helped lay the conceptual ground work, provided the legislative channels, and rallied broad public and political support to pass the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act to help begin to pay for

For all hunter-conservationists, it is important to understand the issues surrounding challenges like wildlife diseases, predator management, land fragmentation, hunting and land ethics—and truly grasp the fact that the hunter and fisherman pay for the lion’s share of conservation management.

6 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

of wildlife management, I want to reflect on the evolution of wildlife conservation since the founding of our Boone and Crockett Club. Before the Boone and Crockett Club, the term conservation was little known and little used anywhere in the world. Theodore Roosevelt and his friend George Bird Grinnell recognized that our wildlife resources and their habitat were in danger of disappearing from the landscape. The Boone and Crockett Club was formed to address the issues surrounding the potential collapse of these natural resources. The promotion of conservation became their battle cry. Our Boone and Crockett Professor at Michigan State University, Dr. William Porter, touts conservation in the same league of great social movements such as monotheism from the ancient Egyptians and modern democracy with advent of the Magna Carta. The Magna Carta was actually cited in a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 1842 protecting public access to New Jersey oyster beds; with that ruling

conservation and management programs. The leader of this national effort to become more sophisticated in our capacity to influence the health of our wildlife populations was Aldo Leopold. After having made an intensive study of wildlife populations in the Midwest and then becoming the first professor of game management at the University of Wisconsin, he published a book titled Game Management, the first book dealing with the subject in North America which led to Leopold, also a Boone and Crockett Member, being affectionately known as the father of wildlife management and wrote extensively on the subject of land ethics. Many of his thoughts are captured in his seminal book, A Sand County Almanac. Wildlife management has continued to evolve with greater sensitivity to ecosystems and endangered species. The federal farm bills for years have provided incentives for habitat restoration and creation. There

are still many challenges facing us. Future challenges include competition for water and land, disease, human conflicts, and evolving technology. Our authors this month, Professor Shawn Riley and Professor Gary Roloff, both with Michigan State University’s Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, will discuss the future of wildlife management, those things that will affect this management, and what solutions are being discussed in a regular column in Fair Chase. Our first topic will be Human Population Growth and Demographics. I want to personally thank both Shawn and Gary for their contributions to our magazine. I also want to thank again the previous authors who have contributed to our science and policy column. It has been an honor for me to have been able to provide an opportunity for our Boone and Crockett Professionals to communicate their thoughts and passions to our Associates and Members. n

The Club helped lay the conceptual ground work, provided the legislative channels, and rallied broad public and political support to pass the Pittman-Robertson Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act to help begin to pay for conservation and management programs. BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOUNDED IN 1887 BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT

CLUB Club President William A. Demmer Secretary Tom L. Lewis Treasurer Marshall J. Collins, Jr. Executive Vice President – Administration Timothy C. Brady Executive Vice President – Conservation Morrison Stevens, Sr. Vice President of Administration James F. Arnold Vice President of Big Game Records Eldon L. “Buck” Buckner Vice President of Conservation Stephen P. Mealey Vice President of Communications Marc C. Mondavi Foundation President B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Class of 2014 James Cummins Class of 2015 CJ Buck Class of 2016 Ned S. Holmes FOUNDATION Foundation President B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Secretary Tom L. Lewis Treasurer C. Martin Wood III Vice President James J. Shinners Vice President John A. Tomke Class of 2014 Remo R. Pizzagalli Edward B. Rasmuson James J. Shinners John A. Tomke Leonard J. Vallender Class of 2015 Gary W. Dietrich B.B. Hollingsworth, Jr. Ned S. Holmes Tom L. Lewis Paul M. Zelisko Class of 2016 John P. Evans Steve J. Hageman R. Terrell McCombs Earl L. Sherron, Jr. C. Martin Wood III

Fair FairChase ChaseWinter Winter2014 2014

The Future of Wildlife… The Series

If sportsmen are responsible for most the wildlife programs we have today, then it stands to reason sportsmen will take care of the future. If it were only that simple.

8 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

We Use The Word “Sustainability” A Lot, So This Is More Than A Casual Topic As sportsmen, we care about wildlife. More accurately, sportsmen care about all wildlife. Others might criticize that we only care about what we can hunt. It might appear that way because we are most vocal and engaged with game species, but do any of us know another sportsman who doesn’t appreciate seeing other critters, or isn’t troubled when wildlife isn’t being looked after like we are capable of, or worse, neglected, wasted, or dying needlessly? If you’re at all in doubt about this “all wildlife” statement, just follow the money poured into the system by sportsmen, and see where it goes. “Benefits all wildlife” is what you’ll find. Look at the organizations to which you belong. The sign on the door might read elk, whitetail deer, turkey, or pheasants, but the benefactors of their efforts you are supporting extends deeper and broader than just these game species. The sign over the Boone and Crockett door certainly reads “All wildlife,” maybe even more so because our logo has no critter on it. If sportsmen care about all wildlife, then the future of wildlife is an important discussion to have; maybe one of the most important of our times. Opinions vary as to the current state and future of wildlife. Many—far too many—believe that wildlife will always be with us because natural systems have always thrived on their own—a balance-of-nature philosophy we’ll expose as shortsighted, if not dangerous. This same group also believes wildlife has always been there. What they’re missing is the fact that we drove some wildlife on this continent to extinction and many other species to near extinction. These believers are also short on the fact that many of the wildlife species that exist today were recovered from remnant populations, which took purpose and commitment, and it was sportsmen that supplied the horsepower for both. We could end this future of wildlife discussion right here. If sportsmen are responsible for most the wildlife programs we have today, then it stands to reason sportsmen will take care of the future. If it were only that simple. The majority of people do not hunt, but that doesn’t mean they have given up a right to say how wildlife is used or managed. In our democracy, they have a say, a big say. This means there are more stakeholders than sportsmen with a diversity of

experience and opinion than ever before. And there are other gremlins in the machine with a host of new and developing challenges coming our way. They are gnawing at the wires that connect a complex system aimed at ensuring wildlife’s future. Shawn J. Riley and Gary J. Roloff Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University

The future of wildlife and wildlife management is a huge topic, maybe one of those elephants in the room. We owe it to ourselves, and wildlife, to address this question; to make a full assessment of where we are, how we got here, and what might be over the next ridge. Taking inventory, we’ll quickly find that such an assessment includes a mouthful of terms like human population growth and demographics, globalization, technological developments, urbanization and suburbanization, and socio-political movements. There are others, and they sound like pretty dry subjects that could be difficult to get our minds around. Yet, we assure you that once we start diving into these topics one at a time, the clarity and relevance to conservation should be readily apparent and a concern for anyone interested in the future of wildlife and the future of hunting. Let’s tackle this elephant together, one bite at a time. Human Population Growth and Demographics

These are widely discussed topics in both scientific literature and the conservation community. For the human population in North America, there are some pronounced demographics—characteristics of a given population—in play that will change the way conservation will be viewed and practiced. The United States’ population is getting older, and the hunting population is getting even older. The largest age classes are 20-30 and 50-60 years old. This 50 to 60-year-old group represents the last of the baby boomers. Over the next 20 or so years, they also represent the loss of the greatest generation of hunter-conservationists North America has known in modern times. Baby boomers and their parents created an engine for conservation through political support for wildlife and hunting, established current funding models for conservation, and paid into them, big time. Research in several key states indicates recruitment of young hunters and

retention of older hunters is not sufficient to offset a currently aging hunter population. Recruitment and retention are no doubt top priorities, but we need to be realistic at the same time about the magnitude of losing the baby boomer generation. Recent data show an uptick in hunter participation overall, and within those data, more women are taking up hunting. That is encouraging. The question is, even if recruitment and retention programs are wildly successful, will they be enough to replace the loss of this huge swell of boomers in light of all the other social change underway? Fly-fishing received a gift from the 1992 movie; A River Runs Through It. Participation in fly-fishing went through the roof over the next five years. Manufacturers couldn’t make fly rods and accessories fast enough. But, this was short-lived. Those who truly embraced the passion of flyfishing stayed. The rest started peddling their $700 fly rods on E-bay—evidence of how quickly public interests shift. The baby boomer affect will have

ramifications to our sportsmen-funded, state agency conservation programs. It is predicted to have enough effect to change these programs as we know them. Consequentially, future wildlife conservation will depend on developing new funding strategies and marketing aimed at people who appreciate wildlife in myriad ways, yet who may not be hunters. These folks mostly are not antihunters, they just aren’t hunters, or they aren’t interested in hunting, yet. Conservation funding is a big part of the elephant we’ll leave for the next issue of Fair Chase. What about that younger generation? The 20- to 30-year-old students we see in our classes now represent a breadth of interests related to wildlife. These students are bright, tend to be passionate about wildlife, yet also tend to be non-hunters. Again, they are not anti-hunters, they’re just ambivalent toward hunting. The trend is also reflected in students who intend to be wildlife professionals. What does this part of the elephant mean? Not only are the characteristics of current users of wildlife changing, so are the characteristics of future wildlife professionals.

Fact is, a majority of future wildlife professionals may have little or no direct experience with hunting. This younger generation is just as passionate about wildlife as older generations; the origin of those passions is simply different. Sustainability of wildlife conservation lies in mobilizing these new fires of passion to further wildlife conservation. Ethnic shifts within the current North American population are likely to have long-term effects on the nature of wildlife conservation. For example, growing Hispanic, Muslim, and Asian segments share few traditions and cultural practices that include hunting as a conservation measure. This new set of stakeholders presents exciting but challenging opportunities. How can we help these new people be just as excited as we are about the wonders of wildlife and help them adapt, and adapt ourselves, to a new future? In the next issue of Fair Chase, B&C Professional Member Greg Schildwachter, Ph.D., will dig into the issues we face to ensure adequate funding for our North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. n

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

CAPITOL COMMENTS Our Industry Partners The Wildlife Management Institute was founded by Club members in 1911 and Steven Williams, Ph.D. quickly supported by firearms and PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Boone and Crockett Club ammunition industry leaders concerned PRESIDENT about the plight of Wildlife Management wildlife in this country. Institute Years of subsistence and market hunting with little regulation and no regard for sustainability led to a nation with vast expanses of land devoid of wildlife. Recognizing this condition was detrimental to their future business, and with genuine and personal concern about the state of wildlife, these leaders formed an organization that would ultimately help shape wildlife conservation for years to come. Later, these industry leaders agreed to redirect an existing manufacturers’ excise tax on firearms and ammunition to support wildlife conservation. With the conceptual ground work and legislative channels provided by the Club, along with this industry support, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act, known as the Pittman-Robertson Act, passed Congress in 1937. These funds would become an essential component of state fish and wildlife agencies’ funding. The combination of license fees and excise tax apportionments annually provided more than $1.3 billion worth of wildlife conservation efforts during the last few years. Although I have written about this “economic engine for conservation” numerous times, I have wondered how industry views its return on this investment. In 2011, Andrew Loftus Consulting and Southwick and Associates, Inc., published a report titled, “Financial Returns to Industry from the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Program.” It garnered some interest and press releases then, but it is probably more germane today than ever. The Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies commissioned the report, which was supported by the Fish and Wildlife Service and industry advisors. Part of the reason for the

report was to respond to industry concern about the eventual fate of excise tax payments. After all, industry manufacturers wrote checks totaling almost $500 million each year, a substantial sum of money for companies to carry on their balance sheets. Recently, we have realized that a substantial portion of those excise taxes originated from products associated with shooting, not hunting. This realization has refocused many within our profession to emphasize shooting programs not just as a

management programs that led to increased opportunities and access. But what of the financial return on industry’s investments (ROI)? The report stated that the ROI ranged from 823 percent in 1976 to a high of 1,588 percent in 1997. The ROI was due in part to matching funds required by state agencies and the long-term benefits of land acquisitions, easements, and public access. Another indirect ROI is the Wildlife Restoration Act’s mandate that hunting license dollars must be spent on wildlife conservation projects, not to be diverted to other state uses. Industry has a guarantee from Congress that their investment will actually benefit conservation causes and ultimately their bottom line. I am not a businessman, nor do I shoulder the responsibility to shareholders who rightfully expect a return on their investment. However, I am a hunter-conservationist who has worked closely with industry for many years. I know that diminished industry support for the excise tax program would have serious short- and long-term consequences for industry and our nation. That is why numerous colleagues and I work closely with industry leaders to explain the benefits of this program. We have identified the consequences of a lack of support: decreased wildlife abundance, decreased habitat quality, decreased social and political support for hunting and gun ownership, decreased customer base, decreased revenue, and decreased funding for conservation. Through the Council to Advance Hunting and Shooting Sports, state agencies, industry, and hunter-conservationist organizations work side by side to enhance the excise tax program. Today, industry support for the program is strong. However, increased pressure to improve bottom lines, changes in industry leadership, and changes in priorities may alter that support in the future. When you get a chance to thank an industry leader for their long-term support of conservation, do so with enthusiasm. Also respectfully remind them that, as hunters, we are their customer base, we buy their products, and we expect their commitment for years to come. n

Even with a slight decline in hunter numbers, more than twice as many hunters, and therefore customers, exist today as compared to 1937. Without question, industry’s contributions helped create the scientific underpinning for successful wildlife management programs that led to increased opportunities and access.

10 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

source of revenue but also as an introductory step into hunting. I agree with increasing that emphasis; however, I am concerned with what appears to be a resultant de-emphasis on the role of hunting’s contribution to conservation funding and to industry’s bottom line. Loftus and Southwick’s report chronicled the expanding hunting opportunities in the nation due to excise tax-funded research and management programs. In 1937, no states had dedicated bow or muzzleloader hunting seasons. The number of hunters increased nearly 250 percent between 1937 and 1982. Even with a slight decline in hunter numbers, more than twice as many hunters, and therefore customers, exist today as compared to 1937. Without question, industry’s contributions helped create the scientific underpinning for successful wildlife

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Conservation.

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For me, after wearing out nearly 25 pairs of high-dollar hiking boots, the take-home message from these Boone and Crockett Professional Members and other renowned wildlife biologists is that harvest levels of predators must be managed as appropriately as we manage harvest levels of ungulate species. To fail to retain current hunters and to lose future hunters because there is more action in a video game would be a travesty. We must not forget that a cornerstone of North American conservation is the funding base provided by the hunter-conservationist. PG 28. TOP-DOWN VERSUS BOTTOM-UP by Eric Rominger

Fair Chase Winter 2014

Bench Accuracy v. By Wayne C. van Zwoll B&C Professional Member

Photos courtesy of Author

Firing a rifle from a bench is like whacking a baseball from a pedestal. You can’t miss. But in the World Series, balls are pitched.

Last month I muffed a shot at 90 yards. My target, big as a blue-ribbon watermelon, lay between the ribs of an elk that’s probably still munching grass in Colorado meadows. Earlier, at longer range, I’d sent five bullets into a knot the size of a half-dollar. Consistent I’m not. But I’m not alone either. Testing the inherent accuracy of rifles in the middle of the 19th century sparked a non-competitive diversion that led to benchrest shooting. Ponderous rifles designed for supreme accuracy and ballistic muscle appeared before the Civil War. Later, Joseph Whitworth’s strong “fluid steel” barrels improved results. In New England’s Gun Valley, factories applied to hunting rifles what enthusiasts learned at the bench. Post-Depression competitors demanded gnat’s-lash accuracy of benchrest rifles and loads. Single-shot dropping-block and bolt-action rifles were sifted by weight into classes. Bullets, even primers, were individually weighed and measured. Hulls endured uniforming operations. One case might be used for dozens of firings. Uniformity, intoned the gurus, was the key to snug groups and winning scores. Rifles shooting “in the ones” at 100 yards nipped five-shot knots under two-tenths of an inch! Then competitors started stretching the range. During the Vietnam era, Mary Louise DeVito fired a 1,000-yard group measuring less than 8

Still-hunting can bring fast shots, offhand. Keep your feet ready. They’re your position’s foundation. 14 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

This Colorado hunter had no chance to shoot from a low position. He fired offhand, over sticks.

Field Accuracy inches, a World record. But the competition was just heating up! In 2003, Kyle Brown put 10 shots into 4.23 inches at 1,000 yards—a cluster since eclipsed. At this writing, the best five-shot 1,000-yard knot was fired at an IBS event by Tom Sarver at Ohio’s Thunder Valley Range, 7 July 2007. Hurling 240-grain MatchKings with 85 grains H1000 in his .300 Hulk (a shortened, necked-down .338 Lapua), Sarver kept his group to an incredible 1.403 inch! Equally amazing: he fired it in light gun competition, and put every bullet in the X-ring, for a record score of 50-5x! Few big game hunters expect one-hole accuracy from their rifles. And those who have it can still miss vitals at spitball range. The inherent precision of rifle, ammunition and optical sight matters no more than the price of tea in Taipei if your body isn’t still. Hunters who dare separate their rifles from the bench immediately find new life in the crosswire. Prone, with a taut sling or bipod, it amounts to a gentle hop, in time with your pulse. Sitting and kneeling, the speed and amplitude of movement increase. Offhand, the reticle bounces violently, diving toward the target and as quickly away, as if pulled and thrust by a magnetic field. Riflemen who put their ego on the line never fire offhand at paper targets. They practice from the bench, as if artificial support will follow them into the woods. It does not. In the August 1960 issue of Outdoor Life, Alex Cox told of an extraordinary hunt that almost fell apart when he found no rest for his rifle: “The horns were massive at the base. They formed a huge curl close to the head, then flared wide and tapered to thin points. Chuck [thought they] would go 46 inches. I respected Chuck’s judgment, but [only one Stone’s ram in B&C records] had horns as long as 46 inches… taken in this same part of British Columbia by L.S. Chadwick in 1936.

We were already within 500 yards… But it would be foolishness to attempt such a shot… It was tough going. Climbing and hanging on were hard enough, and the pace was brisk…. We ran along the slides, over the rocky fingers, descended into the shale bottoms, and climbed out again. We reached the ravine the sheep had entered. They were not in sight. [Then Chuck heard rocks roll.] He scrambled over the ridge and motioned for me to hurry. I ran up the loose shale bank and got to the top just in time to see the rams disappear about 80 yards above us. “Get ready!” Chuck yelled, attempts at stealth unnecessary now… I sat down to take the shot, but as I was to aim above my head, shooting from the sitting position was of little benefit. I had no sooner settled this way than the sheep began to appear, one at a time. In the next few seconds I fired three times at the big ram as he climbed and dodged among the rocks above us. And each shot I could call a miss… I knew it was useless for me to try to shoot offhand as I was doing… I twisted around and hung my legs off into space, got my chest and arms on the rocks in a prone position. Then I looked through my 4X scope and knew the Lee dot was steady enough. [I triggered the Enfield.] He vanished into a ravine, but I could hear him rolling and tumbling in the loose shale.” That Stone’s ram would tally 182 6/8, topping B&C’s 1958-59 list to place 5th in All-time records. Prone, indeed, can be your salvation. Having spent many hours on my belly in rifle competition, I hunt with one eye sweeping the ground for a good place to lie. Even game

in steep, forested places can be shot prone, as were my last three elk. Sitting—crossedleg, crossed-ankle or knees-up, feet spread—puts you on target faster, but because your ground contact is diminished and your center of gravity higher, it’s not as solid as prone. Kneeling is a notch quicker, taller and less steady. In these positions your left elbow has an anchor, so a leather shooting sling (not a carrying strap) can be used to good effect. My choice for 40 years has been Brownell’s Latigo sling, of top-grade, non-slip leather. The only hardware, a ring and a small button, won’t slap your rifle. The shooting loop adjusts independent of sling length. Offhand, a sling is strikingly useless. Because your left arm has no support, the loop that pulls the rifle toward you in other positions, transferring weight from your arm to your shoulder, simply tugs your arm toward your ribs. The so-called hasty sling is not a type of sling, but a technique to reduce wobble by looping the sling or strap over your left elbow. I can shoot as well without a hasty sling as with it.

Spotted from afar, this bear next appeared at 40 yards. With no time to get low, Wayne fired offhand.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

Centered No More At the bench, you might crave more magnification, flatter trajectories, smaller groups. Afield, you seldom have a chance to test hardware. Precision is limited by your marksmanship. Distance exaggerates error, as it does at the bench. But error under hunting conditions is greater to begin with, so the yardage at which your reticle no longer stays inside a designated bullseye is shorter. Maximum effective range depends mainly on your position. Your ability to assess drift and drop comes into play when your position is steady enough for long shooting. Even from prone, I seldom fire beyond pointblank range (250 yards with most modern rounds, given a 200-yard zero). Offhand, I keep my shots inside 100. A long-range rifle is thus of little use to me. Ditto a powerful sight, as I hunt with variable scopes dialed to 4x or so. My last animal to date fell to an iron-sighted .303 Savage. Shooting targets farther than you’d fire at game is good training. Firing at game farther than you can consistently hit a volleyball bullseye from hunting positions is, in my view, irresponsible. Targets on a range don’t leave you breathless. They don’t move or hide behind other targets. I’ve heard hunters claim they can shoot more accurately at game than they can at paper targets. I’ve yet to see anyone do that.

Many moons ago in three-position matches, I occasionally fired acceptable offhand scores. More often they were abysmal. Dutifully, I still practice offhand, because it’s sometimes the only option on a hunt. Last fall a mule deer buck appeared suddenly in a cedar draw. He dropped to an offhand shot at 27 yards. A bull elk once rose from his bed in a foggy Oregon thicket. My quick poke offhand put him down at 18 steps. Another bull sped away in open pines, then stopped for a peek back. Moving would have sent him off, so I dropped him offhand at 45 yards. Back when gasoline cost 26 cents, and attendants washed your windscreen, the first whitetails in the open sights of my .303 LeeEnfield were killed offhand, some close enough to touch with a long fly-rod. Close is the operative word here. Steady aim lets you shoot long. Absent that, you’re limited to the range at which your sight or reticle doesn’t wander off the vitals. One of the biggest elk I’ve ever seen stood facing me at about 300 steps. Prone, I’d have killed him. The curve of the ground prevented a prone shot, and I couldn’t move to a better place. Offhand, I watched the reticle shuck and jive in and out of the chest—and declined. When a beast locks its nose on you like a shorthair points a congregation of quail, count yourself among the blessed to shoulder your rifle. A steadier position becomes a futile wish. You must fire or pass. Thus, practice in all positions makes sense. In brush or tall grass, even when you’re not discovered, low positions sometimes fail. You can’t shoot what you can’t see. Kneeling and offhand open-bullet paths denied you in prone and, often, sitting. Once, a blacktail buck I’d been still-hunting stopped in steelwool cover. I slid around it crosswind and stopped to glass. Minutes later, just 26 yards away, a deer’s eye glinted through the twigs. It was not the buck. I looked hard behind her and spied the base of an antler. Both deer had me on radar. The .308 crept slowly to my cheek. My bullet took the buck just below that antler. This group is good for an iron-sighted rifle, even from a 50-yard bench. Check placement offhand.

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Firing from the bench counts as a requisite for other positions, as it helps you establish a zero. For most big game cartridges, I want point of impact to match point of aim at 200 yards. Adjusting a scope to nudge groups the size of a large raccoon is folly. A bench keeps them tight. But once you have that zero, you’re wise to prove it from positions you’ll use afield. Shooting over a pack is a worthy ambition, and practical for game like pronghorns, commonly shot prone. The bench zero should suffice. But if you use a bipod or, like me, a sling, changing supports can shift impact. My Ruger No. 1 in .300 Winchester once sent bullets nearly 9 inches lower from a sling than from a rest at 200 yards. (The sling limits barrel lift during bullet passage, and relieves forend pressure.) A bedding job trimmed that 9-inch disparity to 4. I refined the Ruger’s zero from a tight sling, prone. Offhand shots with no sling tension happen up close, where two-minute errors matter not. A couple of weeks ago at this writing, I hosted in Wyoming a woman who had yet to kill her first pronghorn. She’d showed more initiative than many hunters, practicing regularly with a CZ .22 rifle—and not just from the bench. As she owned no centerfire, I loaned her an accurate Mossberg in 7mm Magnum, with Remington’s Managed-Recoil loads. After a few failed attempts, she remarked that shooting well on a hunt was harder than at the range. Indeed. The fundamentals must be automatic, so you can contemplate distance, wind, cover, target angle, and animals you don’t want to kill. You must fire from a place you’ve never been, and sometimes quickly. Late in the week, after a long stalk that left us too exposed, a buck stood at 120 yards. Bellied flat, I shoved her pack and rifle forward in short grass. She crawled into the stock. “Take your time.” I forced that, to calm her—there wasn’t much time. The rifle hopped. On the heels of its report came the “thwuck” of a rib strike. The animal ran. Her shoulders slumped. Another miss, she moaned. “Nope. Come.” Blood glistened on the grass. We found the pronghorn, perfectly shot, lying dead a few paces on. Field accuracy depends little on the hardware in your hands, a great deal on shooting position and technique. Getting as low as conditions permit, with bipod, sling or improvised rest, steadies the reticle. A lethal hit is then just a matter of triggering the rifle without moving it—something you will have practiced without help from a bench. n

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UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL

SCORE I EVE

Properly cared-for game meat is hard to beat on the grill! OPPOSITE: Chuck’s little 2014 Wyoming mule deer won’t make anybody’s records book, but the meat sure is good!

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ISN’T ERYTHING Antler tips flashed above a bush 25 yards in front of me. As is always the case, my pulse leaped into overdrive in anticipation of the shot. Thank goodness that adrenaline rush has never gone away, even after many years of serious archery hunting.

By Chuck Adams

B&C Professional Member Photos courtesy of Author

The buck stepped ahead, exposing his entire chest area. I drew in a flash, held the brilliant fiber-optic 30-yard sight pin a touch low behind the shoulder, and let the arrow fly. The shaft flickered and smashed home like a fist. I was fortunate to bag several record-sized archery animals in 2014, but the buck I had just shot was special for two other reasons. First, this was the first mule deer I had ever bagged on my own property in Wyoming. As the deer ran 75 yards and piled up in a heap, I could see my house beyond a hill barely 200 yards away. Second, my wife Greta and I love deer meat, and this buck would fill the last vacant spot in our chest freezer with steaks, chops, roasts, and stew. I walked up to the muley, grabbed an antler, and on a lark, did a rough score with my quarter-inch steel tape measure. The young 2x2 gross-scored about 45 inches—some 100 below the Pope and Young record minimum and 150 below B&C. Ask me if I cared! Please do not get me wrong. I do not know anyone more motivated by records-book score than I am. Like many readers of this magazine, I am obsessed with analyzing antlers and horns through high-powered binoculars and spotting scopes. I sometimes burn my game tag if I do not find a records-book buck or bull, and I pass up dozens of reasonably nice animals every year in pursuit of solid book contenders. But record score is not everything. There are other hunting dividends worth just as much to me. Among the most important are basic concepts embraced by

the Boone and Crockett Club. This prestigious organization was founded in the late 1800s on principles of wildlife conservation and ethical, fair-chase hunting. Without careful stewardship of animals like mule deer near my home in Wyoming, there would not be healthy populations for game departments to manage and let us hunt. Without sensible laws like the safety orange rule that required me to wear blaze camo during my recent archery adventure in firearms season, hunting might be dangerous and ill-advised. Without rules that prevent the unfair use of electronics, herding and harassment with vehicles, and other seedy killing practices, the animals we hunt with gun or bow would not be nearly so hard-won and highly prized. Hunting the right way is just as important as tagging a recordsized animal! Great food is one terrific aspect of big game hunting. Deer, elk, and most other wild critters produce exceedingly tasty and healthy meat. In my part of Wyoming, the game department issues general-season deer tags that any resident can purchase. Deer are managed here on a “meat factory” basis, with no restrictions on tag number or antler size. As a result, I have never seen a record-sized buck near my home—even a deer that would beat the Pope and Young archery minimum net score of 145. If you shoot a buck here, it is strictly for enjoyment and meat. That is what I did in 2014. There is nothing more important to me in hunting than doing an ethical job. Ethics take many forms, from obeying game laws and treating other hunters with respect to making a clean, quick kill and properly transporting and processing meat. All such things are a hunter’s sacred responsibility, and something folks like me have had ingrained by a lifetime of family hunting tradition, thoughtful consideration, and attention to detail. My little 2014 Wyoming 2x2 buck is an excellent example. My bow and arrows were meticulously tuned for accurate shooting. I practiced hard on Block and GlenDel 3-D targets before season, adjusted my IQ bowsight’s Retina Lock Dot so I would not torque my bow and blow the shot. I placed a shaving-sharp broadhead

Fair Chase Winter 2014

Chuck’s “Oddball” bull was not the highest net-scoring elk he saw in 2014, but he treasures the strangely tined and high gross-scoring rack.

A SHEEP HUNTER’S DIARY

ThirTy years of MounTain hunTing for ibex and sheep only by Dr. Ronald S. Gabriel

3995

on Gabriel is one of only a few dozen people who has taken a Super Slam of sheep. While doing so, this very selective hunter has shot some fantastic heads. These include such trophies as the No. 2 blue sheep, a 60-inch Altai argali, a 60-inch Marco Polo, a 180-pointplus desert sheep, and a No. 2 West Caucasian tur. This man is no amateur hunter! You will find very little in the form of measurements and boasting in this book, but rather you will discover a wonderful, dense narrative of interesting events that will take you from the top of the Himalayas to the bottom of a Baja California canyon (almost at sea level). His adventures are juxtaposed against those of earlier explorers such a Demidoff, Dunmore, Cobbold, Cumberland, and Sheldon. Gabriel does an admirable job of describing how these famous hunters fared in their own hunting over a century ago on the same grounds. Use coupon code ABC141 to receive 15% discount. Offer ends 28 Feb. 2015. Shipping extra.

Safaripress.com 20 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

through both lungs from very close range. That deer dropped, dead as a wedge, within 10 seconds. It does not get better than that. From there, I loaded the buck in my four-wheeler, drove back to the house, and had the carcass skinned and cooling within one hour. A few days later, I cut and wrapped the succulent meat. Greta and I had grilled backstrap last night, and it was delicious! Sometimes an animal’s score isn’t everything because the critter is special in other ways. For example, I drew a coveted Montana elk permit in 2014. Such tags become more difficult to obtain every year, but I had another in 2012 for the very same hunting area. In ’12, I passed up a large non-typical bull with a huge 6-tined antler on the left and a weird, 4-tined antler on the right. Instead, I shot a typical records-book 6x6 bull. But I could not get that nifty-looking oddball out of my mind. In 2014, I went back to the same wallow complex where I had seen Oddball. During more than two weeks of evening stand-sitting, I passed up a nice, typical 6x6 of records-book size. I also saw the coveted Oddball bull once beyond ethical bowshooting range. Thank goodness he was still alive, and he was even larger than before, with five tines on the right and an even larger 6-point antler on the left. After seeing Oddball, I passed up a huge 6x6 by spot-and-stalk hunting one morning—a bull I believed would gross-score over 375 records-book points. I had Oddball on my mind. Finally, on September 23, the massive and strange-racked Oddball re-visited the elk wallow where I patiently waited. I drew as he dipped his snozzle in a puddle, and sent an arrow through both lungs from 40 yards. Like my little Wyoming 2x2 did some six weeks later, old Oddball galloped about 75 yards and collapsed in full view. His rack gross-scored a touch over 382 and net-scored about 350. Still large enough to make the Pope and Young typical category with 75 points to spare, but not nearly the higherscoring bull I had earlier passed up. Sometimes tender meat or a genuinely nifty-looking animal trumps raw recordsbook score. A quick, clean kill from close range is icing on the cake. Giant, highscoring animals are impressive, but other things can also be important! n w

Fair Chase Winter 2014

B O D DI N G T O N’S CA R T R I D G E

REVIEW

.300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM BY CRAIG BODDINGTON

B&C Professional Member Photos courtesy of Author

The .300 Winchester Magnum was the

ABOVE: The .300 Winchester Magnum is probably on the light side for the brown/grizzly bear, but plenty of gun for any black bear that walks. This bear was taken in Southeast Alaska with an MGA .300 Winchester Magnum using 180-grain Barnes X-Bullets. BELOW: This new Legendary Arms Works .300 Winchester Magnum provided very consistent “minute of angle” accuracy with a variety of loads.

22 nnFair 22 FairChase ChaseWinter Winter 2014 2014

fourth and last of Winchester’s original family of “short magnums” intended to fit into .30-06-length actions. Today, with the Winchester Short Magnums (WSMs) and Remington Short-Action Ultra Magnums (RSAUMs) short magnum has a different connotation. Fifty years ago it suggested a belted cartridge, probably based on the .375 H&H case but shortened enough to fit into a standard or .30-06length action. The concept was hardly new; Roy Weatherby’s .257, .270, and 7mm Weatherby Magnums, all developed in the 1940s, can be so described. In fact, it was probably Weatherby’s aggressive marketing that got the majors moving.

The .458 Winchester Magnum was introduced in 1956, followed by the .264 and .338 Winchester Magnums in 1958. There was a hiatus of five years before the .300 Winchester Magnum was released in 1963. It was preceded in 1960 by the .308 Norma Magnum, which is essentially the wildcat .30-.338, based on necking down the .338 Winchester Magnum. This probably caused Winchester a bit of a dilemma in creating its own .30-caliber magnum. The first three (.458, .264, and .338) Winchester Magnums had 2.5-inch cases, as does the .308 Norma Magnum. The .300 Winchester Magnum has a case slightly lengthened to 2.620 inches, with a very short neck, thus increasing powder capacity. Winchester’s .300 didn’t exactly take off like a rocket—in part, because of poor timing. Only a year earlier, in 1962, Remington introduced its 7mm Remington Magnum. It was already blowing Winchester’s .264 off the market, and for a time would be the world’s most popular belted magnum cartridge. Too, the .300 Winchester Mag was introduced in the final year of the pre-1964 Winchester Model 70. It was a replacement for the old, full-length (2.850-inch) .300 H&H with its archaic tapered case, which meant it had pretty big shoes to fill in the first place. Then came the shift to the post-1964 push-feed action with modern stock design. Shooters weren’t happy, and they were looking for things to pick on. With the .300 Winchester Magnum, the biggest complaint was the short neck. Case design theory had long held that a centerfire cartridge needed at least a “one-caliber neck” to properly grip the bullet and allow consistent propellant ignition and bullet acceleration. This means that, say, a cartridge firing a .308-inch bullet should have a case neck of at least .308-inch. The .300 Winchester Magnum has a short neck of just .264-inch. The obvious reason was to offer as much powder capacity as possible. Winchester was still smarting from

TOP RIGHT: Like so many American hunters, my buddy Mike Hagen, right, uses the .300 Winchester Magnum as his go-to rifle for just about everything, including this old, heavy-antlered whitetail taken on my neighbor’s farm in southeast Kansas. BELOW: I think the first North American animal I took with the .300 Winchester Magnum was this superb Sitka blacktail, taken with my hunting partner’s Model 70 at about 375 yards. This is probably my very best deer, still listed in our All-Time records book.

the blue sky it had put into original published figures for the .264. They knew the .300 had to do exactly what they said it would do! This it did, but a disadvantage to the short neck is that, especially with heavier bullets, projectiles must be seated so that they protrude into the powder space. So, while the .300 Winchester Magnum does very well with standard .30-caliber hunting bullets from 150 to 180 grains, it starts to lose ground with extra-heavy bullets of 200 grains and more. With the better bullets we have today, relatively few hunters use the extra-heavies. With bullets from 150 to 180 grains, the .300 Winchester Magnum provides very good performance, and does it from a 24-inch barrel. This is important, because the old .300 H&H and the upstart .300 Weatherby Magnum, both based on longer cases, really need 26-inch barrels to reach optimum performance. Original specs for the .300 Winchester Magnum were a 150-grain bullet at 3,290 feet per second (fps); and a 180-grain bullet at 2,960 fps. These velocities remain pretty standard today, but there are a lot more options in bullet weights and newer propellants have allowed a bit more velocity. Just the other day I chronographed a batch of Hornady Superformance .300 Winchester Magnum with 180-grain SST bullets, and the velocity was just shy of 3,200 fps, which is actually very deep into .300 Weatherby Magnum territory. It took time, but the .300 Winchester Magnum eventually overcame both the stigma of the short neck and its association with the demise of the beloved pre-1964 Model 70. Accuracy is actually very good— good enough that, ever since the first Gulf War, a lot of our Special Operations snipers have gravitated to it. As a hunting cartridge, it persevered and eventually became a world standard. For a time, it was the second-most popular magnum cartridge after the 7mm Remington Magnum. Today it has surpassed the 7mm Remington Magnum: It is the world’s most popular belted magnum, the world’s most popular cartridge to bear the magnum suffix, and, among so many, the world’s most popular fast .30-caliber cartridge. Personally, it isn’t my favorite. I prefer the .300 Weatherby Magnum because I’m

used to it, and I can get a wee bit more velocity. Come to think of it, I probably also like the great old .300 H&H better; that preference based purely on nostalgia. But the .300 Winchester Magnum is more popular than those two—and probably more popular than all the other fast .30s put together. In my business as a gun writer, it is an almost unavoidable cartridge—whether I prefer it or not! Everybody loads for it, and the load selection is rich. Regardless of its short neck, it tends to be extremely accurate as well as popular, so over the years a lot of test guns have turned up in .300 Winchester Magnum. Come to think of it, over the years I’ve owned several rifles chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum, so while it has never been a conscious favorite, I certainly don’t dislike it and have often relied on it. Like all the fast .30-calibers, it is an extremely versatile cartridge, excellent for elk in high alpine basins, able to reach out in plains, tundra, and mountains, and yet not so brutal that it can’t be housed in a fairly portable package. Rifle nuts like me are bound and determined to split hairs and find fault where there really isn’t any—and equally likely to come up with some oddball choice just to be different, just because we can. So sometimes we aren’t the best examples to follow. Here is the truth: The .300 Winchester Magnum is a fine choice for hunters in search of just one cartridge for the full gamut of North American big game. It’s a bit light for the big bears, but heavy bullets can up the ante. It’s more powerful than necessary for a lot of deer hunting—but on deer, elk, sheep, goat, caribou, and even moose, there is no sensible shot it can’t handle. And its lasting popularity is a huge advantage: Ammo isn’t hard to find, and I doubt it ever will be! n

.300 H&H Magnum

.300 Winchester Magnum

.300 Weatherby Magnum

Introduced in 1963, the .300 Winchester Magnum was essentially a modernized replacement for the old .300 H&H. It is not as fast as the .300 Weatherby Magnum, but produces very credible velocity from a .3006-length action.

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TrailblAzer CONSERVATION

PARTNER

Trailblazer Spotlight

TrailblAzer

Trailblazers in Conservation represents a level of commitment from industry partners and others that support the mutual interests of science-informed wildlife management and conservation, and hunter ethics and advocacy.

BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB

CONSERVATION

PARTNER

By Tony Caligiuri B&C Regular Member President and CEO, Boyt Harness Company, L.L.C.

My uncles, who served with the First Marine Division and the Third and Fourth Raider Battalions, were combat marines who made the landings at Pelelieu, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Okinawa. On their transport ships to the Solomon’s, they were pleasantly surprised to find much of the gear they were issued had been made at the bustling harness factory just a few blocks from their house.

For more than 100 years, sportsmen around the world have protected their firearms with gun cases made in the heart of the Midwest.

Boyt Harness Company, the hunting industry standard for firearm storage and transport, traces its beginnings to a family-owned regional harness shop in turn-of-thecentury Iowa. In 1885, a young Englishman named Walter Boyt set sail to America to find his calling in life. Meeting up with his brother John in Des Moines, the pair settled into the well worn workbenches of Des Moines Saddlery Company, learning the time-honored trade as saddle makers and leather workers. Between long days of sorting hides, making patterns, tooling leather and then sewing it on massive, belt-driven machines, the Boyt brothers found time to travel back to England, enjoy the Iowa rural lifestyle and socialize in the many gathering places along Des Moines’ Court Avenue district. But after a few years as employees of Des Moines Saddlery, the industrious Boyt brothers founded Boyt Harness Company in 1901. With his business-savvy wife Mary as vice president and his brother John as bookkeeper and trusted advisor, Walter’s burgeoning enterprise primarily manufactured fine driving harnesses for buggies. However, the Great War in Europe took the company in a direction that would frame it for the next 100 years. The onset of World War I found the company building the first of many firearm accessories such as military pistol holsters for the new Colt 1911 .45 pistol, along with cavalry saddlebags and harnesses for artillery and transport horses. In 1925, Walter Boyt decided to sell the company to John Boyt and his three sons, Joseph Walter, Arthur John, and Paul Alfred Boyt. This new generation of Boyt brothers continued the tradition of making harnesses, saddles, bridles, and tack for farmers and stockmen across the Midwest. Struggling through the Great Depression and the dust bowl years,

U.S. Marines in World War II were issued more than a dozen items of combat gear manufactured at the Boyt plant in Des Moines, Iowa.

24 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

The Boyt Five Star canvas case, named for the five award stars that the company had been presented for their production efforts during the war years, was quickly heralded as the premier method of firearm storage of the times, a position that Boyt has maintained for almost 70 years.

Boyt Harness Company developed a reputation for quality and delivery second to none, and farmers across the country proudly tacked their draft teams in well-oiled Boyt harnesses and collars each morning. But the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor began another shift to production for the war effort. From 1941 through 1945, the Boyt Harness Company produced millions of pieces of equipment destined for American offensives in both the European and Pacific theaters as tens of thousands of teachers, farmers, office workers, and tradesmen were transformed into the largest standing fighting force in the nation’s history. Some of those soldiers were local kids from the neighborhoods to the south and east of the factory, including the large Italian American community of Des Moines south side, directly across the river from Boyt. My uncles, who served with the First Marine Division and the Third and Fourth Raider Battalions, were combat marines who made the landings at Pelelieu, Guadalcanal, Bougainville, and Okinawa. On their transport ships to the Solomon’s, they were pleasantly surprised to find much of the gear they were issued had been made at the bustling harness factory just a few blocks from their house. I still have my Uncle Frank’s theater-modified Marine bolo in a Boyt sheath that he wore next to his Raider stiletto combat knife. In fact, combat Marines were generally issued more then a dozen pieces of gear

that were produced by Boyt, including their backpacks, web belts, cartridge pouches and M-1 Garand slings. There was a saying in the factory that Japanese soldiers had never seen a Boyt backpack because United States Marines never retreated. At one point, war production required 2,800 workers, and Boyt became one of the largest manufacturing operations in Iowa. After the war, Boyt shifted production back to saddles and harnesses, but the mechanization of America had put most of the work horses out to pasture. For the first time, sporting goods became a priority and gun cases, hunting vests, and cartridge bags began to make up the majority of production. The Boyt Five Star canvas case, named for the five award stars that the company had been presented for their production efforts during the war years, was quickly heralded as the premier method of firearm storage of the times, a position that Boyt has maintained for almost 70 years. Sadly, this period also marked the passing of the founders, both John and Walter Boyt. Though gun cases and other sporting products were the main production focus, the company continued to make saddle and tack into the late 1950s, eventually selling the

business to Welsh Sporting Goods in 1963. The 1960s saw the company move its headquarters and production from Des Moines to Iowa Falls, Iowa, along with the creation of Boyt Luggage Company and an expansion into the growing soft-sided luggage market. In 1996, a small group of investors purchased the sporting goods division from Welsh Sporting Goods and moved operations for all hunting and shooting products to an existing Boyt facility in Osceola, Iowa. Honoring the heritage of the company’s history, the new venture became once again known as the Boyt Harness Company. Building upon Boyt’s dominance in the high-end gun case and accessory markets, the company began to acquire other top Over the years, Boyt has built upon the success of the gun cases and has introduced several other brands involved in the hunting clothing, sporting dog products and firearm accessory fields.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

sporting brands, starting with the acquisition of Bob Allen Sportswear in 1997. Bob Allen Company was founded towards the end of World War II in a parachute shop on the tiny Pacific atoll of Tinian. Bob Allen was a young, nationally known, clay target shooter before the war, who later parlayed his aerial gunner instructor duties into a combat assignment in the South Pacific. Bob’s first product design was a long-billed cap that helped keep the sun out of bomber crews’ eyes on their long flights to mainland Japan. Trading a ration of wartime scotch to the riggers in the parachute shop for each one of his prized hats, the Bob Allen Company was born. After the war, the hats found favor with shooters, and soon Bob was selling hats, shooting vests, pouches and bags from the trunk of his car as he traveled the shooting circuit. Just a few of Bob Allen’s “firsts” include opening the first retail store on the grounds of the Grand American Trapshoot, designing the first shooting vest and the first non-military camouflage pattern. Sadly, Bob was killed in a car accident in November 2004, but his legacy still lives on through the brand he started almost 70 years ago. Other recent acquisitions have included the Rattlers and Bug Out brands of

The Boyt lifetime warranty on gun cases is another part of the Boyt tradition, dating back more than 50 years. Boyt cases are made to last, and each year, the factory receives several cases in for repair that have been passed down not only from father to son but from grandfather to grandson.

26 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

protective clothing for the outdoorsman; Secure Vault, personal security and hand-gun storage systems; Mud River Dog Products; and the Outdoor Connection. Mud River Dog Products builds innovative and high-quality accessories for dog training and the hunting world for puppies to full-grown dogs. Mud River has beds, bowls, collars, and everything in between to keep dogs happy, healthy, and hunting. The Outdoor Connection, a longtime firearms accessory manufacturer, is based in Waco, Texas. The Outdoor Connection was founded by Floyd and Pat Hightower in 1983 and is best known for its line of slings, including the Original Super Sling and Padded Super Sling as well as sling swivels, including the Talon and Brute brands. More recently, the company expanded into gun cases, range bags and related accessories including tactical gear under the Max Ops brand. In addition to growing sales through acquisitions, the core Boyt brand has continued to expand as well, entering the injection molded travel case market with the introduction of the Boyt H-Case series. All of us at Boyt are avid hunters, and regardless of our positions, we all have input into new product ideas. Because hunting and travel often go hand in hand, we saw a need for a rugged, purpose-built travel case, which resulted in the concept and design of the

H-Case series. With more than a quarter million H-Cases in use around the world, the hard cases have now become just as important to the success of the company as the soft cases were during the last century. The H-Cases feature high-density, easy-to-customize foam, a dust-and-waterproof O-ring seal, and a built-in pressure-relief valve that equalizes pressure on the inside of the case. Its stackable design makes storing multiple cases a space efficient snap. Larger models have heavy-duty in-line wheels for easy maneuvering. The case’s most unique feature is the time-proven draw latches that keep the case closed and sealed tight under even the most extreme conditions. Each case features two padlock boss areas to facilitate secure travel and safety as well. The Boyt lifetime warranty on gun cases is another part of the Boyt tradition, dating back more than 50 years. Boyt cases are made to last, and each year, the factory receives several cases in for repair that have been passed down not only from father to son but from grandfather to grandson. Fully understanding that there would be no Boyt Harness Company, or any other hunting concerns for that matter, without the efforts of organizations like Boone and Crockett, Boyt is proud to be part of the first generation of Trailblazer sponsors! n

See a complete listing and find out more about Boone and Crockett Club’s Trailblazers in Conservation online at www.Boone-Crockett.org

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By Eric Rominger, Ph.D. Bighorn Sheep Biologist New Mexico Dept. of Game and Fish B&C Professional Member

Desert bighorns are no longer endangered in New Mexico, and re-establishment of a statewide hunting season in 2012 is a classic example of how scientific management —a pillar of the North American Model—has led to recovery of this much soughtafter big game species. Since the delisting, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has issued 63 desert bighorn sheep licenses.

“Is it mountain lion predation, or is it poor nutrition

that has desert bighorn sheep on the state-endangered species list?” That was the principle question I was tasked with answering when I came to New Mexico 18 years ago to work on state-endangered desert bighorn sheep. In scientific parlance, the question would be: is it “top-down” or is it “bottom-up”? Wildlife biologists use the term top-down to describe the role of predation on the population dynamics of big game and the term bottom-up to describe the role of forage resources on these same dynamics. I’ve been paid to hike for more than 40 years, 35 of those as a wildlife biologist, so I’ve had a lot of time to think about that question. I’ve worked as a research wildlife biologist and as management wildlife biologist, and I’ve looked at the issue from both sides. I worked for more than 15 years as a researcher on foraging dynamics of bighorn sheep, mule deer, and woodland caribou looking at the bottom-up side of the equation. I lived in the wild with bottle-raised mule deer and woodland caribou counting literally hundreds of thousands of bites to assess forage intake rate and bite size. More recently, I have spent the last 18 years working on the management of state-endangered desert bighorn sheep and their primary predator, mountain lions, on the top-down side of the equation. Since 1996, I have been to more than 125 radio-collared bighorn sheep mortality sites, most of them mountain lion kills. As I reported in Fair Chase (Spring 2011) desert bighorns are no longer endangered in New Mexico, and re-establishment of a statewide hunting season in 2012 is a classic example of how scientific management—a pillar of the North American Model—has led to recovery of this much sought-after big game species. Since the delisting, the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish has issued 63 desert bighorn sheep licenses. Top-Down and Bottom-Up

I use the term top-down to describe the role of predation, and the term bottom-up to describe the role of forage resources. There are opposing schools of thought among professional wildlife biologists, relative to the influence of predation on ungulate densities. Even 28 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

Chase A. Willis took his desert sheep in Socorro County, New Mexico, in 2012. It scores 191 points.

professional members within the Boone and Crockett Club fall on opposite sides of this debate. My position on this controversial topic is succinctly expressed in a quote from the late Dr. Stephen J. Gould that states, “Natural history, to a large extent, is a tale of adaptations to avoid predation”. Although ungulates have many adaptations related to foraging; the great speed, auditory, visual, and olfactory acuity of ungulates are not evolutionary adaptations to find forage, but rather are adaptations to avoid predators. Natural Experiments

A classic natural experiment was documented by Dr. A.R.E. Sinclair and his coauthors in the Serengeti of Africa. In my opinion, the results of this experiment shed considerable light on the relative contribution of apex carnivore predation on ungulate densities. In a portion of the Serengeti, poaching and poisoning removed the majority of large carnivores including lions and hyenas for an eight-year period. During this time, the density of virtually all prey species increased dramatically relative to population densities in an adjacent area with no predator declines. In the case of Thomson’s gazelle there was a ninefold increase in their density in the absence of the two primary large predators. However, as predators returned to the system, prey populations declined markedly. Predators were limiting prey far below the density that occurred when released from predation pressure. An interesting sidebar is the fact that predators rarely kill adult giraffes because of their large size and the giraffe was the only prey animal whose population did not increase during the period of predator lows. In North America, Dr. A.T. Bergerud, professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, working primarily on caribou in Canada, was one of the first wildlife biologists to recognize that caribou density could be a hundred times higher on wolf-free islands compared to adjacent mainland systems with wolves. These are but two examples of the profound influence predation can have on prey densities.

In the western United States and Canada, virtually all ungulate populations, outside the most severe portions of the Mojave Desert, are subject to predation from apex predators including mountain lions, wolves, grizzly bears, and black bears. Most predation by bears is on new-born ungulates, whereas mountain lions and wolves prey on all age classes of ungulates. In much of the West, historical wolf—grizzly dominated ecosystems have become mountain lion—coyote dominated ecosystems following the extirpation of wolves and grizzlies. The shift in this predator complex is not well understood and may contribute to low ungulate densities, particularly in desert ecosystems. Fair Chase Winter 2014

Predator-free Ungulate Density versus Ungulate Density with Apex Predators

ungulate densities increase to levels virtually never observed in the presence of predation. I find it even more remarkable that when the various species on these islands (mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep, reindeer, moose, and bison) are converted to a “deersized” ungulate weights (176 pounds/80 kilograms), the maximum densities only vary between approximately 25 and 40 deer-sized ungulates per square kilometer. This large data set, derived from various ecosystems, suggests to me that based on forage resources alone, maximum ungulate densities should rarely vary by more than a factor of two. The largest predator-free island in this data set is the nearly 8,000 square kilometer Anticosti Island in the Gulf of St. Lawrence. Boone & Crockett Professional Member Dr. David Hewitt pointed out in a “Trophy Points” article on the Boone and Crockett website (May 2009); the extremely high density of whitetail deer that has resulted in the extirpation of black bears because the forage resources required by bears are no longer present. Deer densities on the island

Ungulates living in predator-free exclosures (penned facilities designed to exclude predators) and on predator-free islands escape the effects of apex predators and therefore offer an outdoor laboratory to assess the role of predation. The chart below shows data, collected by many wildlife biologists, on North American ungulate densities in predator-free fenced exclosures as small as 2.6 square kilometers (1 square mile) to predator-free islands as large as 8,000 square kilometers (3,080 square miles). Examples of larger landmasses are predator-free New Zealand and the wolf/lion-free whitetail deer habitats of the eastern United States. In these systems, it is an overabundance of ungulates that is the problem rather than extremely low ungulate densities found in some western North American regions. What I find remarkable about these predator-free systems is that in every situation, regardless of the ecosystem, maximum

Number of “Deer-size” Unglates/km2

120

are reported to be as high as 29 deer per square kilometer compared to approximately one deer per square kilometer on the adjacent mainland in the presence of wolves. These deer have been present on Anticosti Island for more than 115 years and continue to remain at very high density, despite poor forage resources and severe winter conditions. It is much more difficult to estimate densities of ungulates outside exclosures and in mainland habitat adjacent to islands. However, estimates of ungulate densities in the presence of predators are available below. One does not have to rely on higher math skills to see that these densities are very different than those documented in the absence of predation. In this sample, the average ungulate density in the presence of predation is less than five percent of the average from these predator-free systems. Experimental work has been done in Colorado and Oregon to test hypotheses related to density, competition, and bottomup processes. These experiments have used elk densities that convert to 68 to 105

THE ROLE OF PREDATION IN POPULATIONS

100

Predator-Free

With Predation

0 1

North American Ungulate Populations Predator Free 1. 3 -Bar, AZ 2. George Reserve, MI 3. Red Rock, NM 4. Wild Horse Island, MT 5. Slate Islands, ON 6. Kalgin Island, AK 7. Antelope Island, UT 8. St. Paul Island, AK 9. St. Matthews Island, AK 10. Isle Royale, MI 11. Anticosti Island, QC

30 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

With Predation 13. Pukaskwa N.P., ON 14. Outside 3-Bar, AZ 15. Outside Red Rock, NM 16. Outside Anticosti Island, QC 17. Moose--AK 18. Moose--AK 19. MD/ElK/BHS, NM 20. MD/Elk/BHS, UT 21. MD/Elk/BHS, AZ 22. MD San Andres, NM 23. California BHS, OR

Experimental Density Research 26. Stewart, et al. 2005 27. Hobbs, et al. 1996

HOBBS, N. T., D. L. BAKER, G. D. BEAR, AND D. C. BOWDEN. 1996. UNGULATE GRAZING IN SAGEBRUSH GRASSLAND: MECHANISMS OF RESOURCE COMPETITION. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 6:200-217. STEWART, K. M., R. T. BOWYER, B. L. DICK, B. K. JOHNSON. 2005. DENSITY-DEPENDENT EFFECTS ON PHYSICAL CONDITION AND REPRODUCTION IN NORTH AMERICAN ELK: AN EXPERIMENTAL TEST. OECOLOGIA 143:85-93.

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deer-sized ungulates per square kilometer to assess effects related to forage. These densities are more than 45 to 70 times higher than average densities in predator-dominated systems. The bottom line is that ungulate population density in the presence of wolves and/or lions is always a fraction of densities in the absence of apex predators. Mountain Lions in Desert Ecosystems

Mountain lions have been determined to be the primary cause of mortality for desert bighorn sheep in much of the arid southwest. Peninsular bighorns and Sierra Nevada bighorns in California have been listed as federally endangered species, and New Mexico desert bighorn sheep were listed as a state-endangered species. The primary mortality factor for all these subspecies has been mountain lion predation. Some attempts to restore desert bighorn sheep to historical ranges in Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico have failed because of high levels of mountain lion predation. The successful restoration of state endangered desert bighorn sheep in New Mexico was predicated on the removal of mountain lions combined with a captive breeding and transplant program. There are other natural experiments in the western United States that allow a comparison of ungulate densities with radically different predator management paradigms. In Texas, mountain lions are an unprotected big game species and intensive control occurs and populations are quite low as a result. In New Mexico, mountain lions are a protected big game species and in most desert mountain ranges very little sport harvest occurs. Desert mule deer densities in most mountain ranges in southern New Mexico have declined to about 10-20 deer per 100 square kilometers, and helicopter observation rates have declined from greater than 100 deer per hour prior to the mid-1990s to less than four deer per hour for the last 15

years. Hunter harvest and numbers of deer hunters have declined dramatically. In adjacent West Texas, desert mule deer densities are reported to be 1,200 deer per 100 square kilometers; even without supplemental feeding. This is 60-120 times more deer in nearly adjacent Chihuahuan Desert mountain ranges, where maximum densities should not vary more than twofold. Mountain lions are the primary predator of adult deer in both areas; however the lion to deer ratio is radically different. In the deserts of New Mexico and Arizona, mountain lions have been described as a “subsidized predator” because of their ability to prey-switch to livestock, particularly beef calves. These subsidized lion populations continue to exert high predation pressure on native ungulates, despite declining prey numbers. It has been stated correctly that the absence of apex predators can adversely cascade throughout an ecosystem. However, I argue that the effects of a subsidized apex predator can also adversely cascade throughout the ecosystem. The result is a declining biodiversity with very low deer and bighorn sheep numbers and other prey species such as porcupines becoming extremely rare. Conclusions

An understanding that apex predators can, and do, dramatically influence harvestable surpluses of big game is essential for wildlife managers. Some states have an overabundance of big game. However, some western states like New Mexico have many fewer deer today than just 20 years ago. A proactive predator control program has been used to recover endangered desert bighorn sheep and to attempt to recover low-density mule deer herds. Wildlife managers in Alaska have long recognized the influence of wolf and bear predation and wildlife management actions to reduce predator populations have increased moose and caribou harvest in many areas. Other western state agencies are also implementing predator control to LEFT: This ram, scoring 188-2/8 points, was taken by Russell A. Young in Hidalgo County, New Mexico. RIGHT: B&C Regular Member Kyle C. Krause harvested this desert sheep this last September while hunting in the Peloncillo Mountains, in New Mexico.

32 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

stop the decline of big game numbers. Wolves and grizzlies were intentionally eliminated throughout much of their historical range in western North America. Few will argue that apex predators should be eliminated from ecosystems. But high levels of predation should not be allowed to threaten the viability of any species. Boone and Crockett Professional Member Dr. Valerius Geist encapsulated the issue when he wrote: “Letting predators run down game herds will indirectly weaken the framework of wildlife conservation. Together with the other opponents of public wildlife such as game farming and the anti-hunting and animal rights movement, this may succeed in destroying the greatest environmental success of the past century—the return of American wildlife.” The late Aldo Leopold, a Professional Member of the Boone and Crockett Club, felt that hunting was essential for societal well-being. In his insightful essay “Goose Music” he recognized that, “We have not yet learned to express the value of wildlife in terms of social welfare,” referring to the ability to get away from society’s pressures and hunt. Professor Leopold went on to point out that, “the love of hunting is almost a physiological characteristic” and that, “the destruction of wildlife removed the incentive for days afield.” For me, after wearing out nearly 25 pairs of high-dollar hiking boots, the takehome message from these Boone and Crockett Professional Members and other renowned wildlife biologists is that harvest levels of predators must be managed as appropriately as we manage harvest levels of ungulate species. To fail to retain current hunters and to lose future hunters because there is more action in a video game would be a travesty. We must not forget that a cornerstone of North American conservation is the funding base provided by the hunter-conservationist. n

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BEST OF

2014

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The Boone and Crockett Club has a tradition of honoring trophies and the fair chase hunts that produce them, including photographs from the field.

For the sixth year, our editors will be sifting through hundreds of field photos looking for exemplary trophy field photography.

In keeping with this tradition, the Club, and Leupold and Stevens want to celebrate some of the best examples of field photography, and share them with you in each issue of FairÂ Chase.

The most outstanding examples will be featured in the Spring 2015 issue with the top three being awarded prizes provided by Leupold, the official optics of the Boone and Crockett Club.

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

THE COOPERATIVE FISH AND WILDLIFE RESEARCH UNITS Ding’s Brilliant Idea The 1930s were hard times. The United States was in the midst of its worst economic John F. Organ depression, and clouds PROFESSIONAL MEMBER of soil from America’s Director of the breadbasket were Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units blackening the skies over Chicago. People were pulling up stakes, or what they had left of them, from our heartland and making the long journey west to the promised land of California. Our nation’s wildlife was on the brink once again. By 1930, conservation was an institution in America. The social movement that began with our first sportsman’s organization, Carroll’s Island Club in Maryland, circa 1830, and the New York Sportsmen’s Club in the 1840s, was brought to maturity principally through the efforts of the Boone and Crockett Club and its members, such as Theodore Roosevelt, George Bird Grinnell, John F. Lacey, Gifford Pinchot, William Carey Sanger, William T. Hornaday, Charles Sheldon and others. A system of conservation was in place—comprised mainly of seasons, bag limits, enforcement, and refuge areas administered by state and federal agencies. But wildlife was still suffering declines. When Roosevelt ascended to the presidency at the turn of the century, science was not a major tool in wildlife conservation. Naturalists recorded and catalogued species, much like geologists described rocks and astronomers planets. A new breed of naturalists emerged—Roosevelt being one of them—who recognized that species were not like plants or strata, and that civilization could destroy them. Roosevelt, in what would become known as the Roosevelt Doctrine, called for a new way of doing conservation; a way where science would be the foundation for wildlife policy—a principle that became one of the major tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Early wildlife science practitioners included Herbert Stoddard, whose experiments in Georgia during the 1920s showed how habitat management could

enhance northern bobwhite populations, and Aldo Leopold, Boone and Crockett Club member, who is credited as the father of modern wildlife management. In the late 1920s, the organization now known as the Wildlife Management Institute asked Leopold and a group of leading wildlife conservationists to develop a vision for the future of wildlife conservation in North America. The American Game Policy was presented at the annual meeting of the

land, and wildlife that epitomized the Dust Bowl years, and his advocacy for conservation reforms in Iowa resulted in his being named the first chair of the Iowa Fish and Game Commission. Darling took notice of the clarion call of the 1930 American Game Policy, and with the commission sensing the lack of trained wildlife managers and scientific information, he came up with an idea that he brought to R.M. Hughes, president of the Iowa State College (now Iowa State University). Darling proposed a tripartite agreement where the college, the commission, and he would each contribute funds to establish a cooperative program for research in wildlife conservation. The deal was struck in 1932, and Dr. Paul Errington, a doctoral student of Aldo Leopold’s from Wisconsin, became the leader of the first Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit. Henry Wallace, a native Iowan, was secretary of agriculture under President Franklin D. Roosevelt and suggested to FDR that Darling be nominated director of the Federal Bureau of Biological Survey. Following a personal call from the president and much deliberation over the personal and financial sacrifices such a move would entail, Darling agreed. In March 1934, he became director of the Agriculture Department’s Biological Survey that is now the Interior Department’s U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Darling brought his Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit idea to Congress while searching for support to establish a unit system nationwide. He invited a group of leaders to dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City in 1935, including executives from the Hercules Powder Company, the Dupont Company, and the Remington Arms Company. Darling had already received pledges of support from land-grant universities in nine states, and the firearms industry executives clearly saw the benefit of such a program to the future of hunting and the national interest in wildlife conservation. They pledged support through what is now the Wildlife Management Institute (WMI), and a national program of Cooperative Wildlife Research Units became reality as a

A new breed of naturalists emerged—Roosevelt being one of them—who recognized that species were not like plants or strata, and that civilization could destroy them. Roosevelt, in what would become known as the Roosevelt Doctrine, called for a new way of doing conservation; a way where science would be the foundation for wildlife policy—a principle that became one of the major tenets of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation.

36 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

American Game Conference in New York City in December 1930. The policy called for sweeping changes, most notably a transformation from conserving to restoring wildlife with trained professionals conducting research to find facts related to problems affecting wildlife. Where would these trained professionals come from and how would research needs be identified and conducted? Enter Jay Norwood “Ding” Darling. Ding Darling was a cartoonist and political satirist for the Des Moines Register in Iowa and a Regular Member of the Boone and Crockett Club. An avid sportsman, he witnessed the changes occurring in climate,

ABOVE: Ding Darling was appointed chief of the Biological Survey March 10, 1934, by Secretary of Agriculture Henry A. Wallace (left). RIGHT: Darling, photographed standing near corn stubble in South Dakota, with a doublebarreled shotgun, was an energetic outdoorsman. BELOW: Shortly after he became chief of the Biological Survey in 1934, Darling purchased the first duck stamp, which he had designed.

four-legged stool of state, federal, university, and private cooperators. In 1960 Congress enacted the Cooperative Units Act authorizing fisheries to be included in the unit system portfolio. From the original 10 Cooperative Wildlife Research Units established after 1935, there are now 40 units at universities in 38 states (Montana and Wisconsin have separate wildlife and fisheries units). The cooperative structure has remained intact, with the federal government funding the salaries of the unit scientists, the university providing these scientists graduate faculty appointments along with office, laboratory, and administrative support, the state fish and wildlife agency providing operational funding, and the Wildlife Management Institute providing guidance and support. Annually, each unit’s coordinating committee, composed of representatives from each of the cooperators, meets to identify research and training needs and formally approve the research agenda. In the mid1990s, all Interior Department research offices were pulled out of their home agencies and placed in a new agency, the National Biological Survey (NBS) with the stated intent of having a firewall between those who do the science and those who enforce regulations. Ultimately, the NBS was disbanded and all biological science within the Interior Department was placed within the U.S. Geological Survey, which is home today for the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has remained a cooperator, and hundreds of research projects are being conducted today by the units to address their science needs. Throughout the evolution of the program, the mission has held steady: (1) to conduct research to provide science solutions to fish and wildlife management needs of the cooperators; (2) to train the next generation of wildlife and fisheries professionals through master’s, doctoral, and post-doctoral investigations; and (3) to provide the training and technical assistance to cooperators to help them in applying the latest science tools and technologies. Students graduating from the Cooperative Research Unit program have a particular brand associated with them; agencies know they have a leg up on other graduates because they have worked with professional biologists from agencies and

Fair Chase Winter 2014

In the past five years, 629 Cooperative Research Unit graduate students have successfully completed their studies, and 1,822 scientific papers have been published.

understand how to apply science to real-world conservation problems. Currently there are over 1,000 projects being conducted and over 500 graduate students enrolled nationwide in the units. In the past five years, 629 Cooperative Research Unit graduate students have successfully completed their studies, and 1,822 scientific papers have been published. A primary mission of each unit is to address the research needs of its state fish and wildlife agency, but often several states have similar needs, and units collaborate in trans-boundary research to address these needs at landscape scales. Currently, such projects include the western elk research collaborative involving cooperative units in Montana, Wyoming, Utah, and Idaho and state fish and wildlife agencies in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. By sharing data gathered from many states, unit researchers are able to attack questions that are difficult to address with smaller data sets, such as predator/prey interactions, calf survival, pregnancy rates, impact of bark beetle infestations on elk, and hunter habitat use, and other problems. The states have expressed interest in establishing a similar collaborative for moose. States in the east are also interested in a multi-unit collaborative on moose to address declining populations in the southern ranges. Cooperative units in Kansas, New Mexico, and Texas are working with collaborators in several states to develop state-based conservation plans for the lesser prairie chicken and developing monitoring tools that can be applied at unprecedented landscape scales. The Club’s legacy with the Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units did not end with its founding by Ding Darling. Both Regular and Professional Club Members have and continue to be a part of its history. For example, Regular Member William G. Sheldon, son of Charter Member Charles Sheldon became the first leader of the Massachusetts 38 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit when it was established at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1948. Sheldon trained many students who went on to become leaders in wildlife conservation, and his pioneering studies of American woodcock came to fruition in his classic The Book of the American Woodcock. Sheldon would occasionally tell stories to UMass wildlife graduate students about his boyhood years, recalling sitting on the front steps of his father’s home when Roosevelt and other Club members would come over to plan their fall exploits. The late Bart O’Gara, B&C Professional Member, was assistant leader of the Montana Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit under the legendary John Craighead and succeeded Craighead as leader. O’Gara was an avid big game hunter, and his studies focused on golden eagle and coyote predation on ungulates. His book, Pronghorn Ecology and Management, published by the Wildlife Management Institute, is a classic. As a young wildlife biologist I had the opportunity to spend time with O’Gara. His favorite hunting dog was a poodle—he claimed it was the most versatile bird dog he ever owned, and it would hunt anything. He had a great sense of humor—and proudly displayed a photo of himself, with his broad, toothy smile, bald pate, camo hat, and darkrimmed glasses, holding a golden eagle in one arm and the net gun he captured it with in the other. He told me he tried to get a bird club to put it on the cover of their magazine, but they refused. Regular Member James L. Cummins, architect of the Club’s current strategic plan among other leadership accomplishments, received his graduate education from the Virginia Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg. The Virginia Cooperative Research Unit was one of the first established in 1935. James is also a certified wildlife biologist and a certified

fisheries scientist, credentials conveyed by The Wildlife Society and the American Fisheries Society. Other Professional Members with unit ties include Rollie Sparrowe, who was leader of the Missouri Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit, national chief of the unit program, and president of the WMI; Steven A. Williams, who received his doctorate from the Pennsylvania Cooperative Wildlife Research Unit and is now president of WMI; and Christine L. Thomas, dean at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point where the Wisconsin Cooperative Fisheries Research Unit is based. In his later years, Darling recalled the pivotal moment in his efforts to establish the Cooperative Research Units as a national program. He recalled the dinner at the Waldorf Astoria with leaders from the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Association. He credited C.K. Davis, the head of Remington, with stepping forward to assure the industry’s support. He stated, “If I couldn’t get the support of the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers my whole house of cards was bound to collapse.” And since that uncertain start, the unit program “has produced an amazing volume of original information on wildlife problems and has developed scores of new techniques in wildlife management while training literally thousands of young people for professional careers in wildlife work.”1 Indeed, since the year 2001 alone, more than 2,500 students have graduated from the unit program, with most going on to careers with state, federal, and private conservation institutions. Ding’s brilliant idea has stood the test of time and will continue to serve our nation’s fish and wildlife conservation legacy. n 1.Lendt, D.L., 2001. The Life of Jay Norwood Darling. The Maecenas Press, Ames, Iowa, USA. Additional reference information was obtained from W.R. Goforth, 1994. The Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Program. Special Publication, U.S. Department of the Interior, National Biological Survey.

Ride With The Best.

Mr. Roosevelt’s Cavalry was a remarkable group of cowboys, athletes and hunters. They were fit, ready, and willing, and the spirit of these brave volunteers lives today in the Boone and Crockett Club’s Roughriders Society. You can become a member of this select group by supporting our mission with a gift through your estate. One great way to make your gift is by naming the Boone and Crockett Club Foundation as your IRA beneficiary. You get special recognition; the Club gets funding for wildlife conservation, fair chase hunting, and big game records keeping; and your estate gets tax relief. That’s good planning.

For more information, please contact: Winton C. Smith, J.D. 1-800-727-1040 wsmith@wintonsmith.com

COLONEL ROOSEVELT AND HIS ROUGH RIDERS AT THE TOP OF THE HILL WHICH THEY CAPTURED, BATTLE OF SAN JUAN BY WILLIAM DINWIDDIE.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

BOONE AND CROCKETT CLUB

GIFT IDEAS HUNT FAIR CHASE DECALS

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Show off these B&C window decals on your car, gun case, or wherever people will see it. There are four options sure to showcase your passion for whitetail deer, mule deer, elk, and sheep. These are custom cut transparent vinyl stickers that are silkscreen printed and extremely durable for all weather conditions. Each decal is about 3.75” wide.

This shirt is made of 100% cotton poplin. It has a caped back and vented mesh insert. The shirt features a right hand shooting pad and a pleated button-flap pocket. It comes embroidered with a choice of either our Hunt Fair Chase logo or Boone and Crockett Club text logo. Please specify the size and embroidery logo you want in the order notes section.

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Stitched from the same fabric as the Traverse Zip and Bottoms, the Traverse Beanie is a great early season beanie or a perfect compliment to a cold weather layering system. Designed to keep your head warm, and wick sweat, this is a lightweight packable accessory. Also the perfect thickness for keeping your head warm during a cold night in the sleeping bag.

This full-size poster features a color map of the U.S. highlighting the top trophy-producing counties for each state. It also includes color portrait photographs of the current World’s Records along with a complete list ranking states and provinces with a corresponding map of North America. n

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Gift Ideas | Join B&C Today | Toll-Free 888/840-4868 | www.boone-crockett.org | www.historyofhunting.com 40 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

B&C CLASSICS COLLECTOR'S SET! LIMITE

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WILD GOURMET NATURALLY HEALTHY GAME, FISH AND FOWL RECIPES FOR EVERYDAY CHEFS Looking for new ways to prepare the wild game you harvested this season? Do you want easy recipes that produce unique and delicious results? Do you need tips for processing your venison that will all but guarantee top-notch flavor?

r the 2014 Holid ay Season we've created a li mited edition collector's set of the B&C Classics books. Each set includes the follo wing books, rebound as hard cover books with brilliant, fu ll color dust jackets and pack aged in a custom slipcase that fits all four books. –Camp-Fires in the . t e ly ara Canadian R sep o ld s ockies (Hornada t o se n y) – A Hunter’s W pca *S li anderings in A fr ica (Selous) – A frican Gam e Trails (Rooseve lt) – The Wilderne ss of the Upper Yukon (Sheldon ) LIMIT ED QU A NT IT Y – O n ly 10 0 sets were prod are gone, no mor uced, once they e will be made. Order today befo re they are sold out! n 4 Ha rd cove r bo ok s w ith du st ja cket s BCS14 | $1 24.95

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In Wild Gourmet, America’s most respected chefs share their favorite recipes covering a menagerie of wild meats and a world of flavors. This scrumptiously illustrated cookbook features over 60 easy, step-by-step recipes that will please the most discriminating eaters. Recipes are presented with accompanying photographs, as well as wine pairings suggested by third generation Napa wine maker Marc Mondavi. New to hunting and fishing? Locavores and health-conscious cooks are turning to wild game, and they’re discovering what sportsmen have known all along: The tastiest, healthiest meat is wild meat. Wild Gourmet will demystify processing and preparing your harvest. n Hardcover n

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Thirty hunters. Thirty record-book trophy big game animals—most of them taken without guides on public lands. Thirty epic tales to share back at hunting camp. These are the real-world stories behind some of the top-scoring trophies ever recognized by the Boone and Crockett Club. n

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

Milestones in Conservation Boone and Crockett Club 2014

The history of the Boone and Crockett Club is a tale of over 127 years of measured and thoughtful commitment to conservation. It is a commitment that balances human needs with wildlife needs. We will be celebrating the anniversaries of the passage of laws, the establishment of institutions, and the designation of wildlands, which exist today in large part because of the extensive efforts of the Club and its dedicated membership.

120 Years After the Yellowstone Protection Act

President Roosevelt’s western tour - visiting Liberty Gap, Yellowstone Nat. Park, 1903.

Enlarging and protecting Yellowstone National Park was the Boone and Crockett Club’s first project. In 1894, Club Member and U.S. Senator John F. Lacey introduced the Yellowstone Protection Act. The measure provided armed law enforcement to protect against poaching, timber harvest, mineral extraction, defacing geysers and rock formations, and more. The bill, behind vital work by Club Members George G. Vest, George Bird Grinnell and Gen. Philip Sheridan, passed in 1894. The crusade to preserve Yellowstone marked the first time a natural resource issue secured the popular support of both sportsmen and non-sportsmen. Yellowstone also thrust Boone and Crockett into the national limelight as an organization of hunters effectively leading America’s early conservation movement.

Reigning World’s Record Caribou Taken in 1994 The taking and certification of any new World’s Record big-game species is a cause for celebration. Twenty years ago, Donald J. Hotter III harvested a massive Central Canada barren ground caribou from the Humpy Lake area in Northwest Territories. The bull was declared a new World’s Record. It remains the largest of its kind ever recorded, scoring 433-4/8. The significance to the hunter-conservationist community is twofold. First, Club’s records program exists to document successful wildlife conservation, habitat and management programs; a World’s Record is a barometer of our stewardship. Second, this is not a trophy of a bygone era, but still a relatively new World’s Record. It’s just one animal among tens of thousands, but it stands as a testament to modern, professional successes in sustainableuse conservation. 1950

42 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

1975

NCLI group, 2006

10 Years of Developing Conservation Leaders Conservation faced a pending void in institutional knowledge and leadership. Surveys showed that 77 percent of state wildlife agency leaders would be eligible to retire by 2015, and more than half of federal conservation leaders even sooner. Next-generation hires, for all their talents, promised less personal connections to hunting and first-hand understanding of how conservation is funded—less knowledge of the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Boone and Crockett Club President Lowell E. Baier called it one of our nation’s most significant conservation challenges. In 2004, Baier, along with Club Members Robert Model, Steven A. Williams and John G. Baughman, founded the National Conservation Leadership Institute (NCLI) in Washington, D.C. Boone and Crockett remains a major sponsor. NCLI offers an intense, eight-month training experience featuring Harvard University facilitators specializing in the latest strategies for developing management potential. Today, hundreds of the most gifted conservation agency employees have developed their leadership potential through NCLI, helping to ensure that retirees will leave America’s natural resource legacy in safe hands. 1994

2000 2004

2014

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Where Hunti

44 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

ing Happens, Conservation Happens.

â&#x201E;˘

It comes as no surprise to anyone who follows mule deer that Colorado is the place to go to take a book deer. While the famed Arizona Strip or some of the New Mexico units have the potential for an absolute tank of a buck, so does Colorado, and the odds of finding a buck mature enough to grace the trophy listing in Boone and Crockettâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s magazine is higher than anywhere else. PG 48. COLORADO MULE DEER BY THE NUMBERS by Justin Spring

Fair Chase Winter 2014

B&C PROFESSORS’ CORNER Adult-Onset Hunters Hello my name is Jordan Burroughs and I am an adult-onset hunter. Believe it or not, I am a wildlife biologist, Jordan Pusateri B&C Profes sional Burroughs Member, B&C Extension PROFESSIONAL MEMBER Specialist, and I did not Boone & Crockett Wildlife grow up hunting. Extension Specialist, As a budding Michigan State University wildlife biologist, I wanted to better understand the stakeholders (i.e., hunters) I might work with during my career, so I enrolled in Missouri’s hunter safety program (still unsure whether I would ever actually hunt). There on a cool September day, I sat in a hunter education room with fifteen 11 to 14-year-old boys and their dads. Talk about being intimidated and feeling out of your element. Everyone, except me, was dressed in their blaze orange and/or camo including the instructors. Little did anyone know that I didn’t own a shred of camo or blaze orange.

During the two-day session, we spent considerable time learning how firearms work, the proper ways to handle firearms, hunter responsibilities and ethics, Missouri-specific hunting rules and regulations, and an overview of wildlife conservation and management. All of my classmates handled the firearms with ease and confidence. I, on the other hand, was embarrassed that I had never touched a firearm and fumbled my way through the proper handling exercises. I could have sworn my instructor was speaking a different language when he starting talking

how or teach me the other skills and techniques necessary to succeed as a hunter. I didn’t grow up in a hunting family and wasn’t sure where to go next to learn the skills necessary to be successful in the field. I felt like I had just completed a cooking class, but didn’t own a single cooking utensil or even have an oven and yet I was expected to prepare a beef Wellington. A dozen or so years have passed since I took hunter safety and a lot has changed. Many states have restructured their programs to include a field-based, hands-on learning opportunity. The field day component allows students to learn and demonstrate safe handling of firearms, often includes live fire at a range, and concludes with a mandatory exam. Today, technology plays an enormous role in hunter safety from the explosion of online hunter safety education options to virtual shooting experiences (e.g., laser shot hunting simulators). Many, if not all, states offer an online hunter education component as part of their overall hunter safety training. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has partnered with Florida Virtual School (the nation’s first and largest online public school district) to offer high school students the opportunity to complete their hunter safety and boater safety certification while earning 0.5 credit for high school. The course incorporates both online and outdoor learning. Minnesota and Iowa were the first states to offer an adults-only, online firearm safety option. Their courses increase certification accessibility to working adults who traditionally have conflicts scheduling a multi-week classroom course. Traditionally, the natural path to become a hunter is from a family that hunts. Like me, more and more new adult hunters are joining the hunting ranks for other reasons besides family tradition. Across the country we are seeing initiation into hunting for adults who missed the natural path but

Across the country we are seeing initiation into hunting for adults who missed the natural path but have an interest in sustainably harvested food, healthy living and eating local. about wads, cartridges, pellets, gauge size, and caliber. Looking around the room at my youthful classmates, I was the only one who appeared befuddled. My memory is foggy, but I vaguely remember seeing a demonstration of how fast black powder burns, yet I don’t recall ever shooting a firearm as part of my class. And yet 12 hours after starting the class, I aced my hunter safety exam. A few short weeks later, I received my hunter safety card in the mail. To this day, I still carry my Missouri Conservation Heritage card next to my library card and ATM card in my wallet as my rite of passage. Technically, I was certified to purchase a hunting license, but still I had never shot a firearm. Huh? What’s wrong with this picture? I had never shot a firearm, and I couldn’t think of anyone who could show me

Jordan is a natural in a treestand, and to this day still carries her Missouri Conservation Heritage card in her wallet as a rite of passage.

46 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

have an interest in sustainably harvested food, healthy living, and eating local. The phrase adult-onset hunter was coined by my friend and colleague, Tovar Cerulli, in his book, The Mindful Carnivore. After completing hunter safety education, many adults from non-hunting families are hard-pressed to find someone to take them under his/her wing and teach them how to hunt. Sure these adults know how to safely and properly handle a firearm, but what do they know about the animal’s biology and behavior? Do they know how to scout for a good hunting spot? What do they know about hunting ethics and responsibility? Hunting gear? Calling game? Oh yeah—and what happens next should they successfully harvest an animal? Can you even learn how to field dress an animal from a book? Several state agencies have answered the call to provide hands-on hunting instruction, tools, and experiences to teach adults, new to hunting, how to hunt. Wisconsin’s Department of Natural Resources offers Learn to Hunt Programs that teach hunting basics and allows beginning hunters to experience a high quality, first-time hunt with an experienced mentor. Several other states are following Wisconsin’s example by offering a variety of other learn-to-hunt programs

with species-specific hunting classes (e.g., deer, turkey, big game, waterfowl) and clinics that focus on a specific type of hunting equipment (e.g., handguns, crossbows). As the pioneers of conservation, what can we do to pass on our hunting ethic and heritage to a new generation of hunters and conservationists? What can we, as Boone and Crockett Club Members, associates, and partners, do to help build the foundation and serve as a social network to help recruit new hunters (young and old) into our hunting tradition? The most obvious answer based on my experience is to serve as a hunting buddy/ mentor for one of the adults that are being churned out of the various states’ Learn to Hunt programs. As I mentioned, Learn to Hunt programs typically culminate in a trial hunt experience. This is the point where state agencies need to be able to hand these folks off to experienced, ethical hunters—like those affiliated with the Boone and Crockett Club, who can perform the role that many of your parents and grandparents served in your own recruitment into hunting. As the Club’s founder, Theodore Roosevelt, so eloquently stated, “Those of us privileged to take to the field are entrusted by fate and circumstance to hold and nurture the hunter’s legacy.” n

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

DAVID RUMSEY HISTORICAL MAP COLLECTION NELL’S TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP OF THE STATE OF COLORADO. THE KENDRICK BOOK & STATIONERY CO. DENVER, 1905. C.A. KENDRICK, PRES. H.E. BELLAMY, VICE PRES. COPYRIGHT BY LOUIS NELL, DENVER, COLO. 1903. THE FRIEDENWALD CO. PHOTO-LITH. BALTO.

B&C Assistant Director of Big Game Records

48 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

It comes as no surprise to anyone who follows mule

deer that Colorado is the place to go to take a book deer. While the famed Arizona Strip or some of the New Mexico units have the potential for an absolute tank of a buck, so does Colorado, and the odds of finding a buck mature enough to grace the trophy listing in Boone and Crockett’s magazine is higher than anywhere else. This holds true especially when you factor in draw odds, or if your pocketbook allows you this luxury, the cost of a landowner tag to bypass these odds. Since mine does not, finding a hand up on the odds is what I want, and since I have access to the largest big game dataset in the world, as do all subscribers to B&C’s Trophy Search. I rely on this info to do my pre-game research. Together, let’s “walk through” Colorado’s mule deer and see all the ways we can locate a unit to fulfill your desires for a hunt.

By Justin E. Spring

B&C’s Trophy Search This database is the complete collection of all Boone and Crockett trophies in 38 categories from the beginning of recorded trophies to date (1830 through today). Data searches can be queried in a number of different ways depending on the type and amount of information in which you are interested. It is set up by species and you can ask it to search for trophy listings by a specific year or range of years; by state, county, or province; or by the hunter/owner’s last name if you are looking for one particular trophy. The “Advance Search” option allows you to ask specific questions about a trophy category. For example: Highest score Greatest or smallest spread Greatest or smallest inside spread Greatest number of specified points (4x4, 5x5, 5x4, etc.) n Greatest or smallest sum of abnormal points n Longest point n Greatest or smallest main beam n Greatest circumference. n n n n

For this, I want to find a unit with big buck potential that may not be listed in other places as a top unit. There are many out there that will tell you the top units for which to apply. Having these lists in hand isn’t a bad idea. They will be a good reference in the end to check against.. In most cases, these lists are correct, but commonly the points required to draw makes many units unattainable. I will go through and classify a state by counties, then narrowed to units, and ultimately arrive at some units that fit my criteria for what I want in Colorado in the next few years. As a check, we will see if the top units (ranked by difficulty to draw) appear in my list. If they do, we have an indicator that we are on the right track. This hopefully will mean some units in that list are in the same class as the top units without all the popularity. For this analysis that is what I am looking for. You may be thinking that you don’t have the time for such an in-depth search, but how much money and time do you already spend? Each year you apply in Colorado you have to purchase a license. If you do the research of finding the top units from a magazine or website, you already have that cost. If you go with an application service, tack on some more money to your yearly contribution. You know that it will take you

ABOVE: Mike Duplan took this typical mule deer in Eagle County, Colorado, in 2006. The buck scores 208-1/8 points and is ranked 15th in the state.

some 15 years to draw, assuming the unit stays on top that whole time. Hunting license fees will not drop in the near future, so calculating those costs is a minimum of what it will cost you. Colorado is a straight-point state so you have to have the points to play. How many licenses do you have to buy to get the points before you get into the possibility zone for the top units you may be interested in? All of a sudden, that $5,000 landowner tag is approaching the affordable point. Even if you figure your time is worth $100 an hour, if you can bypass 10 years of applications with a couple hours of research, that is $200 well spent. You can hunt the year you want, with a minimal investment, and take great pride if your rankings results in a trophy deer that comes from a unit most sources might overlook. That said, can you kill a trophy buck in a state you have never been to without waiting 20 years to draw a tag? I believe so, and this breakdown will take readily available data from current sources to get you thinking about what is possible.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

1. Mule Deer Entries (Typical and NonTypical) By County Since 2000

2. Square Mile Per Entry By County

3. Number Of Entries Combined with Square Miles Per Entry

County

Entries

Typical

Non-Typ

County

Sq_Mi/Trop

Eagle

44.5

County

Combination

Garfield

Douglas

64.8

Eagle

1.0

Mesa

La Plata

80.9

La Plata

3.5

Gunnison

Delta

95.7

Douglas

5.5

La Plata

Montezuma

102.0

Montezuma

5.5

Montezuma

Pitkin

108.1

Garfield

5.5

Montrose

Jefferson

110.6

Delta

7.0

Rio Blanco

Montrose

131.9

Mesa

7.0

Douglas

Garfield

134.4

Montrose

7.5

Moffat

Archuleta

135.5

Gunnison

9.0

Delta

Teller

139.8

Pitkin

10.5

Grand

Mesa

151.9

Jefferson

12.0

Yuma

Dolores

152.6

Archuleta

12.0

Archuleta

Gunnison

155.2

Rio Blanco

12.5

Pitkin

Grand

170.0

Grand

13.5

Las Animas

Clear Creek

198.3

Jefferson

Rio Blanco

214.9

Dolores

Conejos

215.2

Conejos

Yuma

215.4

Jackson

Custer

246.6

Routt

Chaffee

253.8

Pueblo

San Miguel

257.7

San Miguel

Rio Grande

304.4

Morgan

Summit

309.7

Park

Morgan

323.5

El Paso

Jackson

324.2

Teller

Boulder

370.3

Chaffee

San Juan

388.3

Cheyenne

Moffat

395.9

Fremont

Routt

473.6

Custer

Pueblo

479.5

Rio Grande

Fremont

511.3

Larimer

Las Animas

530.6

Boulder

El Paso

532.4

Adams

Park

552.7

Summit

Adams

591.6

Clear Creek

Cheyenne

593.8

Kit Carson

Otero

634.9

Elbert

Arapahoe

805.9

Saguache

Elbert

925.4

Otero

Kit Carson

1080.8

Washington

Larimer

1317.1

Arapahoe

Saguache

1585.1

Kiowa

Huerfano

1593.4

Huerfano

Kiowa

1785.8

San Juan

Washington

2524.1

Baca

2557.1

50 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

These counties reported zero entries: Weld, Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Gilpin, Denver, Lincoln, Lake, Crowley, Ouray, Prowers, Bent, Hinsdale, Mineral, Alamosa, Costilla, and Broomfield

The first step in my process is to rank each county in Colorado by number of entries. This is a fairly straightforward process using B&C’s Trophy Search, and I only included typical and non-typical mule deer taken since January 1, 2000 (Table 1). The last decade for me is more telling. Many historic hotspots are no longer producing and vice versa; new units don’t have a long history of entries, but lately they have out-performed some classics when historic numbers are thrown out. From this we find the top counties for numbers. While interesting, we can break it down further; all counties are not uniform in size, so a larger county may have better totals than actual entry density. For my second calculation, I found areas of each county on my GIS software from the census data. (If you do not have this at your disposal, a quick Google search of “areas of counties in Colorado” will bring you to Wikipedia. While Wikipedia isn’t a source worthy of most publications, it gives you what you need for this calculation.) I exported the data to a spreadsheet, manually input the square mileage for each county, and then divided the number of entries per county by square mileage, giving me square miles per entry in the given time frame selected (Table 2). From these two lists, I formulated a basic way to combine the two numbers: Table 1 rank plus Table 2 rank divided by two. If you want a public-land hunt, the percentage of county covered by national forest or BLM as a third factor could be added by ranking all the counties you are interested in from No. 1 to whatever you want to include, and combine this score with the number or entries. At some point, you will find a few counties that rise to the top. Once you get here, it’s time to start identifying units for further analysis. A county may cover dozens of units, so I recommend concentrating on three or four counties.

ABOVE LEFT: I f you do not have access to GIS software a quick Google search of “Areas of counties in Colorado” will bring you to Wikipedia. While Wikipedia isn’t a source worthy of most publications, it gives you what you need

for this calculation. LEFT: While on a 2005 hunt in Yuma County, Colorado, Rodney A. Lindsten took this 246-1/8 point non-typical mule deer. RIGHT: This typical mule deer, scoring 202-2/8 points, was taken by Gregory S. Hunt. He was hunting in Mesa County, Colorado, during the 2008 season.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

52 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

4. Top Eight Colorado Counties Entries Over The Past 10 Years, By Date

Date

Entries

9/1-9/5 9/6-9/10

9/11-9/15

9/16-9/20

9/21-9/25 9/26-9/30

10/15-10/20

10/21-10/25

10/26-10/30

10/31-11/4

11/5-11/10

11/11-11/15

11/16+

Additional information in a visual format is OnXmaps by Hunt GPS Maps. They have data available in different forms for many states. There are Google Earth layers available great for hunt planning. Their newest product is their own mapping software where numerous layers can be added and can list landowner names which can be used to contact the particular landowner or perhaps identify a resource management company or group that may allow access.

Some states, such as Oregon, break down percentage of unit as public or private. Again, create a spreadsheet table with the units you want in the county you identified and include percentage of public or private land. Sort by that number from lowest to highest, and then rank those in a separate column to further weight your preferences into your analysis. One place to look for additional information in a visual format is OnXHUNT app or chip. They have data available in different forms that increases by the day in terms of states available and in what formats; I have used all their formats extensively for my hunt planning. Their newest product is a web based mapping tool called OnXMaps Viewer that is a user-friendly GIS platform where numerous layers can be added to further refine your unit identification. This is what I used to find the units within the counties I identified. It also can list landowner names which can be used to contact the particular landowner or perhaps identify a resource management company or group that may allow access. By employing available data with a little creativity, you can develop your own personal ranking for units on paper. It is completely customizable with a minimal investment and a home computer. Combining number of entries and square miles per entry seems to address my particular needs for this research, so I take my top results on the combination of the two (Table 3). For my calculation, I am looking purely at getting a tag one to three years out for a decent hunt with the chance at a book-caliber buck. I like the area of central-western Colorado, so I will refine my search to look at eight counties: Rio Blanco, Garfield, Mesa, Delta, Gunnison, Montrose, Eagle, and Pitkin. Going to B&C’s Trophy Search, I pull the information for these counties in the last 10 years by including expanded kill dates, which gives me the best dates to be there—helpful when I search for draw odds. (Table 4). I am now looking for a unit in one of those counties that dates fall between 10/31 and 11/10 within the 33 units that my eight counties completely cover. Looking at the units, I identify 12 of them that have significant forest service cover from my OnX maps program, so I know I will have a place to go. Referencing my list, I now go to Colorado’s draw odds on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website and start searching for my hunt. The interesting part as I go through, I see the breakdown this year shows third rifle season being Nov 1-9, meaning that third season rifle is the better choice statistically to kill a book deer. This well could be that later seasons are harder to draw, and less people are

Fair Chase Winter 2014

5. Top Eight Colorado Counties Entries Over The Past 10 Years, By Date

In an effort to assist Colorado’s big game hunters applying for the draw, Colorado Parks and Wildlife provides the following hunting season information. These reports show how many licenses were available in all big game management units throughout Colorado, how many hunters applied for those limited licenses, how many of those hunters were successful drawing and how many preference points it took to be successful.

hunting; this is a call you have to make on your own. In my mind, with around 70 of the bucks taken during the time the third rifle season falls this year, my attention is on finding a tag for the third rifle season. I have limited my choices by my criteria to the following units and the odds for a third season rifle tag (Table 5): These tables are all available for Colorado Parks and Wildlife at this address http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/Statistics. aspx Now, you have a unit that has promise, you can draw it in under two years, OnXMaps tells you it is 70 percent public land, and you know there are numerous trails and areas closed to motorized access. Time to put boots to the ground. Many units look good on paper, but once you get into them, it’s never a deer behind every rock as you imagined, so the first order of business in most cases is a scouting trip. But other than deer numbers, what are you looking for? What type of antler configurations are present in that area that result in the number of inches of antler you are looking for? Some deer score well with spindly racks and long points, others are very massive deer with good point length, and some just throw 70 inches of abnormal, putting a 140-class frame into book-range in the nontypical category. Here is where Trophy Search can help further. You can query it, for example, to show only bucks for LaPlata County taken since 2010. The photos are then brought up so you find the attributes of the deer that score well. Don’t overlook the habitat the pictures are taken in. Notice the clothing the hunters are wearing—is it hot and sunny, rainy, snowing? This all should be factored into your preparations. This will give you a unit with potential and get you well on your way to preparing for the hunt. Hunting and technology in many cases mix about as well as oil and water, though in other cases can save you time, money, and ultimately result in a better hunt. If you go into a unit with confidence, it’s far easier to hike farther, stay longer, have realistic expectations, and enjoy the hunt more for what the original founders of the Club promoted—exploring new lands. Club founders may have been the first, but thanks to their efforts, the public lands available today are far more expansive than one could ever hope to cover in a hundred lifetimes. Not everyone can travel abroad to hunt—or even to different parts of the country—but if you wish to hear a bull scream from an aspen patch on a crisp September morning 54 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

Unit

Non-Resident Points in 2013 for 3rd Season

Success/All Seasons

Number of Hunters in all seasons

680

226

649

987

421

1032

243

365

521

295

313

381

271

1271

ABOVE: Youth hunter Kyle Lopez took this non-typical mule deer in 2007 while hunting in Douglas County, Colorado. It scores 306-3/8 points and is ranked second in the state. It ranked first place at the 27th Big Game Awards Program.

with a bow in your hand or watch a giant mule deer buck lip curl towards a doe as the sun drops behind the ridge on which he is skylined, the opportunity is there. Boone and Crockett members have set aside the lands to ensure that game populations recovered and now publish the data necessary to enjoy what this great nation has to offer. n

WHETHER YOUR ADVENTURES TAKE YOU AROUND THE WORLD OR PLACES CLOSER TO HOME, YOU’LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS THAN THE QUALITY AND DEPENDABILITY YOU GET WITH BOYT.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

FOR HOME, CABIN OR 1. Norma USA’s American PH

Norma USA’s American PH line is designed and engineered specifically for the demands of the American sportsman. The new line-up of precision-grade ammunition covers over 50 calibers and cartridges from .243 Win. to .338 Lapua. Norma cases are precision manufactured to deliver superior accuracy, and only the finest components are used to achieve maximum ballistic performance of any combination. Included in the new American PH ammunition line are the popular and hard hitting Norma Oryx and Norma Kalahari bullets. A bonded bullet, the Oryx retains over 90 percent of its weight while expanding rapidly to combine impressive wound cavities with deep penetration. Big game hunters find the Kalahari bullet can meet any challenge where long shots are common. The Kalahari’s design ensures the highest possible velocity within safe pressures to give the flattest trajectory possible. A lead-free hollowpoint bullet, the Kalahari expands with six razor edged petals, while maintaining a long shank for the deepest penetration possible. Norma’s African PH ammunition, designed for safari and for stopping a determined charge by any of Africa’s Big Five, is now available through Norma-USA as well. The Norma African PH line-up is comprised of 24 combinations of Woodleigh FMJ and soft pointed bullets from .375 H&H to .505 Mag Gibbs.

www.norma-usa.com

2. 2. The Art of The Gun: Magnificent Colts, Selections From the Robert M. Lee Collection

A landmark in the life of Boone & Crockett Club Member, Robert M. Lee came at age seven when his great grandfather gave him an antique Colt revolver – a family heirloom Model 1855 Sidehammer cased set. Back then, the youngster had no idea that he would ultimately amass one of the world’s foremost collections of Colt firearms and based on that remarkable achievement, create Magnificent Colts, the finest book ever devoted to firearms. Bob Lee co-authored with R.L. Wilson the two-volume 11” X 14” landscape-designed book, The Art of the Gun: Magnificent Colts, Selections from the Robert M. Lee Collection. The level of printing, photography, design and execution has set an unequaled standard. No expense was spared in this comprehensive project. The selection of paper, processing equipment, computerized design and proofing techniques, the outsourcing of printing and binding, and all other aspects of making the ultimate in books was exhaustively researched and tested. The extensive gun photography shows most gun views in actual size, which were color-corrected using the actual guns as guides. Cap-stoning the elaborately detailed manufacturing process was the comprehensive attention to detail in producing each volume. The best in hand-stitched, Smyth sewn binding, of cloth for the Standard Edition and leather for the Deluxe Collector’s Limited Edition. Besides the gold foil stamped Brillianta Cloth binding, custom produced for the 5,000 copies in the Standard Edition, the heavily coated stock for the dust jacket is of French Fold, with exquisitely detailed printing on outside and inside surfaces – unprecedented in major illustrated books on any subject. Guaranteeing the exclusive nature of the Deluxe Collector’s Edition, 23 karat gold-embossed Tuscan Calf Leather Binding was employed, with hand-marbled end leaves, set within an exquisitely handcrafted clamshell case. The sets are signed, numbered and limited to 500. To order these exceptional books on antique Colt firearms call 800-520-2001.

www.yellowstonepress.com 56 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

R IN THE FIELD... 3. Aimpoint’s New Micro T-2 Sight

Aimpoint, the originator and world leader in electronic red dot sighting technology, has announced the addition of the new Micro T-2 sight to the company’s professional product line. The Micro T-2 will be available for shipment in mid-October 2014, and will be offered alongside the company’s existing Micro T-1 product. Since its introduction in 2007, the Aimpoint Micro sight has become the worldwide standard for compact reflex sights. Law enforcement and military end users have embraced this sight for its compact size, durability, and extremely long battery life. Feedback received from professional end users identified a series of desired product enhancements that have now been added to this new product. These changes include: a new sight housing which allows the addition of front and rear protective flip covers and anti-reflective devices, additional physical protection for the sight’s adjustment turrets, and increased ruggedness for the sight’s internal electronic components. The most important development in this new sight however, is enhanced optical performance. A newly designed front lens, incorporating an important breakthrough in reflective lens coatings, provides a noticeable increase in the clarity and performance properties of the Micro T-2. This ensures that no matter what angle or conditions the shot presents, the user is able to get on target quickly and accurately. The Micro T-2 can be mounted on nearly any individual weapon platform, and can be used with all existing mounts that fit the Micro T-1. This sight is compatible with all generations of night vision devices. The Micro T-2 is ideal for use with Aimpoint’s wide range of accessories including the 3X Magnifier, and Concealed Engagement Unit (CEU). The Micro T-2 can operate for up to five years of constant-on use, using just one CR-2032 battery, and is waterproof to 25 meters. The Micro T-2 will be available from Aimpoint dealers nationwide.

www.aimpoint.com

4. Negerini’s New, Lightweight Gun Luggage

International Case Company, distributors of Negrini luxury gun cases, today introduced the new “Gun Luggage” series rifle cases. Featuring a hard gun case integrated with a fine piece of Italian luggage, the new series provides the ultimate solution for the traveling hunter. The new lightweight Gun Luggage™ cases use intelligent design to combine luggage capacity and guns in a highly functional and spacious rolling hard case,” says Steve Lamboy, President and CEO of International Case Company/Negrini. “Packing all that gear and guns for my hunting trip just became lighter and easier,” he stated. The International Air Travel Approved Negrini Gun Luggage features a thermoformed double wall case that holds and protects two scoped rifles or long guns securely in defined, upholstered compartments in the bottom of the case. All of your other duffle is stored in the top and separated by a special padded divider wall that keeps the guns secure. Strong, elastic cargo netting keeps gear organized in the top half. Negrini Gun Luggage is equipped with two, tough inline skate wheels and an ergonomic handle for ease of movement. “Gun Luggage incorporates special supports used to stand it upright when you’re waiting in that long line at the airport,” said Lamboy. Four TSA accepted composite and steel combination locks secure the closure. All Negrini Gun Luggage and luxury gun cases come with a lifetime warranty. The new Gun Luggage is available now at Negrini Premium dealers, and online, for an MSRP of $499. For more information contact International Case Company/Negrini Cases at negrinicases.com or phone 585-905-3161.

www.negrinicases.com Fair Chase Winter 2014

58 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

NOW AVAILABLE! ORDER TODAY.

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Wild Gourmet has over 60 recipes for all types of wild game, fish, and fowl. Also Included is a beautiful pull-out meat poster with cuts, butchering information, and cooking techniques.

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Pan-Seared Chukar Breast with Lemon Vinaigrette S COT T L E YS AT H

Harvesting a limit of chukars is a daunting task, considering the work that goes

T H E S P O R T I N G CH E F

into chasing these elusive birds up and down ankle-twisting rocky hills. Fast fliers and runners, chukars are very low in fat and will dry out if overcooked. The cure

SERVES

for dry and chewy upland birds is not to drown them in a slow-cooker with cream of mushroom soup until they fall off the bone. A medium-hot skillet, a spirited vinaigrette and proper cooking time will insure a moist, tender, and tasty bird.

8 Whole chukar breasts, skin on or off

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Don’t discard the legs and carcasses of upland birds. Roast along with celery, carrots, and onions before placing into a stock pot and covering with cold water. Heat until almost boiling, then reduce heat to a low simmer and leave the uncovered pot alone

LEMON VINAIGRETTE 3 Garlic cloves, minced

for several hours, overnight is fine as long as the heat is low and there is plenty of water in the pot. Cool and strain through a cheesecloth-line colander for an incredible stock

¼ Cup freshly squeeze lemon juice

or broth.

3 Tablespoons white wine vinegar

LEMON VINAIGRETTE

1½ Teaspoons Dijon mustard

¾ Teaspoon granulated sugar

²⁄ з Cup extra virgin olive oil

¼ Cup fresh basil leaves, chopped

2 Green onions, chopped

Kosher salt and pepper, to taste

1. Whisk together garlic, lemon juice, vinegar, Dijon mustard, and sugar in a medium bowl. While whisking, add olive oil in a thin stream until emulsified. Whisk in basil and green onions. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide vinaigrette in half.

CHUKAR 1. Season chukar liberally with salt and pepper. Place in a non-reactive container or heavy-duty zipper-lock bag and toss with one-half of the vinaigrette, reserving the other half for later. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, tossing to coat evenly every hour or so.

SUGGESTED WINE VARIETALS WHITE Chardonnay \ Sauvignon Blanc \ Viognier

2. Remove chukar from vinaigrette. Heat a thin layer of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chukar breasts and brown evenly on both sides. Just before removing from the skillet, baste with reserved marinade.

4. Serve over vegetables, pasta or rice. Spoon warm pan sauce over the top.

RED Merlot \ Pinot Noir \ Zinfandel

Fair Chase Winter 2014 n 59

TROPHY TALK Trophy Owners Can Now Challenge B&C Deer Boundaries Forensic Records Keeping

When I was a kid, most of the shows on television were cowboy Jack Reneau shows. Nowadays, you can’t turn your DIRECTOR television on without Big Game Records stumbling onto one of the many cop shows that use clever forensics to solve crimes. Even if you don’t watch any of these shows, somewhere you’ve no doubt learned that the most important and conclusive forensic evidence used to solve crimes today is DNA. If your DNA is found at a crime scene, it’s considered prima-facie evidence that you were there, and you may have to do a lot of fast talking to prove your innocence. DNA analysis is also being used more and more to solve wildlife poaching crimes and questions. So I am really pleased to say that B&C Professional Member Jim Heffelfinger, a regional game specialist with

the Arizona Game & Fish Department, has concluded, with a number of collaborators, a monumental deer DNA study that has very significant implications for B&C’s records program. Jim initiated his DNA research in 1996, and Boone and Crockett Club jumped on board in 2003. To date, B&C has contributed approximately $75,000 to deer DNA research. More than 100 individuals, including hunters, biologists, taxidermists, B&C members and Official Measurers, P&Y members, etc. were involved in collecting samples across North America. Buck Buckner, George Bettas, and I hunted the southern tip of Baja in 2003 to collect B&C’s first mule deer specimen from that area for Jim’s extensive research project. A total of 2,800 specimens were collected from across North America and analyzed. Included were mule deer, Sitka and Columbia blacktail deer, whitetail deer, Coues’ whitetail deer, and Carmen Mountain whitetails. A host of other organizations that made significant contributions to Jim’s DNA analysis was again used by the 28th Awards Program Judges Panel to verify that all 10 typical and non-typical Columbia blacktail deer and 2 Coues’ whitetail deer invited were properly categorized.

LEFT TO RIGHT: J. Nyle Stierna’s non-typical, Kevin Brett’s typical, and Morgan Randall’s non-typical Columbia blacktail were all tested for proper classification in the 28th Awards Program.

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study include Arizona Game and Fish Dept., Univ. of Arizona, Purdue Univ., National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, California Deer Association, Safari Club International, Seattle Chapter of SCI, University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Dallas Safari Club, Camp Fire Club of America, Pope and Young Club, Dr. Vernon D. Holleman, and others. DNA Analysis Used by B&C

Boone and Crockett first used DNA analysis from Jim’s study in 2010 during the 27th Awards Program to verify whether or not a potential World’s Record non-typical Columbia blacktail deer (195-6/8 points) was correctly classified. The only information available about the trophy was from hearsay and an Oregon metal tag affixed to the back of the plaque that was first used around 1901. When all was said and done, DNA analysis proved that this trophy was a pure mule deer. DNA analysis was again used by the 28th Awards Program Judges Panel to verify that all 10 typical and non-typical Columbia FIGURE 1: This graphic shows the clustering of Coues’ whitetails (blue) and non-Coues’ whitetails (white) and the results of the analysis placing the mystery buck (gray) near the middle of the white squares. The yellow squares are mule deer with the seven yellow squares in the center are mule deer/Coues’ deer hybrids.

BOOK REVIEW CIC CAPRINAE ATLAS OF THE WORLD, VOL. I AND II blacktail deer and 2 Coues’ whitetail deer invited were properly categorized. This analysis proved that one of the non-typical blacktails was a mule deer/blacktail hybrid and that a typical Coues’ deer entry was actually a mule deer/Coues’ deer hybrid, which disqualified both from entry in B&C. Had either one or both of these trophies been accepted, they would have been erroneously listed as new World’s Records for their respective categories. DNA analysis has been used by the records office on two other occasions. One incident involved another potential new World’s Record typical Coues’ whitetail. The results of that test, which are illustrated in Figure 1, were resoundingly conclusive. The blue squares represent pure Coues’ deer; the white squares are non-Coues’ whitetail deer; the yellow boxes in the upper right-hand corner are pure mule deer; and the seven yellow boxes in the center are mule deer/ Coues’ deer hybrids. The trophy being tested for whether or not it was a pure Coues’ deer landed right in the middle of the non-Coues’ whitetail deer (gray box circled in red) proving it was just a whitetail deer. A little over a year ago Justin Spring, the assistant director of Big Game Records, received a photo of an alleged 3x3 typical whitetail deer from a northeastern state purported to be a new state record. He told the

Acceptable Score Charts In my last “Trophy Talk” column, I incorrectly stated that the most recent and acceptable versions of the score charts are the 2012 version. This was incorrect as the most recent versions of the score charts are those on B&C’s website with a copyright date of 2011. So, if you need copies of the 2011 version, you can obtain them from B&C’s headquarters by calling (406) 542-1888 or by visiting onto B&C’s website at www.boone-crockett.org, click on the Big Game Records heading and drop down to Scoring Your Trophy.

Gerhard R. Damm and Nicolas Franco, Authors The International Council for Game and Wildlife Conservation (CIC), headquartered in Budapest, Hungary, and Rowland Ward Publications of Johannesburg, South Africa, have recently released a monumental two-volume set on the wild sheep populations of the world titled CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World. This detailed and meticulously researched two-volume atlas is a reference tool that outlines the population distribution ranges of wild Caprinae phenotypes in the northern hemisphere, as well as the work of professionals in the field that meticulously details their physical appearance, life history, conservation status, and sustainable uses. Included are more than 1,000 color photographs of wild Caprinae in their natural habitats, expansive charts, graphs, and 130 detailed color distribution maps that are complimented by a comprehensive reference list of close to 600 geographical names. The cost for a copy of the standard edition of CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World, Vol. I & 2, is $350 U.S., plus shipping. The collector’s edition, which is limited to 185 copies, is available for $1,330 U.S., plus shipping, while supplies last. The collector’s edition is individually numbered and signed by the authors and adorned with many other fine appointments. You can meet the authors and purchase copies of this two-volume hardcover set of books at the 2015 Wild Sheep Foundation Convention in Reno, Nevada, January 8-10, 2015, at the Reno Sparks Convention Center. Or, you can order copies of CIC Caprinae Atlas of the World, Vol. I & 2, by contacting Safari Press at www.safaripress. com or calling (714) 894-9080. For more information and details on this monumental publication, you can email CIC headquarters office@cic-wildlife. org or Gerhard Damm at Gerhard@muskwa.co.za.

MAGNOLIA RECORDS, MISSISSIPPI’S BEST BUCKS, VOLUME 2 Rick Dillard, Author After 10 years, the second volume of Magnolia Records, Mississippi’s Best Bucks is here—and just in time for Christmas! Since the first book, the Magnolia Records Program, Mississippi’s official scoring program for whitetail deer, has collected lots of data that show where, when, and how many of these bucks were taken. Over 200 pages containing trophy pictures of deer taken in Mississippi with a net score of 160 and above, several of which earned recognition by the Boone & Crockett Club and Pope and Young Club. Also included are charts and maps containing information that dates all the way back to 1895 when the oldest record for the program was killed. This data shows the soil regions in which these deer were taken and the land management status of each of these regions. Broken down by average gross score these charts show where the largest deer were taken and by which method. See the hunters who took these giants and read their stories. This book is on sale now and retails for $15 plus $5 shipping per book. If ordering more than three books, please call to get the exact shipping charge. Go to www.mswildlife. org, visit the gift shop, and place your online order today! Orders are also accepted by calling the Mississippi Wildlife Federation at (601) 605-1790. All major credit cards are accepted. Checks are accepted by mailing your order to: Mississippi Wildlife Federation, 517 Cobblestone Court, Suite 2, Madison, MS 39110. All orders must be paid in U.S. dollars. BOOK REVIEW NOTICE

There are many state, provincial, and private organizations publishing local records books that use Boone and Crockett Club’s copyrighted scoring system with permission of the Club. Since there is no single reference source for these books, and because there are many hunters who collect them, we will review them as time and space permit. Only those books that use the Boone and Club’s copyrighted scoring system and terminology will be considered for review. Please note that the Boone and Crockett Club cannot vouch for the accuracy of the data contained in these books. Some of the books may include trophies that were not scored by certified Boone and Crockett Club Official Measurers. If there is a question about the status of a trophy listed in any of these books, the Boone and Crockett Club’s records books/archives are the final reference source to settle any and all discrepancies.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

TROPHY TALK trophy owner that the rack looked suspiciously like a number of 3x3 mule deer racks without G-3 points that he has seen and taken over the years. The owner became incensed, but Justin insisted that the antlers had to be subjected to a DNA test before B&C would accept it. The results of DNA analysis proved Justin was right. Challenge a Trophy’s Classification

The exciting result of Jim’s research is that trophy owners can now challenge the classification of their trophy. For example, if someone has taken a deer east of the mule deer/Columbia blacktail deer boundary that they believe is a pure Columbia blacktail deer, they can submit DNA material collected by a B&C approved representative for analysis. If the test proves it is a Columbia blacktail, B&C will accept it in the blacktail category even though it was taken outside the current described blacktail boundary. Trophy owners with deer of unknown origin or sketchy information may also submit their trophy for DNA analysis. B&C may also challenge the classification of some entries. Potential Worlds’ Records, those that rank in the All-time top 10 for their category, or in the top 5 invited to an Awards Program Judges Panel may be subject to DNA analysis on a case-by-case basis and at the Club’s expense. DNA Test Pricing

All testing is done at the trophy owner’s expense. The cost is $100 per sample providing the trophy owner is willing to wait until B&C accumulates 10 specimens. Otherwise the cost is $370 for a single test. Who can take DNA Samples

Because this is a new program for B&C, there are only a handful of individuals in North America that are currently qualified to take DNA samples. To start with, only individuals and fish and game personnel approved in advance by B&C’s Records Committee Chairman are authorized to take DNA samples from trophies. To connect with a qualified person, please call Justin Spring at B&C headquarters, (406) 542-1888, ext. 204. Taking a DNA Sample

DNA samples of mounted or unmounted trophies are collected by drilling a half-inch deep hole about 3/8ths of an inch below the burr into the side or back of the pedicel with a 3/32-inch drill bit. Care must be taken to ensure that the sample is not contaminated with hair or any other foreign substance. If the rack is unmounted, it can be turned upside down and the sampler can drill the hole through the skull plate and into the pedicel. n

62 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

DNA samples of mounted or unmounted trophies are collected by drilling a half-inch deep hole about 3/8ths of an inch below the burr into the side or back of the pedicel with a 3/32-inch drill bit. To avoid contamination the sample material should be put into the sample vile with a piece of paper and sealed in the enclosed padded envelope that comes with the DNA sampling kit.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

JUSTIN E. SPRING | ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF BIG GAME RECORDS

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF AUTHOR

There are very few places in the Lower 48 where a hunter can expect in any given year to draw a moose tag, especially for the Shiras’ moose of the West. While six different western states offer tags for Shiras’ moose (Montana, Wyoming, Idaho, Washington, Colorado, and Utah), they are a highly coveted tag with far more people hoping to draw than moose are available. Idaho is about your best odds for a tag with how their draw system works. However, it’s a once-in-alifetime opportunity for a bull; once you kill one, you can never put in for a firstchoice moose hunt again, and if you don’t take a bull when you draw a tag, there is a waiting period before you can try again. One of the states that little is heard about in terms of moose is Washington. The state has some very nice bulls; in fact, more than 70 will grace the pages of the Boone and Crockett records book at the end of the 29th Awards. The state first started seeing moose in the 1950s in the northeastern corner of the state in the Selkirk Mountains which span into British Colombia and over into Idaho. A survey in the 1970s estimated a population of 60 moose. 1977 brought Washington’s first moose season and also the

Washington first started seeing moose in the 1950s in the northeastern corner of the state in the Selkirk Mountains which span into British Colombia and over into Idaho.

64 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

first entry into the records books—a fine bull from Pend Oreille County stretching the tape to 160-6/8 points. Over the years, the moose population has expanded to a point now where the estimated population of the largest deer of North America is over 1,000 in the Evergreen State. Moose sightings continue to grow, and as of 2006, the state had over 100 permits available in 10 units. The top bulls come from a four counties, but the lion’s share from either Stevens or Pend Oreille, which account for 59 of the currently accepted entries. It was Pend Oreille County that Bryan C. Bailey decided to hunt after being informed he had won the state’s 2013 raffle tag for Shiras’ moose. As soon as Bryan learned of his luck, he began preparations—though living on the western side of Washington with all the state’s moose in the northeastern corner, much of his work had to be done on the phone. After numerous conversations with people familiar with the techniques of moose hunting and judging, Bryan decided that his goal was 155 or better Boone and Crockett points for this opportunity. Unfortunately, previous engagements prevented him from scouting as he would have preferred. Though

after seeing a trail camera photo of a very fine bull, his hopes were high as he picked up his hunting partner Craig and headed over for a week of archery hunting for this particular bull. When they arrived, the two hunted hard but were not able to find the big bull Bryan had his mind set on. While numerous respectable bulls were spotted, as is common with these premier tags, their reputation of ease is far higher than the actual opportunity. While it’s true the hardest part of hunting a moose may be obtaining the tag, it’s not the only thing that must be overcome to find success, especially for a world-class trophy. After this first week, Bryan returned home slightly discouraged but with a newfound respect for the moose and the hunt. As the weeks continued on, the tag and hunt were never far from his mind. Continued calls to his contacts about rutting activity and harvest updates kept him longing to be back. Because his time available to be away was limited, he decided to wait until November once the rut tapered off and the bulls began regrouping together. It is here we will pick up Bryan’s tale of his quest for a book-caliber bull.

We had seen some fresh moose sign while hiking in the area and it was a great place from which to glass several different clearings We decided that would be the place to hunt.

POWERED BY This column is dedicated to the system that supports the public hunting of public wildlife for all fair chase sportsmen, and the stories and trophies that are the result. Theodore Roosevelt strongly believed that self-reliance and pursuing the strenuous activities of hunting and wilderness exploration was the best way to keep man connected to nature. We score trophies, but every hunt is to some extent a way of measuring ourselves.

Bryan Bailey’s Shiras’ Moose

One call from a friend changed my plans. He was telling me that a friend of a friend had seen a good bull in an area several times and thought it was one I needed to go look at. Later that night I told my wife of the phone conversation. She looked at me and just said, “Go, go and see if you can find that bull.” That’s all the encouragement I needed. I started my moose quest with the desire to harvest a bull with my bow but after the first trip’s result, I figured I better bring some sort of backup along. With this in mind I called my cousin to see if I could borrow his muzzleloader. He quickly replied yes and then he offered to come along and help since he was off the rest of the week. We met up at my place the next evening and then made the drive over to moose country. The following morning we were glassing the area where I’d been told the bull had been spotted a week earlier. Throughout the day, Justin and I glassed clearings, still-hunted timber patches, and did some calling. We turned up three cows, one calf, and two small bulls but nothing even close to consider shooting. The next morning I had Justin drop me off in the same area and told him to take the truck and cover some additional area to see if we could turn up a shooter-caliber bull. We made plans to meet up about noon on a ridge we had hiked to the day before. We had seen some fresh moose sign while hiking in the area and it was a great place from which to glass several different clearings. We decided that would

be the place to hunt. I worked my way to the top of the ridge, glassing along the way as I continued in the direction to meet with Justin. It was after 1 p.m., and I still hadn’t seen him, so I sat down and started glassing some clearings to the west. Almost immediately I spotted him a half mile away frantically waving his arms trying to get my attention. There was no question he had found something I needed to see and he didn’t want to leave the spot. I grabbed my gear and took off, covering the distance as quickly as I could. When I made it to Justin he quickly explained there were several moose just inside the timber and one bull was big. We struck out in the direction he indicated. Within several minutes, we had located some of the moose Justin was talking about. I could see two different bulls. One was a small bull and the other looked good, but I only had a side view of his antlers. Both bulls were feeding so we quietly changed positions to get a better look at the larger one. Finally he stepped into an opening and turned to face me. I looked back at Justin and said, “I’m going to kill that bull!” The timber patch we were in had been

bow down and grab Justin’s muzzleloader. After some tense moments of working in closer, I was able to slip one of the 50-caliber slugs through his shoulder. He took two steps, stumbled, tipped over, and rolled out of sight. We decided to give him 10-15 minutes before going to look for him, though it wasn’t necessary. We found him right where he had gone out of sight after the shot. I knew he was “the bull” when I had pulled the trigger, and it was confirmed as I approached him. He seemed to have everything I had been told to look for: good points, wide palms, good length, and a spread of 48 inches. I was fairly certain he would score well, but even I was surprised when he scored 182-5/8 B&C gross and 176-2/8 net. This will make my bull the new Washington muzzleloader state record and tied for the third-largest bull taken by any method of harvest in Washington. There are many people who helped me with my moose hunt, and I owe them all a huge thank you. Without their help, I wouldn’t have killed such a great bull. I also have to thank my wife of more than 20 years— she understands my passion for the outdoors and always supports my endeavors. n

Bryan C. Bailey decided to hunt Pend Oreille County after being informed he had won the state’s 2013 raffle tag for Shiras’ moose. The bull scores 176-2/8 points. This will make it the new Washington muzzleloader state record.

thinned several years earlier and had lots of dead limbs on the ground. To say it was noisy is an understatement. I decided to put my

Fair Chase Winter 2014

JACK STEELE PARKER

GENERATION NE The Boone and Crockett Club would like to celebrate young hunters who have embraced the outdoor way of life and embody the spirit of fair chase hunting. The following is a

younger). All of the field photos in this section are from entries that are listed in this issue and are shown in bold orange text.

list of the most recent big game trophies accepted into the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards Program, 2013-2015, that have been taken by a youth hunter (16 years or

This listing represents only those trophies accepted since the Fall 2014 issue of Fair Chase was published.

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

Nathan M. Henderson

BLACK BEAR 21 9/16 20 3/16

Oconto Co., WI Aubrey C. DeBauch Pushmataha Co., OK Drew B. Savage

2013 P. Gauthier 2011 J. Dougherty

COUGAR 15 2/16 Gallatin Co., MT 14 15/16 Dolores Co., CO

James W. Morton Hunter W. Richardson

2012 F. King 2014 R. Spencer

Madysen N. Jones

2013 D. May

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK 387

411 1/8 Gila Co., AZ

TYPICAL MULE DEER

191 6/8 226 2/8 Harney Co., OR

Cole D. Warren

2013 S. Boero

Devin M. Drier Nathan M. Henderson Austin J. Bittner

2013 S. Fish 2013 M. Wendel

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 171 3/8 174 6/8 Pepin Co., WI 169 2/8 186 1/8 Hamilton Co., OH 160 2/8 168 3/8 Jackson Co., WI

2012 J. Lunde

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER 196

202 3/8 Licking Co., OH

Michael M. Miller

2013 D. Hayness

SHIRAS’ MOOSE 140 5/8 141 2/8 Shoshone Co., ID

Joel M. Crank

2013 T. Brickel

PRONGHORN 81

Lincoln Co., WY

Corbin R. Ourada

2013 E. Boley

DALL’S SHEEP 162 1/8 162 4/8 Chugach Mts., AK

Jamie H. Green

2013 C. Brent

James W. Morton Statement of Ownership, Management, and Circulation 1. Publication Title: Fair Chase 2. Publication Number: 1077-4627 3. Filing Date: 9/24/2014 4. Issue Frequency: Quarterly 5. Number of Issues Published Annually: Four 6. Annual Subscription Price: $35.00 7. Complete Mailing Address of Known Office of Publication: Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 Contact Person: Karlie Slayer Telephone: 406/542-1888 8. Complete Mailing Address of Headquarters of Publisher: Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 9. Full Names and Complete Mailing Addresses of Publisher, Editor, and Managing Editor: Publisher - Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 Editor - Mark B. Steffen, Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 Managing Editor - Karlie Slayer, Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 10. Owner: Boone and Crockett Club, 250 Station Drive, Missoula, MT 59801-2753 11. Known Bondholders, Mortgagees, and Other Security Holders: None 12. Tax Status: Has Not Changed During the Preceding 12 Months 13. Publication Title: Fair Chase 14. Issue Date for Circulation Data: Summer 2014 15. Extent and Nature of Circulation – Average No. Copies Each Issue During Preceding 12 Months and No. Copies of Single Issue Published Nearest to Filing Date (respectively): a. Total Number of Copies: 8,0325 and 8,300 b. Paid Circulation (1) Mailed Outside-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 5,351 and 5061 (2) Mailed In-County Paid Subscriptions Stated on PS Form 3541: 0 and 0 (3) Paid Distribution Outside the Mails Including Counter Sales and Other Paid Distribution Outside USPS: 0 and 0 (4) Paid Distribution by Other Classes of Mail Through the USPS: 583 and 676 c. Total Paid Distribution: 5,934 and 5,737 d. Free or Nominal Rate Distribution (1) Free or Nominal Rate Outside-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: 982 and 1637 (2) Free or Nominal Rate In-County Copies Included on PS Form 3541: 0 and 0 (3) Free or Nominal Rate Copies Mailed at Other Classes Through the USPS: 675 and 215 (4) Free or Nominal Rate Distribution Outside the Mail: 217 and 236 e. Total Free or Nominal Rate Distribution: 1,872 and 2,088 f. Total Distribution: 7,806 and 7,825 g. Copies Not Distributed: 517 and 475 h. Total: 8,323 and 8,300 i. Percent Paid: 76.02% and 73.32% 16. Publication of Statement of Ownership: X If the publication is a general publication, publication of this statement is required. Will be printed in the Winter 2014 issue of this publication.

66 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

EXT

Austin J. Bittner

Aubrey C. DeBauch

112014

Madysen N. Jones

THE VERY

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

The following pages list the most recent big game trophies accepted into the Boone and Crockett Club’s 29th Big Game Awards Program, 2013-2015, which includes entries received between January 1, 2013, and December 31, 2015. All of the field photos in this section are from entries that are listed in this issue and are shown in bold green text.

This listing represents only those trophies accepted since the Fall 2014 issue of Fair Chase was published.

ABOVE Ryan F. Bandy took this grizzly bear, scoring 23-9/16 points, near Sagavanirktok River, Alaska, in 2013. He was shooting his .30-06 Springfield. BELOW Patricia R. Williams harvested this typical American elk in Sublette County, Wyoming, in 2013. The bull scores 384-1/8 points.

BEAR & COUGAR FINAL SCORE

LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

BLACK BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 23-10/16 21 14/16 Moffat Co., CO Joshua L. Burger 2013 21 11/16 Fulton Co., PA Randall Lee Piper 2012 21 10/16 Orleans Co., VT Kevin R. Lamere 2013 21 9/16 Oconto Co., WI Aubrey C. DeBauch 2013 21 7/16 Mesa Co., CO Kirk A. Kancilla, Jr. 2013 21 7/16 La Broquerie, MB Roland D. Penner 2014 21 6/16 Orleans Co., VT Donald R. Boomer 2013 21 3/16 Beaufort Co., NC Jerry L. Magliolo 2013 21 2/16 Chippewa Co., WI Norman M. Link 2013 21 2/16 Hamilton Co., NY Dean O’Hanlon 2013 21 2/16 Jackfish Creek, SK Michael D. Dimas 2014 21 2/16 Sioux Narrows, ON Forrest W. Pike 2011 21 2/16 Portage Co., WI Picked Up 2012 21 1/16 Porcupine Michael G. Davenport 2014 Forest, SK 21 Barron Co., WI Brian D. Anderson 2013 21 Menominee Co., MI John M. Flynn III 2013 21 Warren Co., NJ Kenneth L. Frenette 2013 20 14/16 Grant Co., NM Jonathan M. Otero 2013 20 14/16 Montrose Co., CO Justin R. Distel 2013 20 13/16 Calaveras Co., CA Robin J. Wood, Sr. 2002 20 13/16 Custer Co., CO Randy Sandoval 2012 20 13/16 Lincoln Co., WI James P. Olsson 2013 20 11/16 Pine Co., MN Warren C. Dufresne 2013 20 10/16 Whale Pass, AK Linda S. Smith 2014 20 9/16 Mendocino Co., CA Beau G. Brown 2013 20 9/16 Oneida Co., WI Catherine M. Sherman 2013 20 9/16 St. Louis Co., MN James P. Fee 2013 20 8/16 Paradise Hill, SK John F. Costo, Sr. 2014 20 7/16 Lane Co., OR Christina J. 2012 Herrick-Seeto 20 7/16 Price Co., WI Amy Jo M. Hill 2012 20 6/16 Greenlee Co., AZ Robert C. Cloudt 1972 20 6/16 Navajo Co., AZ Mark W. Rode 2012 20 5/16 Carbon Co., WY Kevin T. Carrico 2014 20 5/16 Rusk Co., WI Andrew H. Swienton 2011 20 5/16 Sanders Co., MT David Jacoby 2014 20 3/16 Archuleta Co., CO Frank L. Guarinoni 2013 20 3/16 Caliper Lake, ON Gary R. Voss 2013 20 3/16 Otsego Co., NY Kenneth R. Stevens 2013 20 3/16 Pushmataha Co., OK Drew B. Savage 2011 20 3/16 Teller Co., CO Vernard E. Kaska III 2013 20 2/16 Adams Co., ID Kevin S. Primrose 2014 20 2/16 Douglas Co., WI Lisa L. Belisle 2013 20 2/16 Rusk Co., WI LaLonnie S. 2013 VanDenHeuvel 20 1/16 Jefferson Co., WA Chad D. Patterson 2013 20 1/16 Fraser River, BC Joe Hocevar 2012 20 Cheshire Co., NH Dennis G. LaVanture 2013 20 Orleans Co., VT Marilyn M. Judd 2013

S. Grebe J. Mock C. Smiley P. Gauthier D. Waechtler E. Parker C. Smiley M. DeAngury S. Godfrey B. Risley J. Reneau S. Sirianni T. Heil D. Eider L. Zimmerman R. Novosad S. Keithley J. Edwards R. Black J. Fischer L. Gatlin P. Gauthier M. Beaufeaux O. Opre H. Wilson T. Heil K. Schaar D. Mitchell D. Heffner E. Randall J. Edwards R. Stayner K. Monteith S. Zirbel M. Mauney G. Block L. Lueckenhoff J. Dowd J. Dougherty R. Newman M. Demick D. O’Brien K. Zimmerman D. Sanford R. Berreth B. Emerson C. Smiley

GRIZZLY BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 27-13/16 25 4/16 23 9/16 23 6/16

Kotzebue, AK Sagavanirktok River, AK Noatak River, AK

Herbert A. Mann Ryan F. Bandy

2012 T. Spraker 2013 F. Noska

Tim D. Hiner

2014 D. Nickel

ALASKA BROWN BEAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 30 12/16

Share your field photos with us! Follow: @BooneandCrockettClub Tag: #booneandcrockettclub 68 nn Fair FairChase ChaseWinter Winter2014 2014

29 7/16 29 4/16 28 13/16 28 6/16 28 1/16

Cold Bay, AK Aliulik Pen., AK Aliulik Pen., AK Spiridon Lake, AK Cordova Bay, AK

Jeffery T. Ploch Jay D. Otto Martin G. Crowe Jon T. Cordova Larry L. Weishuhn

2013 2014 2014 2014 2011

D. Eider P. Allen P. Allen J. Capurro J. Baker

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES ALASKA BROWN BEAR CONTINUED 28 26 14/16 26 6/16

Ninilchik, AK Rocky J. Waterbury Becharof Lake, AK John T. Philley Ugashik River, AK Leo J. Milas

2014 L. Lewis 2013 J. Smith 2013 T. Smail

COUGAR - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 16-4/16 15 3/16 Jumpingpound Michael D. 2013 W. Paplawski Creek, AB Winterhalter 15 2/16 Gallatin Co., MT James W. Morton 2012 F. King 15 Archuleta Co., CO Mark Freeman 2012 J. Brown 14 15/16 Dolores Co., CO Hunter W. Richardson 2014 R. Spencer 14 15/16 Mineral Co., MT Tanner S. Rausch 2014 J. Spring 14 14/16 Chain Lakes, AB Jordan D. Miller 2013 D. Bromberger 14 13/16 Summit Co., UT Ted E. Hallows 2014 B. Christensen 14 12/16 Utah Co., UT Jason W. Joseph 2014 R. Smith 14 10/16 Utah Co., UT Lee M. Duet 2012 C. Neill 14 9/16 Mineral Co., MT James R. Benson 1993 R. Dufault 14 8/16 Granite Co., MT John M. Roll 2013 J. Williams 14 8/16 Park Co., MT Daniel J. Otis 2014 B. Zundel

Matthew P. Somishka was on a 2013 hunt in Maricopa County, Arizona, when he harvested this typical Coues’ whitetail scoring 109-2/8 points.

ELK & MULE DEER

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

NON-TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 208 1/8 174 2/8 178 6/8 Siskiyou Co., CA

Kirby A. Smith

2013 H. Wilson

TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 442-5/8 397 6/8 390 5/8 387 384 1/8 383 3/8 376 1/8 375 7/8 370 4/8 366 3/8 365 3/8 360 7/8

420 6/8 425 4/8 411 1/8 392 391 5/8 386 2/8 383 3/8 392 3/8 379 7/8 369 3/8 368 6/8

Columbia Co., WA Yavapai Co., AZ Gila Co., AZ Sublette Co., WY Cascade Co., MT White Pine Co., NV Lincoln Co., NM Apache Co., AZ White Pine Co., NV Elko Co., NV Knott Co., KY

Dan J. Agnew Cindi J. Richardson Madysen N. Jones Patricia R. Williams Roger S. Spaulding Justin J. Vanhulle Len H. Guldman William D. Karnes Ramona S. Maestes Cody O. Byrne William J. Martin

2010 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2014 2012 2013 2013 2013

T. Brown P. Dalrymple D. May V. Dana J. Pallister K. Vaughn J. Davis J. Baker S. Sanborn L. Clark D. Weddle

TYPICAL SITKA BLACKTAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 134 1115 117 3/8 Prince of Donald H. Busse Wales Island, AK 112 6/8 117 2/8 Prince of Donald H. Busse Wales Island, AK 111 2/8 114 1/8 Prince of Donald H. Busse Wales Island, AK

2013 P. Carlson 2004 P. Carlson 2004 P. Carlson

NON-TYPICAL AMERICAN ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 478-5/8 411 4/8 435

Greenlee Co., AZ

Picked Up

2013 W. Keebler

ROOSEVELT’S ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 404-4/8 318 5/8 318 2/8 305 6/8 305 4/8

327 1/8 368 1/8 315 354 1/8

Clallam Co., WA Douglas Co., OR Sayward, BC Gold River, BC

Michael J. Carpinito Jamie A. Stacey Charles A. Hubbert Gary J. Filizetti

2013 2013 2012 2013

K. Vaughn D. Morris J. Weise F. Pringle

TULE ELK - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 379 286 1/8 291 3/8 Mendocino Co., CA Jim Hens

2012 R. Rippentrop

TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 226-4/8 194 3/8 192 6/8 191 6/8 190 6/8 190 4/8 187 2/8 187 2/8 181 5/8

198 3/8 222 7/8 226 2/8 194 4/8 195 2/8 207 6/8 223 4/8 187 3/8

Washington Co., UT Eric C. Holliday Washington Unknown Harney Co., OR Cole D. Warren Colorado Dan C. Tevis Cache Co., UT Glenn Richards Rio Arriba Co., NM Earl K. Wahl, Jr. Rio Blanco Co., CO George A. Story Cache Co., UT Anthony J. Lott

2013 2014 2013 1980 1946 1984 1958 2013

D. Smith T. Watts S. Boero R. Smith R. Hall G. Norris R. Black R. Hall

NON-TYPICAL MULE DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 355-2/8 265 240 2/8 238 4/8 235 3/8 233 3/8 215 2/8

269 4/8 251 1/8 247 4/8 242 4/8 250 1/8 221 7/8

Eagle Co., CO Clark Co., ID Trego Co., KS Power Co., ID Rio Arriba Co., NM Unknown

John Wigton Mark Polson Donald Storer Richard S. Crotts Unknown Rowland Huffman

1938 2013 1965 1975 2013 1950

P. Allen R. Hatfield L. Gatlin G. Hernandez R. Madsen J. Lunde

TYPICAL COLUMBIA BLACKTAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 182-2/8 127 1/8 138

Pierce Co., WA

Bonnie L. Loney

2013 K. Vaughn

WHITETAIL DEER

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 213-5/8 183 196 4/8 182 5/8 186 6/8 181 1/8 185 2/8 178 2/8 192 2/8 177 7/8 185 6/8 177 183 6/8 176 5/8 190 5/8 176 3/8 180 5/8 176 2/8 184 174 3/8 185 173 1/8 178 172 5/8 183 2/8 172 4/8 193 2/8 172 4/8 175 5/8 172 3/8 185 172 180 6/8 171 5/8 184 2/8 171 3/8 174 6/8 171 2/8 196 5/8 171 175 3/8 171 182 3/8 170 6/8 194 3/8 170 5/8 183 3/8 170 4/8 179 6/8 170 176 169 2/8 186 1/8

Pulaski Co., KY James R. Irvine, Jr. 2013 Winneshiek Co., IA 2012 Bracken Co., KY Greg A. Reinhardt 2013 Red Willow Co., NE Tracy D. Peter 2012 Lake of the Mark J. Lyons 2012 Woods, ON Warren Co., IA Roger D. Woodruff 2012 Scott Co., KY Amanda R. Hombirg 2013 Trempealeau Co., WI Todd R. LaKey 2012 La Salle Co., TX Michael J. Purdum 2013 Coffey Co., KS Glynn W. Castleberry 2012 Montgomery Ralph L. Hughes 2013 Co., OH Ohio Co., KY Jim L. Moorman 2013 Adams Co., OH Chad E. McCoy 2013 Boone Co., IA Adam R. Hartung 2012 Wabaunsee Co., KS Bruce C. Gooch 2013 Greene Co., IN Preston O. Wagner 2012 Linn Co., MO Raymond G. Camp 2013 Pepin Co., WI Devin M. Drier 2013 Woodbury Co., IA 2014 Muskingum Co., OH Brad Gsell 2011 Whitley Co., KY Jeffery Lawson 2010 Marathon Co., WI Justin M. Kundinger 2011 Beltrami Co., MN William J. Foster 2012 Berland River, AB Stephane Bergeron 2012 Dimmit Co., TX James A. Cummins, Jr. 2013 Hamilton Co., OH Nathan M. Henderson 2013

D. Weddle D. Baumler D. Weddle B. Wiese R. Dufault K. Freymiller N. Minch J. Hjort J. Stein S. Murrey G. Trent K. Morphew R. Perrine J. Ream R. Anderson R. Graber D. Boland S. Fish J. Ream R. Lowe W. Cooper B. Ihlenfeldt R. Dehart F. Vanasse D. Draeger M. Wendel

Fair Chase Winter 2014

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER CONTINUED 200 1/8 197 3/8 196 196 195 6/8 195 1/8 193 1/8 193 192 7/8 190 3/8 189 187 7/8 187 5/8 186 3/8 185

208 5/8 218 5/8 202 3/8 199 1/8 206 3/8 202 2/8 195 5/8 196 2/8 201 2/8 196 198 6/8 193 1/8 193 5/8 193 3/8 189 5/8

Concordia Co., LA Greene Co., OH Licking Co., OH Taylor Co., IA Miami Co., OH Washtenaw Co., MI Hardin Co., KY Rusk Co., WI Woodward Co., OK Campbell Co., VA Grimes Co., TX Athens Co., OH Kamloops, BC Houston Co., TX Charles Co., MD

Jason S. Archer 2013 Picked Up 2013 Michael M. Miller 2013 Gregory J. Franson 2012 Jesse W. Everette 2009 Tony A. Losey 2013 Keith E. Major 2013 Daniel A. Cicha 2012 Terry L. Sparks 2003 Benjamin L. Johnson 2012 Ben D. Hoffart 2013 Calvin E. Wiser 2013 Chad D. Ridley 2013 Miles N. Mohnkern 2013 Jeffrey A. Sansburry 2014

T. Vidrine G. Trent D. Haynes R. Bergloff D. Haynes B. Nash C. Logsdon R. St. Ores M. Crocker W. Knox R. Skinner J. Seitz R. Petrie H. Saye S. Keithley

TYPICAL COUES’ WHITETAIL - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 144-1/8

Brent M. Bracken was on a 2013 hunt in Republic County, Kansas, when he took this non-typical whitetail deer. The buck scores 244-7/8 points.

116 6/8 112 5/8 110 2/8 109 5/8 109 2/8 108 7/8 103 3/8 101

120 3/8 121 112 2/8 112 5/8 120 1/8 113 2/8 106 6/8 107 1/8

Greenlee Co., AZ Sonora, MX Grant Co., NM Sonora, MX Maricopa Co., AZ Sonora, MX Hidalgo Co., NM Cochise Co., AZ

Picked Up 2012 Michael R. Traub 2014 Craig P. Cole 2012 Ernesto M. Gomez 2007 Matthew P. Somishka 2013 Donald E. Perrien 2014 A. George Vensel 1980 Larrie L. Todd 2011

L. Gatlin S. Godfrey J. Edwards J. Reneau H. Grounds H. Tonkin E. Buckner J. Edwards

TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER CONTINUED 167 7/8 171 4/8 Cass Co., IN Patrick A. Murray 2013 R. Karczewski 167 2/8 184 3/8 Harrison Co., IN Joseph E. McPhillips 2010 D. Curts 167 1/8 169 1/8 Clinton Co., KY Roy T. Jones 2013 D. Weddle 167 179 1/8 Caroline Co., VA James R. Salisbury, Jr. 2012 B. Neitzel 166 7/8 179 5/8 Sussex Co., DE Harry C. Daisey 2012 W. Jones 166 6/8 168 3/8 Casey Co., KY Joshua T. Johnson 2013 D. Weddle 166 6/8 171 2/8 Greene Co., PA James E. Stephenson 2012 G. Block 166 3/8 171 4/8 Warren Co., IL Kerry R. Stevens 2010 M. Cochran 165 7/8 176 4/8 Carroll Co., OH Richard P. Yockel 2012 M. Wendel 165 5/8 176 5/8 Claiborne Co., LA Ryon S. Walker 2013 L. Barr 165 5/8 199 7/8 Hubbard Co., MN Linder Tischman 1976 R. Dehart 164 6/8 169 3/8 Muskingum Co., OH Matthew W. 2013 R. Davis McDonald 164 6/8 184 Taylor Co., KY Anthony Bright 2014 D. Weddle 164 4/8 178 2/8 Maverick Co., TX Shaun M. McConathy 2013 J. Dreibelbis 164 2/8 168 3/8 Iron Co., WI Gerald J. Brauer 1960 G. Villnow 164 1/8 171 4/8 Adams Co., IA Dacy L. Hoyt 2013 J. Nordman 163 7/8 186 Crawford Co., WI Joseph A. Zanotti 2013 B. Tessmann 163 4/8 174 Hand Co., SD Neil D. Hyla 2009 T. Rogers 163 2/8 172 7/8 Rock Co., WI Ashley E. Johnson 2014 K. Zimmerman 163 1/8 168 6/8 Vinton Co., OH Roger Deloach 1999 D. Haynes 163 176 7/8 Cold Lake, AB Kenneth L. Squire 2012 D. Harrison 162 7/8 166 3/8 Union Co., SD Daniel Rosenbaum 2013 M. Mauney 162 7/8 174 6/8 Wayne Co., MO John R. Johnson 2013 D. Twyman 161 7/8 178 4/8 Minaki, ON James R. Benson 1993 R. Dufault 161 6/8 167 Pulaski Co., KY Bryan Frye 2013 D. Weddle 161 1/8 165 7/8 Cumberland Co., KY Casey W. Perdue 2013 D. Weddle 161 164 1/8 Boone Co., KY Timothy A. Brock 2013 D. Weddle 160 7/8 164 3/8 Modeste Creek, AB Picked Up 2012 B. Daudelin 160 2/8 168 3/8 Jackson Co., WI Austin J. Bittner 2012 J. Lunde 160 1/8 185 2/8 Berrien Co., MI Thomas R. Gauthier 2013 J. Bogucki 160 1/8 163 1/8 Chippewa Co., WI Shannon A. Rollins 2013 D. Bathke 160 1/8 180 6/8 Lake Co., MN Randall E. Lillis 2010 J. Lunde

NON-TYPICAL WHITETAIL DEER - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 333-7/8 269 3/8 276 7/8 St. Charles Co., MO Picked Up 2013 D. Roper 252 1/8 262 7/8 Pickaway Co., OH Picked Up 2014 L. Loranzan 244 7/8 251 2/8 Republic Co., KS Brent M. Bracken 2013 D. Banta 238 6/8 246 5/8 Saline Co., KS Cade L. Hays 2013 R. Krueger 222 228 6/8 Marion Co., KS Conor M. Gillaspie 2013 D. Hollingsworth 214 5/8 228 5/8 Kearny Co., KS Joshua T. Cox 2013 L. Lueckenhoff 205 4/8 209 4/8 Dimmit Co., TX Hill S. Stroup 2013 J. Arnold 204 4/8 210 5/8 Warren Co., IA Picked Up 2013 G. Salow 202 7/8 212 Riley Co., KS Jon M. Massie 2013 G. Salow 202 5/8 210 2/8 Lorain Co., OH Gerald R. Jewell 2013 M. Wendel 201 4/8 208 2/8 Osage Co., KS James E. Perry 2013 D. Hollingsworth

70 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

MOOSE & CARIBOU FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

CANADA MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 242 207 212 200 204 1/8 198 5/8 209 5/8 191 193 6/8 190 3/8 192 4/8 187 5/8 198 3/8 186 5/8 187 7/8 186 196 7/8 185 2/8 195 6/8

Hayes River, MB Darrell S. Helash 2013 Northumberland Bruno Comeau 2012 Co., NB St. Quentin, NB Keith J. Comeau 2013 Moose Call Lake, BC Cristopher D. Bryant 2013 Williston Lake, BC Aaron E. Ludvigson 2012 Aroostook Co., ME Amanda E. Robledo 2013 Beaton River, BC David R. Ruscheinski 2006 Aroostook Co., ME Daniel J. Menard 2013 Piscataquis Co., ME Bethany A. Terstegen 2013

J. Hayduk W. Hanson W. Hanson A. Berreth R. Berreth G. Humphrey R. Petrie W. Robertson A. Wentworth

ALASKA-YUKON MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 263-5/8 226 1/8 227 7/8 224 6/8 234 3/8 223 3/8 235 6/8 222 6/8 228 212 5/8 220 4/8 212 3/8 216 2/8

Chandalar River, AK Troy R. Sessions Rainy Pass, AK Joseph R. Pedersen Hogatza River, AK Thomas C. Carlson Kemuk Mt., AK Michael B. Vasser Chauekuktuli Don D. Farrier Lake, AK Dillinger River, AK David K. Amundson

2013 2013 2013 2013 2013

A. Jubenville C. Logsdon D. Bastow T. Spraker W. Hepworth

2013 D. Birdsall

SHIRAS’ MOOSE - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-4/8 176 2/8 165 156 6/8 153 3/8 147 7/8 143 5/8 143 140 5/8

182 5/8 170 4/8 157 1/8 156 5/8 149 6/8 147 5/8 145 7/8 141 2/8

Pend Oreille Co., WA Bryan C. Bailey Glacier Co., MT Mike L. Ronning Laramie Co., WY Robert J. Smith Cassia Co., ID Katherine L. Wickel Teton Co., ID Cory M. Lewis Mesa Co., CO Arnold R. Hubbell Cache Co., UT Bo D. Cooper Shoshone Co., ID Joel M. Crank

2013 2012 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012 2013

K. Vaughn F. King R. Hall B. Ward H. Morse R. Black R. Cooper T. Brickel

MOUNTAIN CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 459 3/8 385 4/8 397 1/8 Mackenzie Mts., NT Earl K. Wahl, Jr. 371 4/8 380 2/8 Dease Lake, BC William H. Baxter

1991 G. Church 2012 B. Layton

WOODLAND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 419-5/8 272 6/8 284 4/8 Buchans Plateau, NL Leonard W. Wood

2013 A. Scoggin

BARREN GROUND CARIBOU - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 477 393

400 3/8 Mulchatna River, AK Earl K. Wahl, Jr.

1979 G. Church

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* Scope and Rings Sold Separately

RECENTLY ACCEPTED TROPHIES

HORNED GAME

FINAL GROSS SCORE SCORE LOCATION

HUNTER

DATE MEASURER

PRONGHORN - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 95 87 2/8 86 2/8 86 2/8 85 4/8 85 83 6/8 83 2/8 82 6/8 82 4/8 82 2/8 82 82 81 2/8 81 2/8 81 81 80 4/8 80 80

88 86 6/8 86 7/8 86 2/8 87 1/8 84 1/8 84 6/8 83 4/8 83 6/8 83 83 3/8 82 5/8 81 4/8 81 7/8 82 1/8 82 81 80 1/8 80 5/8

Mora Co., NM Carbon Co., WY Hudspeth Co., TX Colfax Co., NM Hudspeth Co., TX Carbon Co., WY Guadalupe Co., NM Lincoln Co., NM Carbon Co., WY Fremont Co., WY Coconino Co., AZ Guadalupe Co., NM Coconino Co., AZ Grant Co., NM Campbell Co., WY Lincoln Co., WY Catron Co., NM Coconino Co., AZ Socorro Co., NM

Blake Turner Kevin B. Oliver D. Heath McBride Steve C. Brett Ernie Davis Robert A. Kramer Donald J. Bonham Earl K. Wahl, Jr. Eric L. Ridley Sarah R. Heinrich Anthony H. White Chad K. Tvait Steven J. Pagel Arthur J. Delagarza Rusty A. Thompson Corbin R. Ourada David A. Arredondo Lee M. Wahlund Robert R. King

2013 2013 2012 2012 2012 2013 2013 1983 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2013

R. Stayner R. Stayner O. Carpenter R. Spring D. Synatzske R. Stayner C. Kelly F. Howard W. Hepworth C. Brown G. Childers B. Daudelin L. Wahlund J. Edwards T. Edwards E. Boley J. Edwards J. Zins R. Stayner

BISON - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 136-4/8

Douglas M. Peoble was shooting his .300 Ultra when he took this desert sheep, scoring 186-1/8 points. He was hunting in Pinal County, Arizona, in 2013.

FIELD PHOTOGRAPHY TIP

127 6/8 120 4/8 120 117 4/8 116 4/8 116 2/8

128 5/8 121 5/8 121 4/8 117 7/8 117 117 2/8

Garfield Co., UT Garfield Co., UT Uintah Co., UT Teton Co., WY Garfield Co., UT Custer Co., SD

James L. Arrant Randy J. Forsyth Donna Ignacio Jeffery K. Krueger Herbert S. Thinnes Michael J. Halter

2013 2012 2013 2014 2013 2013

R. Hall R. Hall R. Hall D. Hart R. Hall N. Lawson

ROCKY MOUNTAIN GOAT - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 57-4/8 49 2/8 50 1/8 Duchesne Co., UT 48 6/8 49 2/8 Tazlina Glacier, AK 48 6/8 49 Utah Co., UT 48 48 Summit Co., UT 47 47 Chouteau Co., MT

Timothy R. Pease 2013 Christopher B. Denton 2013 Nathan J. Trujillo 2013 Ginny D. 2013 Woolstenhulme Lennie D. Buhmann 2013

C. Huff T. Spraker D. Nielsen P. Carlson M. Sullivan

MUSK OX - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 129 115 4/8 115 7/8 Kugluktuk, NU Mark W. McKinnon 106 108 3/8 Cape Bathurst, NT Dean G. Turner

2014 R. Gander 2014 C. Walker

BIGHORN SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 208-3/8 183 6/8 183 1/8 182 4/8 182 2/8 182 176 4/8

184 2/8 183 6/8 183 182 5/8 182 2/8 178 1/8

Fergus Co., MT Fording River, BC Apache Co., AZ Sioux Co., NE Grand Co., UT Coconino Co., AZ

Mel F. Kotur 2013 Greg E. Sawchuck 2013 Dennis L. Hankerson 2013 Thomas Lemmerholz 2011 Ramalda Mountainlion 2013 Brian A. Rimsza 2013

F. King C. Zuckerman H. Grounds B. Sterling R. Hall C. Goldman

DESERT SHEEP - WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 205-1/8

Kevin B. Oliver took this pronghorn, scoring 86-2/8 points, in 2013 while hunting in Carbon County, Wyoming. Pronghorn can be tough. You would think it would be easy to get a great field photo with your pronghorn, but our photo archives say otherwise. You wouldn’t field judge a pronghorn from a front view alone—can’t see length of prong or mass – so why take a photo straight on. Here’s a really good one from the positioning of the legs, the turn of the head to see both horns and holding the head up under the chin, to the hunter sitting low, down on the buck’s level. Great photo. SPONSORED BY

72 72 nn Fair FairChase ChaseWinter Fall Winter 20142014 2014

187 187 2/8 186 1/8 187 3/8 180 3/8 181 7/8 180 2/8 181 1/8 179 5/8 179 7/8 176 177 1/8 175 6/8 176 175 6/8 177 1/8 175 4/8 179 2/8 175 1/8 176 6/8 175 175 4/8 170 4/8 170 7/8 170 3/8 170 4/8 170 1/8 170 2/8 168 5/8 169 1/8

Baja Calif. Sur, MX Pinal Co., AZ Maricopa Co., AZ San Bernardino Co., CA Tiburon Island, MX Clark Co., NV Clark Co., NV Riverside Co., CA San Bernardino Co., CA Maricopa Co., AZ Sierra Co., NM Clark Co., NV Clark Co., NV Clark Co., NV Mohave Co., AZ

Dall DeWeese Douglas M. Peoble Michael V. Gould Jason E. Schillinger

1907 2013 2013 2013

G. Adkisson P. Dalrymple R. Stayner J. Bugni

Len H. Guldman 2014 Jeffrey M. Jones 2013 Victor A. Engel 2013 Robert S. Charkowicz 2013 Kurt H. Lanning 2013

J. Davis R. Hall H. Grounds R. McDrew D. Perrien

Gregory S. Hartung Ronald M. Gerdes T.K. Atkinson Marcus W. Peagler Tyson M. Wright Robert W. Rice

E. Buckner N. Lawson B. Wilkes G. Wilson L. Clark B. Seward

2013 2013 2013 2013 2013 2012

DALL’S SHEEP- WORLD’S RECORD SCORE 189 6/8 164 7/8 165 3/8 Chistochina River, AK 162 1/8 162 4/8 Chugach Mts., AK 160 1/8 161 4/8 Kusawa Lake, YT

Ronald W. Giles

2013 G. Hisey

Jamie H. Green Keith R. Clarke

2013 C. Brent 2013 T. Grabowski

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Fair Chase Winter 2014

The trophies in the field photos on the following pages have all been accepted in Boone and Crockett Clubâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 29th Big Game Awards Program.

74 n Fair Chase Winter Fall 2011 Winter 2014 2014

TOP ROW

Tyson M. Wright was on a hunt in Clark County, Nevada, during the 2013 season, when he harvested this desert sheep scoring 170-1/8 points. In 2013 Rusty A. Thompson harvested this 81-point pronghorn while on a hunt in Campbell County, Wyoming. He was shooting his .300 Ultra. This bison, scoring 117-4/8 points, was taken by Jeffery K. Krueger. He was hunting in Teton County, Wyoming, in 2014.

MIDDLE ROW

Tim D. Hiner took this grizzly bear deer in 2014 while hunting with his .30-06 Springfield near Noatak River, Alaska. This bear scores 23-6/16 points. This non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 205-4/8 points, was taken by Hilry S. Stroup while hunting in Dimmit County, Texas, in 2013. T.K. Atkinson took this desert sheep, scoring 170-4/8 points with his 7mm Magnum in 2013 while hunting in Clark County, Nevada.

BOTTOM ROW

While on a 2013 hunt near, Clallam County, Washington, Michael J. Carpinito took this 318-5/8 point Rooseveltâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elk. He was shooting his .300 Weatherby. Thomas C. Carlson took this Alaska-Yukon moose scoring 223-3/8 points while hunting near Hogatza River, Alaska, in 2013, with his .308 Winchester. This desert sheep, scoring 175-6/8 points, was taken by Victor A. Engel. He was shooting his 7mm Remington Mag; while hunting in Clark County, Nevada, during the 2013 season.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

76 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

TOP ROW

This non-typical whitetail deer, scoring 196 points, was taken by Gregory J. Franson, while hunting in Taylor County, Iowa, during the 2012 season. In 2012, Bo D. Cooper harvested this 143-point Shirasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; moose with his .300 Winchester Mag. while hunting in Cache County, Utah. Jon M. Massie took this nontypical whitetail deer, scoring 202-7/8 points, while on a 2013 hunt in Riley County, Kansas. Jonathan M. Otero was hunting in Grant County, New Mexico, in 2013 when he took this black bear scoring 2014/16 points.

MIDDLE ROW

Brian A. Rimsza was on an archery hunt in Coconino County, Arizona, in 2013, when he harvested this bighorn sheep scoring 176-4/8 points. James L. Arrant took this bison, scoring 127-6/8 points, in 2013 while hunting in Garfield County, Utah. This grizzly bear, scoring 25-4/16 points, was taken by Herbert A. Mann. He was hunting near Kotzebue, Alaska, during the 2012 season. He was shooting his .300 Ultra. Jeffrey J. Westra was hunting in Crawford County, Wisconsin, in 2013 when he harvested this non-typical whitetail scoring 199-3/8 points.

BOTTOM ROW

Ramona S. Maestes was hunting in White Pine County, Nevada, in 2013, when she harvested this typical American elk scoring 366-3/8 points. While on a 2014 hunt near Spiridon Lake, Alaska, Jon T. Cordova took this 28-6/16-point Alaska brown bear. In 2014, Mark W. McKinnon, harvested this 115-4/8 point musk ox while hunting near Kugluktuk, Nunavut. This desert sheep, scoring 175-1/8 points, was taken by Gregory S. Hartung. He was hunting in Maricopa County, Arizona, during the 2013 season.

Fair Chase Winter 2014

The

B&C REGULAR MEMBER CHAIR Hunter Ethics Sub-Committee

Elitist, Intolerant and Divisive – They Got It Backwards So there I was, closely following the recent elections, when I suddenly realized that “they” were using exactly the same phrases, lines, and explanations against us that “we” used against them in the last go-round. It is incomprehensible to me that they would dare accuse us of the exact things for which they are to blame. I was completely and utterly speechless (a rare state for me) until I rationalized that public discourse is one of the most fundamental mechanisms through which we participate and decide on the direction that averages out as best for all. This is time-tested and true, absent the spin-doctors, lobbyists and political tacticians. But this is supposed to be about ethics, right? And ethics and politics aren’t even distant cousins, allegedly. So, while I should just get off the rant and back to the ethics stuff, there is a problem. You see, there is an uncomfortable similarity between the aforementioned election politics and the discussion going on about the difference between native, wild and freeranging game animals and the livestock produced on game farms. There is significant public discourse going on between those that are infatuated with the notion of unnaturally enormous antler inches and those that despise the idea. And just like the “them and us” in the political debate, both sides refer to the other as intolerant, elitist, and/or divisive. Those that are in the business of producing “frankendeer” sincerely believe that the “antler inches at all cost” group outnumbers the “fair chase, natural and wild” group. It is always interesting to read the comments on a Facebook post under a picture of a nicknamed buck with over 400 antler inches. As I see it, the denouncers significantly outweigh the approvers. However, these businesses appear to be quite profitable and their proliferation obscures what I see as the true tale of the tape. The big difference here is that the deer breeding/ farming business (a $3.8 billion industry) has a very, very well-funded lobby. In fact, it is said that, in Texas, the deer breeders lobby is second only to the oil and gas lobby. Consider that for a minute or two. I have several good friends who are lobbyists. They work very hard, and they are very smart. I would not throw any of them under the bus for doing their job very well. Likewise, it is not my place to be critical of the right to conduct a legal business. However, it is

Antler inches at all cost

is not part and never of our credo will be.

Last Word

THE ETHICS By Daniel A. Pedrotti Jr. OF FAIR CHASE

78 n Fair Chase Winter 2014

equally my/our right to disagree with their premises and objectives and to create and maintain as much distance between them and us in what the public perceives as defensible and honorable when it comes to the hunting community. So, here’s the deal. I just don’t want them to be perceived as us. We hunters subscribe to the tenets of fair chase (especially the part about “wild and native”). We are a much, much larger group than those that can afford the experience of killing frankendeer. Further, and more importantly, the vast majority of us do not value the pseudo-hunt or the livestock upon which it is based. Antler inches at all cost is not part of our credo and never will be. We would much rather talk about a great hunt and a native, wild buck than the nuances of the pedigree of the monster we bought and killed. In the public discourse, the difference is that they are united in funding the defense of their product and their business, and we are grassroots. Their talking points include a criticism of fair chase and B&C as elitist, yet the gold standard, which they use to price their livestock, is B&C inches. I see this as poaching on a well-known and respected brand that represents an organization that will never even recognize their product. It gives the public another chance to misinterpret the massive difference between them and us. Is it elitist to stand by your history and heritage? They refer to us as intolerant of their standing in the hunting community while we see them not as a threat to our standing, but our entire community. Are we to be considered intolerant because we continue to express the most widely accepted definition of the hunt scenario based on hunter-conservationist ethos and the North American Model? This is our ground and they are trespassing. This is not intolerance. It is defense. We are called divisive when we don’t accept them with open arms. They are trying to force their acceptance into the hunter-conservationist family, and we are the ones being divisive? This is perhaps the most ridiculous characterization of all, and it is the most frequent talking point they use. We all need to pay careful attention to this double-speak and keep our eyes on the money and the ego driving this effort. We already have the high ground here. We are many, many times more than them in number, and therefore, we don’t need to lobby anyone. All we have to do is stand up and be counted. And, if necessary, let’s take ‘em to the woodshed, grassroots style. n

2015

PA C K y O u r

TRUNKS.

GREATEST HUNTERS CONVENTION ON THE PLANET™ IS COMING SOON! JANUARY 15 -18, 2015 DALLAS CONVENTION CENTER

Visit our upland bird section and the Custom Gun Makers Guild. For more information, visit our website www.biggame.org ©Dallas Safari Club 2014

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